Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 14 stages, 12 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 1,204 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,204 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 256 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with taxiing from the parking area to the runway, which took approximately 3 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a Cessna C172, then departed from runway 26 at ETAR Ramstein Air Base. The takeoff distance was 257 meters, which accounted for 8% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 66 knots, and the local weather conditions at the time of departure were a temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 11 knots at 250 degrees. The crosswind component was 2 knots, and the headwind component was 10 knots.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airfield, it began its enroute climb, which started overhead Ramstein-Miesenbach. The climb took less than 1 minute and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile, during which the aircraft ascended from 1,774 feet above sea level to 2,077 feet above sea level, an increase of 303 feet. The enroute level cruise then began, which lasted for 41 minutes and covered a distance of 94 nautical miles. This phase of the flight took place overhead Landstuhl.
The final approach to runway 25 at ETHN Niederstetten Army Air Base was made from the east, with a heading of 251.0 degrees at an altitude of 255 feet above ground level. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 7 knots at 190 degrees. The crosswind component was 7 knots, and the headwind component was 3 knots. The touchdown speed was 43 knots, which was good, and the touchdown distance was 253 meters, which was also good. However, the runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned by 16.3 meters from the centreline.
The total landing distance was 441 meters, which accounted for 37% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 15.8 meters from the centreline. Taxiing to the parking area from the runway took approximately 2 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 99 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 56 minutes. The aircraft used 26 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Cessna C172 aircraft successfully landed on runway 25 at ETHN Niederstetten Army Air Base, achieving an overall score of 82.5%. The final approach was initiated from the east, heading 251.0° at 0 nm and 255 ft above ground level (agl). The aircraft maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed of 54 kn was well below the target, indicating a controlled descent. However, pilots were advised to exercise caution to avoid stalling the aircraft. The touchdown distance of 253 m was satisfactory, and the touchdown speed of 43 kn was also within acceptable limits. The touchdown rate of -345 fpm was firm, suggesting a controlled impact.
Despite the successful landing, there were some areas for improvement. The runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned by 16.3 m from the centreline, which may have been due to factors such as crosswind or pilot error. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 0 °C and wind speeds of 7 kn at 190°, may have contributed to the misalignment.
The crosswind component of 7 kn and headwind component of 3 kn may have affected the aircraft's alignment during the landing. The total landing distance of 441 m was 37% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. However, the runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 15.8 m from the centreline, indicating that the aircraft may have drifted off the centreline during the rollout phase.
Overall, the landing was successful, but there were some areas for improvement, particularly in terms of alignment and rollout. Pilots can use this feedback to refine their skills and improve their performance in similar conditions.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values