Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 12 stages, 11 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,771 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 398 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 23 at Queenstown International Airport (NZQN). The Airbus A320 took off with a takeoff distance of 575 meters, which accounted for 32% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 161 knots, and the aircraft climbed away from the airport.
As the aircraft climbed, it started to ascend from an altitude of 2,086 feet above sea level to 2,099 feet above sea level, an increase of 13 feet in just one minute. This climb phase covered a distance of 2 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its descent for the final approach to runway 05 at NZQN, approaching from the southwest at a heading of 56.0 degrees and at an altitude of 918 feet above ground level.
The final approach was followed by a smooth landing on runway 05, which had a length of 1,771 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 124 knots. The touchdown distance was also good, at 398 meters. However, the touchdown speed was a little fast at 113 knots, and the touchdown rate was perfect at -50 feet per minute.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 5.3 meters. The local weather conditions during the landing were characterized by a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 4 knots from a direction of 60 degrees. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind component was 4 knots. The total landing distance was 1,178 meters, which accounted for 66% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating a smooth and controlled deceleration of the aircraft after touchdown.
The total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 3 minutes. The aircraft used a total of 93 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Airbus A320 successfully landed at Queenstown International Airport (NZQN) with a score of 98.5%. The aircraft approached the runway from the southwest, heading 56.0° at 2 nautical miles and 918 feet above ground level (agl). The final approach was executed with precision, and the aircraft touched down on runway 05, which has a length of 1,771 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, but the threshold speed was slightly above the target at 124 knots. However, the touchdown distance of 398 meters was within acceptable limits. The touchdown speed of 113 knots was a bit faster than desired, but the touchdown rate of -50 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 5.3 meters, which may require some adjustments during future approaches. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 6°C, with a wind speed of 4 knots at 60°. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind component was 4 knots, which likely contributed to the smooth landing.
The total landing distance of 1,178 meters was 66% of the runway length, indicating a relatively short landing roll. The runway rollout alignment was very good, demonstrating the pilot's skill and control during the landing phase. Overall, the landing was successful, and the aircraft came to a stop in a controlled manner, with the pilot achieving a high score of 98.5%.
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