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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Avoid steep turns at low altitude
Below a thousand feet the aeroplane is slow, heavy and close to the ground. A steep turn loses lift, raises the stall speed and flattens the climb just when the gradient matters most. A normal turn on course is a rate one — fifteen degrees or so, twenty-five at the outside, this penalty is to acknowledge when a turn has stopped being a turn and become a manoeuvre.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 24 stages, 22 scored
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One stabilised approach gate: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate was not assessed, because the approach did not join final that far out.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 3,345 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 325 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in question was operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft. The aircraft began its journey by taxiing from the parking area to the runway, a process that took 9 minutes and covered a distance of 1 nautical mile. The departure roll from runway 28R at Dublin Airport (EIDW) was successful, with a takeoff distance of 1,404 meters, which accounted for 45% of the runway. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 158 knots.
As the aircraft climbed to its cruising altitude, it encountered a local temperature of 16°C. The enroute climb started approximately 1 mile northwest of Dublin Airport, where the aircraft ascended from 1,237 feet above sea level to 8,999 feet, an increase of 7,762 feet in just 3 minutes, covering a distance of 8 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, flying overhead Dolly's Grove in Maynooth, which lasted for 2 minutes and covered another 8 nautical miles.
The aircraft continued its ascent, climbing from 9,107 feet to 22,758 feet in 5 minutes, an increase of 13,652 feet, while covering a distance of 32 nautical miles. This climb phase started overhead Saggart in Leinster, Ireland. The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, flying 3 miles east of Arklow, which lasted for 3 minutes and covered 24 nautical miles.
The aircraft's ascent continued, climbing from 22,990 feet to 32,993 feet in 7 minutes, an increase of 10,004 feet, while covering a distance of 48 nautical miles. This climb phase started 19 miles east of Morriscastle Airstrip in Courtown, Ireland. The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, flying overhead Rosemarket in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which lasted for 7 minutes and covered 55 nautical miles.
As the aircraft began its descent, it started 2 miles west of Cowbridge in Wales, descending from 32,967 feet to 7,468 feet in 16 minutes, a decrease of 25,500 feet, while covering a distance of 111 nautical miles. The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, flying overhead Woking in Surrey, England, which lasted for 2 minutes and covered 8 nautical miles.
The aircraft's descent continued, starting overhead Rushett Farm in Chessington, England, where it descended from 6,994 feet to 1,310 feet in 6 minutes, a decrease of 5,684 feet, while covering a distance of 8 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 27L at London Heathrow Airport (EGLL), flying from the east at a heading of 270.0° and at an altitude of 1,223 feet above ground level.
The aircraft landed successfully on runway 27L, which had a length of 3,345 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was also satisfactory at 131 knots. The touchdown distance was good at 326 meters, and the touchdown speed was 127 knots, which was also satisfactory. The touchdown rate was perfect at -49 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned by 17.6 meters from the centerline.
The total landing distance was 1,123 meters, which accounted for 34% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 17.7 meters from the centerline. After landing, the aircraft taxiied to the parking area, a process that took 2 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 311 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 67 minutes, with the aircraft using 2,168 kilograms of fuel.
The Airbus A320 successfully landed on runway 27L at EGLL London Heathrow Airport, achieving a high score of 91.8%. The aircraft approached the runway from the east, heading 270.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,223 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was recorded at 131 knots, which is within the acceptable range. The touchdown distance of 326 meters was also satisfactory, indicating that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's descent. The touchdown speed of 127 knots was also within the acceptable limits, and the touchdown rate of -49 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, signifying a smooth and controlled landing.
However, there were some minor issues with the landing. The runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned by 17.6 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the pilot's approach or a minor error in navigation. Additionally, the local weather conditions, with a temperature of 22°C, did not pose any significant challenges to the landing.
The total landing distance of 1,123 meters was 34% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight. However, the runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 17.7 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to the same reasons as the initial touchdown position deviation.
Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated good control and precision. However, there is room for improvement in terms of maintaining a straighter approach and touchdown position.
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