Climb Phase

Question 1

How can the takeoff climb flight path be divided? What are the minimum climb gradients for each phase in a twin (N-1)?

Answer 1

Can be divided into 4 segments

1: from 35ft until gear retracted - 0.0% climb
2: until acceleration altitude - 2.4%
3: until green dot (best climb) - N/A
4: until 1500ft AGL - 1.2%

Question 2

What is the gear, flap/slat and engine configuration for each of the phases of the takeoff flight path?

Answer 2

Gear / Flap & Slat / Engine

1: retracting / Takeoff / TOGA or FLEX
2: retracted / Takeoff / TOGA or FLEX
3: retracted / Retracting / TOGA or FLEX
4: retracted / clean / MCT

Question 3

What speed should an aircraft be doing during each segment of the takeoff climb?

Answer 3

1: V2
2: V2
3: Accelerating to green dot (best climb)
4: Green dot

Question 4

When is gross/ net flight path used? What is the difference? What is the correction that is applied for a twin? Quad?

Answer 4

Gross: Actual path flown by aircraft
Net: gross flight path minus a mandatory reduction - 0.8% for a twin, 1.0% for a Quad

Gross: for climb gradients
Net: for obstacle clearance

Question 5

What restrictions are applied to takeoff turn procedures?

Answer 5

• Not turning until at least 50ft and half the wingspan above the runway
• Up to 400ft may bank up to 15˚
• Above 400ft up to 25˚ or if in USA not more than 15˚

Note: specific approval can increase to 20˚ or 30˚ depending on segment

Question 6

How much must the net flight path clear all obstacles by on a straight takeoff? What about in a turn?

Answer 6

AoB < 15˚ = 35ft

AoB > 15˚ = 50ft

Question 7

What does the takeoff funnel of a JAR-OPS straight out funnel look like?

Answer 7

• 90m either side of centreline at the start of takeoff flight path until end of clearway
• Expands outwards at 12.5% (7.1˚) until 300m either side of track
• Follows 300m either side of track

Question 8

What does the takeoff funnel of a JAR-OPS turning departure funnel look like?

Answer 8

• 90m wide to start
• Expands outwards
• During turn expands outwards at 12.5% (7.1˚) until 600m either side of track
• Follows 600m either side of track

Question 9

What does the takeoff funnel of a FAR straight out funnel look like?

Answer 9

• 200ft either side of centreline until airport boundary

- 300ft either side beyond airport boundary

Question 10

What allowances must be made for wind on T/O?

Answer 10

• not less than 150% of REPORTED TWC

- not more than 50% of REPORTED HWC

Question 11

What is the effect of increase pressure altitude on thrust, TOD and climb gradients?

Answer 11

• Decrease thrust
• Longer TOD
• Shallowed climb gradients

Question 12

What is the effect of increase temperature on TOD, thrust, and climb gradients?

Answer 12

• When temp is below T(ref) no effect ton thrust
• Increase TOD
• Shallower climb gradients

Question 13

Between what runway slope values can a runway be considered flat for an Airbus?

Answer 13

From -2% to +2%

Question 14

What effect on TOD and ASD will an upward or downward slope have?

Answer 14

Upward: Increase TOD, Decrease ASD
Downward: decrease TOD, increase ASD

Question 15

What is the definition of a dry runway?

Answer 15

One that is not wet or contaminated
It includes paved runways that are specially prepared with groves or porous pavement to maintain effectively dry braking action even when moisture is present

Question 16

What is the definition of a damp runway?

Answer 16

when it is not considered dry by the moisture does not give it a shiny appearance

Question 17

What is the definition of a wet runway?

Answer 17

• RWY surface is covered with water with a depth less than or equal to 3mm, or
• Sufficient moisture for reflective appearance but without significant areas of standing water

Question 18

What is the definition of a contaminated runway?

Answer 18

When more than 25% of runway surface area within required length is covered by the following:

• Standing water (greater than 3mm)
• Slush
• Wet snow
• Dry snow
• Compacted snow
• Ice

Question 19

What will a hard runway contaminant (Snow/Ice) compared to a fluid contaminant (water/slush/wet snow) do to an aircraft?

Answer 19

Hard: Reduce friction forces
Fluid:Reduce friction forces, cause precipitation drag, aquaplaning

Question 20

How does wet vs contaminated runway affect ASD? What may be taken into account?

Answer 20

• Has no effect on ASD

- Reversers are allowed to be accounted for as soon as the runway is not dry

Question 21

Where does the net take off flight path begin?

Answer 21

35 ft above the take-off surface at the end of the take-off distance

Question 22

Why may it be possible to achieve greater takeoff payloads on a wet/contaminated runway than on a dry runway? Is this allowed?

Answer 22

Reverse thrust is allowed when determining ASD on a wet runway but not dry, so when ASD is the limiting factor it will be shorter.
-JAR-OPS: “On a wet or contaminated RWY the take-off mass must not exceed than on a dry runway in the same conditions

Question 23

How can RTOW be determined on an Airbus? What does RTOW stand for?

Answer 23

Regulatory Take-off weight

-Can be done using onboard computer systems or paper RTOW chart

Question 24

What things will a RTOW chart tall you for a given Airport, runway and conditions?

Answer 24

• MTOW
• V1, Vr, V2
• What is limiting the MTOW

Question 25

What is the purpose of performing a Flexible or derated takeoff? Why is it possible to perform a flex/derated take-off?

Answer 25

- Increases engine life and reliability, reduces maintenance costs and operating costs - Possible due to actual take-off weight often lower than the maximum RTOW

Question 26

What is a Flexible take-off?

Answer 26

-Take-off at a REDUCED take-off thrust. This thrust is called flexible thrust

Question 27

How is a Flex t/o done? What is the limit to the thrust reduction?

Answer 27

- If actual TOW is less than max TOW in the conditions from RTOW chart, the flex temp for when the max TOW is the actual TOW can be found and inputted into the FMC. - Limited to a max thrust reduction of 25% of max take-off thrust in the conditions

Question 28

On what condition runways (wet/dry/contaminated) may a flex t/o or derated t/o be performed?

Answer 28

- Only on dry and damp unless extra stopping distance on wet surface is taken into account - Airbus allows for a flex takeoff on wet runways as FCOM and RTOW chart provide performance info for wet runways - Derated t/o may be performed on all runway conditions

Question 29

What is a derated take-off? How is done?

Answer 29

- Where take-off thrust is less than the maximum t/o thrust - Engines are 'derated' into different levels, and the takeoff thrust desired can be considered the maximum for the 'new' derated engine

Question 30

How does derated t/o differ from flexible t/o?

Answer 30

- the takeoff thrust is considered as a normal take-off operating limit - a separate set of t/o limitations and performance data is available for each different derate level

Question 31

How does a derated t/o affect V(MCG) and V(MCA)? Describe how will it affect MTOW?

Answer 31

- Reduces both, and yawing moment will be less in critical engine fails - Can increase MTOW on short runways as V1 must be above M(MCG). where ASD is the limiting factor a lower V(MCA) will reduce V1 and therefore lower ASD

Question 32

When may TOGA thrust be applied during a flex or derated takeoff?

Answer 32

Flex: whenever required Derate: only once airborne, due to different min control speeds

Question 33

Can a flex take-off be combined with a derated take-off?

Answer 33

No

Question 34

What aerodynamic conditions will achieve the the max climb gradient for a given weight and engine rating?

Answer 34

When thrust - drag is minimum | AKA: when L/D ratio is max

Question 35

What speed achieves the best L/D ratio?

Answer 35

Green Dot

Question 36

What aerodynamic conditions will achieve the the max rate of climb for a given weight?

Answer 36

When TAS*(thrust-drag) is max | AKA: the there is the greatest excess thrust

Question 37

What is the relationship between best rate speed and best gradient speed?

Answer 37

best rate of climb speed is greater than best gradient Vy > Vx

Question 38

What is the effect of pressure altitude and temperature on climb gradient and rate of climb?

Answer 38

Increase temp: decrease RoC and gradient Increase PA: Decrease RoC and gradient

Question 39

What is the effect of Weight and wind on climb gradient and rate of climb?

Answer 39

Increase weight: Decrease RoC and gradient Headwind: N/C to RoC, Increase ground gradient (no change to air gradient) Tailwind: N/C to RoC, decreased ground gradient (no change to air gradient)

Question 40

When is the climb ceiling reached?

Answer 40

when rate of climb is 300ft/min

Question 41

What happens to mach when climbing at constant TAS

Answer 41

Mach increases

Question 42

What happens to TAS in a climb at constant Mach?

Answer 42

Decreases

Question 43

What speeds should an aircraft climb at for a high or low cost index? TIME/FUEL?

Answer 43

Low CI (fuel expensive): IAS(econ) = Vy High CI (time expensive): IAS(econ) = V(mo)/M(mo) minus buffer (normally -10kts)

Question 44

How is the cabin climb managed? What is the max rate of cabin climb?

Answer 44

Manages by FMGS Limited to maximum of 1000ft/min

Question 45

What re the climb gradients in a Quad engine aircraft for the 4 segments of the takeoff?

Answer 45

1: 0.5% 2: 3.0% 3: 0.0% 4: 1.7%

Question 46

In the case of a drift-down procedure in a Quad, what is the gradient penalty applied to the net flight path for N-1 and N-2?

Answer 46

N-1: 1.6% | N-2: 0.5%