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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Shorten the long landing
Ground effect becomes significant below about one wingspan of height. A Cessna 172, with a 36 ft span, enters ground effect at flare height - the float it feels in the hold-off is ground effect arriving on cue. An A320, with a span around 117 ft, has been in ground effect since before the threshold and there is no sudden cushion to feel, only a gradual reduction in induced drag that lengthens any float you allow.
Read more in Flare TimingStart to finish · 22 stages, 20 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
Two stabilised approach gates, each with seven checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
At the 500 ft gate: off the runway's 3° glideslope and off the centreline.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,234 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,234 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 312 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking area to the runway, which took approximately 2 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a Cessna C172, then departed from runway 31 at LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) in New York. The takeoff distance was 87 meters, which accounted for 4% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 62 knots.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it reached an altitude of 1,296 feet above sea level (asl) after ascending 321 feet in just 1 minute, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The enroute climb started overhead KLGA LaGuardia Airport, marking the beginning of the flight's ascent phase.
The aircraft then entered a level cruise phase, which lasted for 8 minutes and covered a distance of 4 nautical miles. This phase was initiated overhead KLGA LaGuardia Airport. Following this, the aircraft began its descent from 1,535 feet asl to 957 feet asl, a decrease of 578 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles. The descent started 1 mile south of Washington Heights.
The flight then entered another level cruise phase, which lasted for 3 minutes and covered a distance of 4 nautical miles. This phase was initiated overhead Englewood Cliffs in New Jersey. The aircraft then began another climb phase, ascending from 1,380 feet asl to 2,497 feet asl, an increase of 1,118 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles. The climb started 1 mile south east of Alpine.
The flight then entered another level cruise phase, which lasted for 3 minutes and covered a distance of 2 nautical miles. This phase was initiated 1 mile west of Hastings-on-Hudson in New York. The aircraft then began its descent from 2,340 feet asl to 1,413 feet asl, a decrease of 927 feet in 2 minutes, covering a distance of 3 nautical miles. The descent started overhead Rockleigh in New Jersey.
The flight then entered another level cruise phase, which lasted for 13 minutes and covered a distance of 14 nautical miles. This phase was initiated overhead Alpine in New Jersey. The final approach to runway 22 at Essex County Airport (KCDW) was initiated from the north east, with a heading of 203.0 degrees at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,223 feet above ground level (agl).
The landing on runway 22 at KCDW was successful, with a touchdown distance of 310 meters and a touchdown speed of 54 knots. The touchdown rate was excellent at -70 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was misaligned by 8.6 meters from the centerline. The local temperature was 1 degree Celsius.
In conclusion, the flight covered a total distance of 38 nautical miles, taking approximately 39 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 23 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Cessna C172 aircraft successfully landed on runway 22 at KCDW Essex County Airport, achieving a score of 87.2%. The final approach was initiated from the north-east, heading 203.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,223 feet above ground level (agl).
The aircraft's approach to the runway was satisfactory, with a good threshold height and a threshold speed that was well above the target at 69 knots. This indicates that the pilot had sufficient control over the aircraft's descent and speed. The touchdown distance of 310 meters was also within acceptable limits, demonstrating the pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's energy and touch down safely.
However, there was a slight deviation in the runway touchdown position, with the aircraft landing 8.6 meters off the centerline. This may be attributed to a slight miscalculation in the pilot's alignment or a minor deviation in the aircraft's trajectory during the final approach.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 1°C, which may have had a minimal impact on the aircraft's performance. Overall, the landing was considered good, with a touchdown speed of 54 knots and a touchdown rate of -70 feet per minute (fpm), which was excellent.
The pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's speed and energy during the final approach and landing was evident, as was their control over the aircraft's descent and alignment with the runway. However, the slight deviation in the runway touchdown position may indicate a need for further refinement in the pilot's approach and landing techniques.
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