Flight Phases

Flight Phase 1: Pre-flight, Taxi and Take Off

This phase involves the flight beginning, from when the aircraft is ready to 'start engines'
through to take-off. The aircraft is pushed back from the gate and is placed into a position
where it can safely start its engines, to taxi under its own power to the take-off point for the
runway in use.

Takeoff:  is the phase of flight in which the aircraft goes from the ground to flying in the air.
This usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground (taxiing) on
a runway. 

Flight Phase 2: Departure and Climb

The aircraft will become airborne and start climbing under direction from air traffic control
who allows it to achieve its desired track and climb to cruise altitude.

The climb phase, of a typical flight of a plane, is the period during which the aircraft climbs
to a predetermined cruising altitude after take-off. The climb phase immediately follows
take-off and precedes the cruise phase of the flight. In the climb phase a combination of
power and up elevator is used.

Flight Phase 3: Enroute Cruise

Enroute Cruise is the part of the flight in which the plane is operating on its flight-planned
route at 'optimum' altitudes for the weight and engine configuration of the aircraft to enable
it to fly between its departure and arrival points as efficiently and comfortably as possible.
Cruise is the phase of the flight where flight is most fuel efficient. It occurs
between ascent and descent phases and is usually the majority of a journey. Technically,
cruising consists of heading (direction of flight) at a constant speed and altitude. It ends
when the plane approaches the destination and the descent phase of flight begins in
preparation for landing.

Flight Phase 4: Descent and Approach

Descent: Intentional descents are done to land, avoid other air traffic or poor flight
conditions (turbulence, icing conditions, or bad weather), clouds (particularly under visual
flight rules), to see something lower, to enter warmer air.
Normal descents take place at a constant airspeed and constant angle of descent. The pilot
controls the angle of descent by varying engine power and pitch angle (lowering the nose) to
keep the airspeed constant.
A descent involves reducing power and adjusting to maintain the desired airspeed.
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Approach: During this phase, the airplane is q ahlined up to the runway.

Flight Phase 5: Landing

Landing is the last part of a flight, when the aircraft returns to the ground.

To land, the airspeed and the rate of descent are reduced to obtain a gentle touch down. In
order to land, the pilot slows down and descends to the runway. This speed reduction is
made by reducing thrust and/or increasing drag using flaps, landing gear or speed brakes.