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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 · 11 stages, 10 scored
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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 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,524 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 801 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The aircraft used for this flight was a Cessna Skyhawk, a well-known single-engine plane suitable for short to medium-distance flights. The pre-takeoff procedures began with the pilot taxiing the plane from the parking area to the runway at Dalaman International Airport, which took only 2 minutes and covered a distance of under a nautical mile.
Once cleared for departure, the pilot initiated the takeoff roll on runway 01. The takeoff distance covered 27% of the 803-meter long runway, indicating a relatively smooth and efficient departure process. Liftoff speed was reached at 80 kt, and with favorable local weather conditions, including a temperature of 16 °C and a relatively light headwind of 1 kt from 270 °, the climb was underway.
After departing from Dalaman, the pilot initiated the enroute climb, starting about 1 mile south of the airport and climbing from an elevation of 606 feet above sea level to 3,024 feet in 5 minutes, a gain of 2,419 feet. This was accomplished while covering a distance of approximately 8 nautical miles. Following the climb phase, the enroute level cruise began 5 miles south of Sarigerme, where the pilot maintained a steady altitude for 47 minutes, flying over a distance of 93 nautical miles.
As the flight progressed, the pilot initiated the enroute descent 4 miles west of Olymbos in the South Aegean region of Greece. Descending from an altitude of 5,894 feet above sea level to 21 feet above ground level, the pilot successfully covered 7 nautical miles in just 3 minutes, reducing the altitude by an impressive 5,873 feet.
Upon approaching the final destination, the pilot executed a controlled descent from 15 feet above ground level to 0 feet. This phase was completed in just 8 seconds, with the plane touching down 6 miles southwest of Olymbos, where the pilot successfully maintained a speed of 50 kt for a good touchdown and achieved an excellent touchdown rate of -89 fpm. The touchdown distance was also noted as being within expected parameters at 260 meters.
Finally, the total flight distance was recorded at 110 nautical miles, covering the entire route in 59 minutes, with the Cessna Skyhawk consuming approximately 38 kilograms of fuel during the journey. Overall, the flight demonstrates the capabilities and efficiency of the Cessna Skyhawk in a variety of operational scenarios.
The Cessna Skyhawk recently executed a successful landing at Olymbos in the South Aegean region of Greece. With a score of 81.4%, the aircraft demonstrated a commendable performance throughout the landing procedure. As the Cessna approached the runway, it began its descent from an altitude of 15 feet above ground level (agl) to a level landing. The rate at which the aircraft lost altitude was impressive, with a decrease of 15 feet in a mere 8 seconds.
During the touch-down, the aircraft maintained a speed of 50 knots, which is a relatively slow speed for a Cessna Skyhawk but is more than sufficient for a safe and stable touch-down. The pilot's ability to control the aircraft and maintain a steady speed is a testament to their skill and experience. The landing rate of -89 feet per minute (fpm) is also noteworthy, indicating a gentle, controlled approach that minimizes the risk of bounce-back or other complications.
Another key factor in the successful landing was the pilot's ability to maintain the correct distance from the runway threshold. The touchdown distance of 260 meters is considered good, indicating that the pilot had sufficient time to react to any changing circumstances during the approach. Overall, the landing was executed smoothly, and the Cessna Skyhawk touched down safely and efficiently.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing also played a significant role in the aircraft's performance. The temperature was a relatively cool 16 degrees Celsius, which is suitable for a normal landing operation. The wind conditions were also favorable, with a gentle 2-knot breeze from the southwest. This meant that the pilot did not have to contend with significant crosswinds or headwinds, which can make a landing more challenging. However, a slight headwind of 1 knot was present, but it is unlikely to have had a significant impact on the overall landing performance.
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