Performance Charts

Definition of Performance
• Expected values that the pilot can anticipate:
• Fuel Burn
• Climb Rates
• Landing and Takeoff Calculations

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Performance Section of POH
• Always Section 5 of the POH
• GLENPWAS:
• General
• Limitations
• Emergency Procedures
• Normal Procedures
• Performance
• Weight and Balance
• Aircraft Systems
• Supplements

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Assumptions
• Certain assumptions are made with the POH Performance Section:
• Pilot performs tasks correctly
• Good engine – brand new airplane
• Test pilot

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Interpretation
• Pilots must know how to interpret the charts
• Otherwise they are useless
• Liability for those that do not follow the charts

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Formats – Table (Cessna Style)
• The table format is designed to be fast and accurate
• Cessna and Beechcraft are big into the table style
• Pilots must read and understand ALL notes
• Notes for things such as Grass Runways, Wet Runways, Flap Conditions, etc.

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Socrative Question 1:
• Given the following table for the Cessna 172, compute:
• Takeoff distance for Montgomery Field
• Takeoff distance for a Dry, Grass Runway
• Takeoff runway 28R with 9 knots of Headwind
• 20 Degrees Celsius
• 2000 feet Pressure Altitude

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Interpolation
• The pilot’s way of averaging
• Used more in the Table format than the Graph format
• Take the two numbers and divide by two
• Could be interpolating multiple times on a chart
• Take the Cessna chart for example:
• 15 degrees Celsius
• 1500 foot Pressure Altitude

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Extrapolation
• It’s possible that the test pilot did not fly all of the values that are
possible for the given airplane
• For that case, we can follow the line, or make a general guess to what
the values are based on their indicated trend
• Example:
• Piper based in Vero Beach, Florida
• Some fly in Alaska at high altitudes
• Density altitude may not be possible for 10,000 feet

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Cautions on Extrapolation
• Remember that nothing is a “given” when you extrapolate
• If you decide to continue these values, you assume the responsibility
and risk if something were to go wrong
• Best practice: Don’t go if it is not in the performance section

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Graph Format
• Familiarity with Piper
• Designed to be more beneficial for multiple situations
• Pilot can input a variety of factors
• Notes still must be read, but fewer than in the Table format

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Socrative Question 2:
• Given the following table for the Piper Warrior, compute:
• Takeoff distance for Montgomery Field
• Takeoff runway 28R with 9 knots of Headwind
• 20 Degrees Celsius
• 2000 feet Pressure Altitude

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So What Gives?
• We Care about all charts for the Archer
• So let’s go through them one by one with situations that you would
use each chart

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5-1 Temperature Conversion
• Why use it?
• When to use it

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5-3 Airspeed Calibration
• Why use it?
• CAS is one of the primary reference points, as it describes the dynamic
pressure acting on aircraft surfaces regardless of the existing conditions of
temperature, pressure altitude or wind
• CAS is an Intermediate step for TAS
• When to use it
• Before every flight

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5-5 Stall Speeds
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Before every flight

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5-7 Flaps Up Takeoff Performance
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Prior to normal takeoff with an obstacle

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5-9 25 Degrees Flaps Takeoff Performance
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Prior to short field takeoff

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5-11 Takeoff Performance
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Prior to normal takeoff

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5-13 25 Degrees Flaps Takeoff Performance
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Prior to takeoff with 25 degrees flaps but no obstacle

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5-15 Climb Performance
• Why use it?
• Determine your climb rate prior to flight
• When to use it
• Prior to each flight to “feel” how far you are from the charts described values

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5-17 Time, Distance and Fuel to Climb
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Prior to each flight to determine distance to climb
• Obstacle and Terrain Clearance
• Airspace Clearance (Do you need to circle?)

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5-19 Engine Performance
• Why use it?
• Determine Cruise fuel flow
• Determine RPM
• When to use it

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5-21 Speed Power Performance Cruise
• Why use it?
• Determine True Airspeed
• When to use it
• How are you leaning the Mixture?

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5-23 Speed Power Economy Cruise
• Why use it?
• Determine True Airspeed
• When to use it
• How are you leaning the Mixture?

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5-25 Range – Best Power
• Why use it?
• Determine Maximum Range
• When to use it
• How are you leaning the Mixture?

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5-27 Range – Best Economy
• Why use it?
• Determine Maximum Range
• When to use it
• How are you leaning the Mixture?

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5-29 Range – Endurance
• Why use it?
• Determine how long you can Fly
• When to use it
• How are you leaning the Mixture?

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5-31 Time, Fuel, Distance to Descend
• Why use it?
• Determine when to begin descent
• The meatball rule for higher altitudes
• When to use it
• Note: 122 KIAS descent

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5-33 Glide Range
• Why use it?
• Every flight!
• When to use it
• Note: Max. Weight

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5-35 Landing Performance
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Over 50 foot barrier

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5-37 Landing Ground Roll
• Why use it?
• When to use it
• Normal Landing

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Factors that Affect Performance
• Weight
• Wings Generate Lift
• Energy used for lift can’t be used for other things (engine power)
• Wind
• Help or Hinder
• Why do we takeoff into the wind?

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Factors that Affect Performance (cont.)
• Density Altitude
• High, Hot & Humid – Reduce Performance
• Engine Performance lowered
• Engine must take in a larger volume of air
• Wings and Propeller as well
• Lower Air Density reduces drag
• Pressure Altitude
• Only used as an intermediate calculation

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Takeoff and Landing Performance
• Weight
• Affects ability to generate lift
• Affects ability to brake
• Wind
• Creates drag – induced drag creates lift
• Runway Conditions
• Snowy / Icy reduces braking
• Hydroplaning
• Snow / Slush may create more drag

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Takeoff and Landing Performance (cont.)
• Runway Surface
• Asphalt
• Grass
• Dirt
• Runway Gradient
• Upslope increases takeoff
• Downslope decreases takeoff
• Opposite affect on landing

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Climb Performance
• VX – Best Angle of Climb
• Used to clear obstacles
• Most Altitude over Distance
• Normally increases slightly with altitude

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Climb Performance (cont.)
• VY – Best Rate of Climb
• Used for normal climb
• Maximum increase of altitude over time
• Normally decreases slightly with altitude

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Climb Performance (cont.)
• Service Ceiling – Airplane only climbs 100 foot per minute
• ATC – Climb Requirements
• Absolute Ceiling – The Airplane will no longer climb
Sample VX Meeting VY
78
76
74
72
70
68
66
64
62
60
58
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 11000 12000 13000 14000
 Vx  Vy

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Climb Performance (cont.)
• When to use VX
• Clearing an Obstacle
• When to use VY
• Normal Climb

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Climb Performance (cont.)
• When to use VX
• Clearing an Obstacle
• When to use VY
• Normal Climb

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References
• Jeppesen Private Pilot Guided Flight Manual
• Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
• Piper Archer II POH
• Cessna 172 POH
• Piper Cherokee Warrior POH

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