Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg turn
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 14 stages, 13 scored
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 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.
Side view — the last 841 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 841 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 68 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 16 at UBZA Zabrat Airport, where the Cessna CJ4 Citation took off with a takeoff distance of 97 meters, which accounted for 12% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 108 knots, and the aircraft was able to lift off the ground quickly.
As the aircraft entered the local traffic pattern, it followed a right-hand pattern entry from runway 16, completing the maneuver in less than 1 nautical mile in 17 seconds. The right-hand pattern crosswind was also executed efficiently, taking less than 1 nautical mile in 8 seconds. The aircraft then proceeded to the downwind turn, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile at an angle of 71.1 degrees to the runway.
The downwind leg was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 8 seconds, and the base leg turn was executed at an angle of 85.5 degrees to the runway. The base leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 52 seconds to complete. The final turn was the longest part of the pattern, covering 2 nautical miles in 142 seconds.
As the aircraft approached the runway, it was on a heading of 165.0 degrees at an altitude of 148 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. The final approach was made with a good threshold height, and the threshold speed was also good at 95 knots.
The landing was successful, with a touchdown distance of 67 meters, which was considered good. However, the touchdown speed was a little fast at 93 knots, and the touchdown rate was firm at -340 feet per minute (fpm). The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, and the aircraft came to rest on the runway with minimal deviation.
The flight was completed with a total distance of 6 nautical miles, taking 4 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 16 kilograms of fuel during the flight, indicating a relatively efficient performance. The local weather conditions remained consistent throughout the flight, with a temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 14 knots at 160 degrees. The crosswind was minimal at 1 knot, while the headwind was 14 knots.
The Cessna CJ4 Citation successfully landed at UBZA Zabrat Airport, achieving a high score of 98.3%. The aircraft approached the runway from the north, heading 165.0° at an altitude of 148 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles (nm) from the runway. The pilot executed a precise final approach, taking into account the local weather conditions.
The temperature at the time of landing was 12°C, with a moderate wind blowing at 14 knots (kn) from a direction of 160°. This resulted in a crosswind of 1 kn and a headwind of 14 kn, which the pilot effectively managed during the landing. The runway length at UBZA Zabrat Airport is 841 meters, providing a sufficient distance for the aircraft to touch down safely.
The pilot maintained a good threshold height, ensuring a smooth and controlled descent. The threshold speed was also within the acceptable range at 95 kn, indicating a well-executed approach. However, the touchdown speed of 93 kn was slightly faster than desired, which may have resulted in a firmer touchdown rate.
The touchdown distance of 67 meters was good, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's skill and attention to detail. The touchdown rate of -340 feet per minute (fpm) was firm, which may be attributed to the slightly faster touchdown speed. Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot's performance was commendable, considering the challenging weather conditions.
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