PRINCIPLES OF

TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE

BY “RANGER” LIOU
 Principals of Take-off Performance

• Takeoff performance is the way to find the

balance between Safety and Profit for airlines.
• OPT
• RAM
• Used only for specific operating airports by
EVA.
 Takeoff Phase
• Start from brake release, up to 1,500 feet
above runway level
• Whole procedure includes determination of
maximum allowable takeoff weight, takeoff
thrust, takeoff speeds, trim unit and flap
setting
• Exceeding the MATOW requires a reduction in
the actual takeoff weight.
 Basic Takeoff Limitations
• Field Length
• Climb Requirements
• Obstacle clearance after engine failure
• Max tire speed
• Max brake energy
Obstacle is limiting
 Field Length
• The field length limit is subject to all engine
takeoff distance, engine failure takeoff
distance (in GO case), or accelerate stop
distance (in NO GO case)
• Safely stop with event below V1 speed
• Safely continue takeoff to 35 feet above
runway with engine failure above V1
 Takeoff Speed
V1 <
=
V R V2
VMCG VEF< VMU VLOF
 <
= >
=
V1 < V MCA <
=V
=V
2
MBE

VMCG: Minimum Control Speed on the Ground.

VEF: Critical Engine Failure Speed.
V1: Takeoff Action Speed.
VR: Rotation Speed.
VMBE: Maximum Brake Energy Speed.
VMU: Minimun unstick speed
VLOF:Liftoff Speed
V2: Takeoff Safety Speed.
VMCA: Minimum Control Speed in the Air
 End of Runway
• Need to be at V2 speed
• Aircraft needs to be 35 feet above runway
• 15 feet above end of wet runway
 Definitions
• All Engine Takeoff Distance Brake release to
35 feet above the end of runway plus 15%
• One engine inop takeoff distance Brake
release to 35 feet above end of runway
• Accelerate Stop Distance Brake release to V1
then max brake to end of runway
• Balanced Field Length is when accelerate stop
is the same distance as Engine-Out Takeoff
 Takeoff Distance
All-Engine Take-off Distance
0.15D
D
 35FT
all engine take-off distance

Engine-Failure Take-off Distance

VEF V1
All engine acceleration 1Eng.lnop.Accel.


transition

35FT
Engine failure at VEF

engine failure take-off distance

 Field Length Limits
• Balanced V1/Field Length
• Takeoff with balanced V1 makes the engine
failure takeoff distance equal to accelerate
stop distance
• Used runway length
• Takeoff speeds given in AOM are based on
balanced V1
V1 balanced

E/O Take-off Distance=Accelerate Stop Distance
 Unbalanced field length
• The selected V1 is slower than balanced V1,
and takeoff weight is gained to be heavier
than in balanced condition.
 Unbalanced field length
• The selected V1 is faster than balanced V1,
and takeoff weight is also gained to be heavier
than in balanced condition
 Clearway

• Area beyond liftoff end of runway

• Designed to allow aircraft to reach 35 feet at a
later point, past the end of the runway
• Clearway is not allowed to be used on wet
runway. Aircraft must cross end of runway at 15
feet.
 Stopway

• As wide as runway
• Designed for stopping without damage to
aircraft
• Can support weight of aircraft
• Allowed to be used for calculating accelerate
stop distance
 Required Runway Length
• Varies a lot based on V1 decision speed
• Engine out takeoff distance
• Higher V1 requires less runway
• Lower V1 requires more runway
• Accelerate Stop Distance (opposite)
• Higher V1 requires more runway
• Lower V1 requires less runway
 Takeoff Flight Path

Take off Path

Take off Flight Path

Final
Third Segment Segment
First Second 1500FT
Segment Segment or acceleration phase

Engine Failure
at VEF

 35FT
 Climb segments
• 1st from 35 feet above runway leve until gear
retraction
• 2nd from gears up, and completes when
aircraft reaching acceleration height,
minimum 400 feet above runway level
• 3rd completes when aircraft is in en-route
configuration (with gear up, flap up and in
final climb speed). The aircraft is at least in
level acceleration
• Final from flaps retracted until 1500 ft
 Climb Notes

• 2nd is usually most limiting

• 3rd is determined by
• Company policy
• FAR minimum level off flight
• T/O Thrust time limit
• Obstacles
 Special Conditions
• Wet Runway
• Slippery Runway
• Contaminated Runway
• System Abnormal (anti-skid, brake inop)
• Noise Abatement