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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 14 stages, 12 scored
Events
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Events
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
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.
Side view — the last 875 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 875 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 110 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 31W at CAC8 Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome, where the Kodiak 100 aircraft took off with a takeoff distance of 202 meters, which was 30% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 42 knots. At the time of departure, the local weather conditions were a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 10 knots at 16 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 8 knots and a headwind of 6 knots.
The enroute level cruise started shortly after takeoff, overhead Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, and lasted less than a minute, covering less than a nautical mile. The aircraft then began an enroute climb from 272 feet above sea level to 3,324 feet above sea level, an increase of 3,052 feet in 5 minutes, covering 10 nautical miles. This climb phase was also initiated overhead Nanaimo.
Following the climb, the aircraft entered another enroute level cruise, this time 6 miles southeast of Parksville, British Columbia, Canada, and lasted 2 minutes, covering 4 nautical miles. The next phase of the flight was an enroute descent from 3,394 feet above sea level to 726 feet above sea level, a decrease of 2,668 feet in 3 minutes, covering 7 nautical miles. This descent was initiated 2 miles southeast of Parksville.
The aircraft then entered another enroute level cruise, this time 1 mile northwest of CAT4 Qualicum Beach Airport, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada, and lasted 2 minutes, covering 1 nautical mile. The final approach to runway 11 at CAT4 Qualicum Beach Airport was initiated from the northwest, heading 122.0 degrees at 0 nautical miles and 75 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 11 at CAT4 Qualicum Beach Airport was successful, with a runway length of 875 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was also good at 66 knots. The touchdown distance was 108 meters, which was good, but the touchdown speed of 65 knots was a little fast. The touchdown rate was very hard at -594 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 10 knots at 10 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 9 knots and a tailwind of 5 knots. The total landing distance was 386 meters, which was 44% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area from the runway, taking 1 minute and covering less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 23 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 13 minutes. The aircraft used 44 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Kodiak 100 aircraft successfully landed at Qualicum Beach Airport, achieving a score of 90.5%. The final approach was conducted from the northwest, heading 122.0° at 0 nm and 75 ft above ground level (agl). The aircraft demonstrated good control and precision as it descended onto runway 11, which has a length of 875 meters.
Upon touchdown, the threshold height was satisfactory, and the threshold speed was maintained at a good 66 knots. However, the touchdown speed of 65 knots was slightly faster than ideal, which may have contributed to a harder-than-desired touchdown rate. The touchdown rate of -594 feet per minute (fpm) was indeed very hard, indicating a potentially rough landing experience for the passengers and crew.
Despite the slightly fast touchdown speed, the aircraft's runway touchdown alignment was perfect, demonstrating excellent control and precision during the final stages of the approach. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15°C, with a wind speed of 10 knots at 10°. The crosswind component was 9 knots, while the tailwind component was 5 knots.
The total landing distance of 386 meters was 44% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight. This suggests that the pilot executed a well-planned and controlled approach, taking into account the wind conditions and the aircraft's performance characteristics. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the pilot maintained control and stability during the post-landing phase.
Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated good skills and judgment in executing a safe and controlled approach and landing. However, there is room for improvement in terms of touchdown speed and rate to achieve a smoother landing experience.
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