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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 17 stages, 15 scored
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 for a circuit: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
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.
The 131 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The GA-8 Airvan Commuter, registration N13AV, commenced its taxiing from the parking area to the runway and completed the process within less than a minute, covering a distance of less than one nautical mile. This marked the beginning of the flight, which involved taking off from runway 26 at EGNS Isle of Man Airport.
As the aircraft departed, it covered a takeoff distance of 297 meters, which equated to 19% of the runway's length. The aircraft reached its liftoff speed of 67 knots at this point. The weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 16°C, wind at 2 knots from a direction of 269°, with a slight crosswind and headwind contributing to a negligible effect.
Following the takeoff, the aircraft completed a right-hand pattern entry from runway 26, traversing a distance of one nautical mile within 157 seconds. As the aircraft continued with its right-hand pattern, it experienced a crosswind component from runway 26, requiring an adjustment to maintain a stable course. This maneuver was completed in less than one nautical mile within 13 seconds.
As the aircraft entered the downwind phase of its right-hand pattern, it traveled a distance of five nautical miles while maintaining an angle of 45 degrees relative to the runway. This segment comprised two distinct sub-phases: the turn and the downwind leg itself. The turn required a distance of five nautical miles, executed at an angle of 12.7 degrees to the runway, while the downwind leg lasted for less than one nautical mile, requiring 10 seconds to complete.
The aircraft then initiated its base leg, again employing a right-hand turn from the downwind position, spanning a distance of five nautical miles at an angle of 163.5 degrees relative to the runway. This sub-phase comprised two further components: the turn and the base leg itself. The turn required a distance of five nautical miles, executed at an angle of 163.5 degrees relative to the runway, while the base leg lasted for less than one nautical mile, requiring 7 seconds to complete.
The final segment of the aircraft's right-hand pattern was the final turn, which was executed towards the runway. This maneuver required a distance of three nautical miles, lasting 275 seconds to complete.
With the right-hand pattern successfully executed, the aircraft proceeded to conduct a final approach to runway 08 at EGNS Isle of Man Airport from a westerly heading of 77.0 degrees at an altitude of 0 nautical miles and 167 feet above ground level.
As the aircraft touched down on runway 08, a runway length of 1,524 meters was utilized. Weather conditions at this point were characterized by a temperature of 15°C, wind at 2 knots from a direction of 270°, with a slight tailwind and negligible crosswind.
The threshold speed was slightly below the target speed, reaching 64 knots, making the touchdown distance an impressive 129 meters. The touchdown speed of 56 knots was also satisfactory, as was the touchdown rate of -82 feet per minute, which was outstanding.
Throughout the landing, the aircraft's runway touchdown alignment was perfect, with only slight variations from the expected alignment. The total landing distance was 575 meters, equating to 38% of the runway's length. Additionally, the runway rollout alignment was satisfactory.
Overall, the aircraft completed a successful flight of nine nautical miles within 11 minutes, resulting in a fuel consumption of 6 kilograms, and landing safely within the given runway constraints.
On a recent instance, the GA-8 Airvan Commuter aircraft with registration N13AV successfully landed at Isle of Man Airport (EGNS) on runway 08. The aircraft demonstrated a precise approach from the west, aligning itself with the designated runway and maintaining a heading of 77.0° at a distance of 0 nm and an altitude of 167 ft above ground level (agl).
Despite a slightly below-target threshold speed of 64 kt, the aircraft was able to execute an effective landing. The touchdown distance of 129 m was satisfactory, showcasing the pilot's control and precision during the landing maneuver. At touchdown, the aircraft achieved a speed of 56 kt, which fell within the acceptable parameters, and descended at an impressive rate of -82 ft/min, a testament to the aircraft's smooth operation.
The conditions on the day of the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle tailwind of 2 kt blowing from the west. There was no crosswind, and the runway was long enough (1,524 m) to absorb the aircraft's momentum.
A critical aspect of the landing was the runway touchdown alignment, which was perfect, allowing the aircraft to maintain its forward momentum and minimizing the risk of a wheels-up landing. Additionally, the runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating that the pilot maintained control and steering throughout the landing process.
The overall performance of the aircraft and the pilot during this landing was impressive, with a total landing distance of 575 m, which was only 38% of the available runway length. This showcases the aircraft's agility and the pilot's expertise in executing a smooth and controlled landing.
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