Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Non-Airline Forums > Private Flying
Reload this Page >

Take-off / landing distance calculator in Excel

Wikiposts
Search
Private Flying LAA/BMAA/BGA/BPA The sheer pleasure of flight.

Take-off / landing distance calculator in Excel

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 22nd Jun 2014, 19:40
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London
Age: 48
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Take-off / landing distance calculator in Excel

Evening all,
So Skydemon and other apps do a cracking job of W&B calculations but I have yet to find a way of digitising those take-off / landing distance charts.
And I lack the Excel skills to make one for myself - it looks quite complex.
Has anyone attempted this? And if so is it a template that could be adapted for different aircraft (I fly a Diamond DA40 TDI)? Or is there some amazing app I have yet to discover?
Thanks!
daxwax is offline  
Old 22nd Jun 2014, 21:11
  #2 (permalink)  
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 14,216
Received 48 Likes on 24 Posts
The maths surely is spectacularly simple, and all you're doing in Excel is putting the formulae in that you did in your PPL ground exams.

Not that there's any substitute for using the table/chart out of the POH and your simplest solution might be just to photograph that and store the image on your ithingy?

G
Genghis the Engineer is offline  
Old 22nd Jun 2014, 21:22
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
For PPL stuff I find that the following works for me:

(1) Work out the distances for MAUW, zero wind, applying all the usual fudge factors. One for tarmac, one for grass.

(2) Use those for each flight.

(In other words, I've done the calculations once, ever.)

If a runway comes out looking too short I simply don't use it. I've never felt tempted to re-do the sums in order to try to shave a few percent off because there's a headwind, or I'm not fully loading the aircraft, or it's a cold day, or I know they've just cut the grass (honest guv). I personally would regard any such temptation as a danger sign!
Gertrude the Wombat is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2014, 02:37
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the wireless...
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ie. Worst Case Scenario...
Talkdownman is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2014, 13:59
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
ie. Worst Case Scenario...
Yes.


I've then rarely needed more than half the runway.


Bu I'm very aware that that's rarely, which isn't never.
Gertrude the Wombat is offline  
Old 23rd Jun 2014, 20:57
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: London
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you're trying to get into a short runway where this actually matters I think you'd be better off checking at your intended weight and balance on a long runway where you can work out the length of a particular section (to simulate the short strip) and then see if you can stay within that length. I wouldn't rely on the book figures.

Otherwise Gertrude's method is pretty much the norm.
The500man is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.