Performance for pilots
How much runway, climb and fuel an airplane needs: takeoff and landing performance, the takeoff speeds, climb gradients and obstacle clearance, contaminated runways and the performance classes, from EASA ATPL subject 032.
CPL · IR · ATPL
Approach Speeds and Go-Around Climb Requirements
The reference and final approach speeds with their wind, gust and ice additives, and the approach-climb and landing-climb gradient requirements that can limit landing mass.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Aquaplaning
The three types of aquaplaning (hydroplaning), the aquaplaning speed formula, and the effect on braking and directional control.
CPL · ATPL
Brake Energy and Tire Speed Limits
Brake energy and tire speed limits on takeoff and landing, VMBE, brake cooling schedules and turnaround limits, and dispatch with anti-skid inoperative.
CPL · ATPL
Buffet Boundaries and Maximum Altitude
Aerodynamic and thrust-limited ceilings, buffet onset charts and the 1.3 g maneuver margin, coffin corner, and the high-speed limits of critical Mach and Mach tuck.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Climb Performance
Climb gradient versus rate of climb, excess thrust and excess power, Vx and Vy, climb speed schedules and crossover altitude, and climb planning tables.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Declared Distances: TORA, TODA, ASDA and LDA
The four declared distances published for every runway, how clearways, stopways and displaced thresholds change them, and how pilots compare them with required distances.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Density Altitude
What density altitude is, how pressure, temperature and humidity set it, how to calculate it and why it governs engine, propeller and wing performance.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Descent Performance
The forces in a steady descent, gradient and rate of descent, the effects of mass, wind, speed and configuration, maximum-angle and minimum-rate descents, and emergency descents.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Factors Affecting Takeoff and Landing Performance
How density altitude, temperature, humidity, runway slope and runway surface change takeoff and landing distances, with the Class B correction factors and the Koch chart.
CPL · ATPL
Landing Distance
Certified, factored and in-flight landing distances, the 60% and 70% dispatch rules, the wet runway factor, the most favorable and most likely runway rule, and assessment at time of arrival.
PPL · CPL
Light Aircraft Performance Charts
How to read the takeoff, landing, climb and cruise charts of a light aircraft flight manual, the corrections they assume and the safety factors pilots add.
CPL · ATPL
Light Twin Engine-Out Flying and Performance
Flying a light twin after an engine failure: identify, verify, feather, the blue-line and red-line speeds, single-engine climb and ceiling, and the accelerate-stop decision.
CPL · ATPL
Minimum Control Speeds
The critical engine, asymmetric thrust and windmilling drag, and the minimum control speeds VMCG, VMCA and VMCL, plus the safe single-engine speed for light twins.
CPL · ATPL
One Engine Inoperative En-Route Performance
Performance after an engine failure en route: AEO, OEI and engine-out terms, the net en-route flight path, OEI and single-engine ceilings and cruise speed, and VXSE and VYSE for light twins.
CPL · ATPL
Performance Classes and Data
Performance classes A, B and C, gross versus net performance and gradients, planning factors, and how to read performance charts, carpet plots and tables.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Range, Endurance and Gliding
The speeds for maximum range and maximum endurance, the Breguet range equation, and glide performance, best glide speed, glide ratio, glide range and minimum sink.
CPL · ATPL
Reduced and Derated Takeoff Thrust
Engine thrust ratings, and how the assumed temperature (FLEX) method and derated thrust are used for takeoff and climb, with their limits.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Structural and Operating Speed Limits
The design and operating speed limits (VA, VB, VC, VD, VNO, VNE, VMO/MMO, VFE and VLO/VLE), turbulence penetration speed, and flap maneuvering and minimum clean speeds.
CPL · ATPL
Takeoff Climb Segments
The segments of the one-engine-inoperative takeoff climb, their gradient requirements, acceleration and thrust reduction heights, flap retraction and VFTO.
CPL · ATPL
Takeoff Distances and Field Length
Takeoff run, takeoff distance and accelerate-stop distance, stopway and clearway, screen height, and balanced versus unbalanced field length.
CPL · ATPL
Takeoff Flight Path and Obstacle Clearance
The gross and net takeoff flight paths, reference zero, the takeoff flight path area and obstacle accountability area, the required obstacle clearances, and engine-out SIDs.
CPL · ATPL
Takeoff Mass Limitations
How the performance-limited takeoff mass comes from the field, climb, obstacle and MAT limits using RTOW charts, and how flap choice, improved climb and packs-off takeoffs can raise it.
CPL · ATPL
Takeoff Speeds: V1, VR and V2
The takeoff V-speeds and how they fit together, from VEF, V1 and VR to VMU, VLOF and V2, with engine failure recognition time, balanced field length, rotation technique and the certification rules that set each speed.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
V-Speeds: A Complete Reference
Every V-speed a pilot meets, from VS0, VX and VY to V1, VR, V2, VMCA, VREF and VMO/MMO, with what each means and where it is defined.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Wet and Contaminated Runways
How the runway surface affects friction, braking and acceleration, from dry and wet surfaces to slush, snow and ice, with contaminant drag, aquaplaning, grooving and the GRF runway condition codes.
PPL · CPL · ATPL
Wind Components and Crosswind Limits
Resolving wind into headwind, tailwind and crosswind components, factoring wind in performance calculations, and demonstrated crosswind and tailwind limits.
Test yourself on Performance
The v1prep banks cover this topic in Performance (032), with a worked explanation for every answer.
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