Should I have freaked out...

[ImageGear]

As usual when I have family flying I tend to track the flight.

1. I know ADSB can be unreliable at low altitude
2. I do not know what a normal takeoff profile is for an A330
3. Weather conditions?
4. Curvature of the earth

However:

Here is the cause of my concern:

Mon 02:35:00 PM 51.4647 -0.5095 270° West 162 186 1,500 Level FlightAware ADS-B (LHR / EGLL)
Mon 02:35:27 PM 51.4643 -0.5395 270° West 131 151 2,900 2,571 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LHR / EGLL)
Mon 02:35:42 PM 51.4640 -0.5544 269° West 131 151 3,300 1,000 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LHR / EGLL)
Mon 02:35:57 PM 51.4638 -0.5696 270° West 142 163 3,400 400 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (CBG / EGSC)
Mon 02:36:12 PM 51.4635 -0.5852 269° West 157 181 3,500 600 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (ETR / EGTR)
Mon 02:36:27 PM 51.4631 -0.6037 269° West 170 196 3,700 600 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LCY / EGLC)
Mon 02:36:42 PM 51.4626 -0.6239 267° West 185 213 3,800 769 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (EGLW)
Mon 02:37:06 PM 51.4587 -0.6564 262° West 207 238 4,200 1,395 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LHR / EGLL)
Mon 02:37:25 PM 51.4568 -0.6895 268° West 220 253 4,800 1,737 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (FAB / EGLF)

That seems to me like a very steep climb to 3500' with an equally large drop in corresponding airspeed/VSI. (162 down to 131)

I was also monitoring FR24 and the speeds and altitude were similar.

Please tell me it's not the way it looks??

[victorc10]

Are you a pilot?

Why are you looking at this data?

What does it look like? A zoom climb?

I wouldn't be worried.

If you are a pilot, I would be concerned that you look at this stuff and make the kind of assumptions that I think are being made.

Perhaps you should call the safety department of the airline and ask them to ground the crew and investigate them based on the ADS-B data.

[FlightDetent]

What do the individual columns stand for? I could probably guess close enough, but...

[ImageGear]

victorc10

1. Yes but not A330
2. My family was on board
3. Did I say zoom climb? nope thought not
4. Thank you but telling me not to be worried is inappropriate - are you a pilot?
5. Why call the airline when I can get a high quality response on PPRUNE


Thanks

Date/Time/Group - Lat/Long - KTS - MPH - ALT - VS - Phase of Flight - etc

My apologies, tried to put the headers in but couldn't get the formatting correct

[Uplinker]

On the face of it, this looks like an initial low altitude level off at 1,500', (unusual so low, but possibly for strategic or clearance reasons), followed by a noise abatement climb with thrust reduction at about 3,300' and then acceleration.

Without knowing the TOM or flap setting or the SID etc, it looks fairly normal to me, apart from the level-off at 1,500', (during which it looks that they might have got up to Vfe speed).

151 mph is about 173 Kts, which seems about right for the initial climb.

PS @ victorc10, why so nasty? A person can ask a question. If you don't want to reply, then don't bother !

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by ImageGear

Please tell me it's not the way it looks??

You might get a more meaningful answer if you tell us the date and flight number.

[ImageGear]

"Uplinker"..thanks

It was the low level off at 1500 which I thought was low together with the speed which shows: 162 KTS (186 MPH), then falling off to 131 KTS (151 MPH) from 2900' to 3300' then recovering slowly during the climb.

I suspect that you reversed the KTS and MPH columns.

Incidentally in the A320 the "pushover" normally comes at little later but speed does not fall off.

EGLL 27L and CPT3G Departure

"DaveR"

Date and Time group starts each record line. I won't mention the Airline here.

[DaveReidUK]

I don't see any date.

[ImageGear]

Sorry it is today..

[ImageGear]

For interest similar A330 Departure - same runway and sid today:

Mon 05:28:05 PM 51.4782 -0.4981 270° West 157 181 1,300 Level FlightAware ADS-B (LHR / EGLL)
Mon 05:28:20 PM 51.4787 -0.5154 273° West 158 182 1,700 1,125 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (EGLW)
Mon 05:28:37 PM 51.4781 -0.5377 264° West 171 197 1,900 833 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LCY / EGLC)
Mon 05:28:56 PM 51.4748 -0.5613 258° West 185 213 2,200 1,059 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (ETR / EGTR)
Mon 05:29:11 PM 51.4717 -0.5818 256° West 200 230 2,500 1,200 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LCY / EGLC)
Mon 05:29:26 PM 51.4676 -0.6050 254° West 213 245 2,800 1,600 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LHR / EGLL)
Mon 05:29:41 PM 51.4634 -0.6274 255° West 218 251 3,300 1,171 Climbing FlightAware ADS-B (LCY / EGLC)

Looks as I would expect

[DaveReidUK]

How can you post a track with timestamps 18 minutes ahead of the current time ?

[ImageGear]

Ahh well

That would be because I'm not posting this in the UK, I'm on French time. (One hour ahead)

[DaveReidUK]

Doh.

OK, here's a more detailed ADS-B track for ACA865:

HH MM SS Alt Latitude Longitude IAS TAS GS
13:34:43 675 51.464941 -0.489502 --- --- ---
13:34:45 775 51.464895 -0.492706 --- --- ---
13:34:46 825 51.464895 -0.494232 --- --- ---
13:34:47 875 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:47 900 --------- --------- --- 190 172
13:34:48 950 51.464895 -0.496368 --- --- ---
13:34:49 1025 51.464859 -0.497799 --- --- ---
13:34:49 1025 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:51 1125 51.464859 -0.499729 --- --- ---
13:34:52 1175 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:52 1175 --------- --------- --- 192 168
13:34:52 1175 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:52 1175 51.464859 -0.501585 --- --- ---
13:34:53 1250 51.464802 -0.503082 --- --- ---
13:34:54 1300 51.464802 -0.503921 --- --- ---
13:34:55 1325 51.464813 -0.504480 --- --- ---
13:34:55 1350 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:55 1350 51.464802 -0.505066 --- --- ---
13:34:55 1350 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:56 1400 51.464767 -0.506187 --- --- ---
13:34:57 1450 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:34:57 1450 --------- --------- --- 184 164
13:34:57 1450 51.464767 -0.507375 --- --- ---
13:34:57 1475 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:00 1650 51.464675 -0.511161 --- --- ---
13:35:01 1675 --------- --------- --- 190 160
13:35:01 1675 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:01 1700 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:02 1750 --------- --------- 187 --- ---
13:35:02 1750 --------- --------- --- 190 160
13:35:02 1750 51.464662 -0.513458 --- --- ---
13:35:03 1800 51.464630 -0.514353 --- --- ---
13:35:04 1850 51.464630 -0.515392 --- --- ---
13:35:04 1875 51.464616 -0.515976 --- --- ---
13:35:05 1900 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:05 1900 51.464584 -0.516580 --- --- ---
13:35:05 1950 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:07 2025 51.464584 -0.517842 --- --- ---
13:35:07 2025 --------- --------- 186 --- ---
13:35:07 2025 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:07 2025 --------- --------- 186 --- ---
13:35:07 2025 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:07 2025 --------- --------- --- 190 156
13:35:07 2025 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:07 2050 51.464569 -0.518646 --- --- ---
13:35:07 2050 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:07 2075 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:08 2075 51.464523 -0.519409 --- --- ---
13:35:08 2125 51.464492 -0.520811 --- --- ---
13:35:09 2150 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:09 2175 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:09 2175 51.464492 -0.521924 --- --- ---
13:35:10 2200 51.464476 -0.522461 --- --- ---
13:35:10 2225 51.464476 -0.522842 --- --- ---
13:35:11 2250 51.464476 -0.523300 --- --- ---
13:35:11 2275 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:11 2275 51.464476 -0.523910 --- --- ---
13:35:12 2300 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:12 2300 --------- --------- --- 188 150
13:35:12 2300 51.464476 -0.524597 --- --- ---
13:35:12 2325 51.464446 -0.525191 --- --- ---
13:35:13 2375 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:13 2375 --------- --------- 184 --- ---
13:35:13 2375 --------- --------- --- 190 148
13:35:13 2375 51.464429 -0.525665 --- --- ---
13:35:14 2400 --------- --------- 184 --- ---
13:35:14 2425 51.464429 -0.527038 --- --- ---
13:35:15 2450 51.464446 -0.527566 --- --- ---
13:35:15 2475 51.464429 -0.527572 --- --- ---
13:35:15 2500 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:16 2500 51.464446 -0.527789 --- --- ---
13:35:17 2575 --------- --------- 179 --- ---
13:35:17 2575 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:17 2575 --------- --------- --- 184 144
13:35:17 2575 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:17 2600 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:18 2600 51.464383 -0.530853 --- --- ---
13:35:19 2650 51.464383 -0.531768 --- --- ---
13:35:19 2675 --------- --------- --- 182 140
13:35:19 2675 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:20 2700 51.464401 -0.532762 --- --- ---
13:35:20 2725 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:20 2725 --------- --------- --- 180 140
13:35:20 2725 51.464383 -0.533218 --- --- ---
13:35:21 2750 51.464383 -0.533905 --- --- ---
13:35:21 2750 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:21 2775 51.464355 -0.534395 --- --- ---
13:35:21 2800 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:22 2800 51.464383 -0.534896 --- --- ---
13:35:22 2800 --------- --------- 172 --- ---
13:35:22 2800 --------- --------- --- 178 138
13:35:23 2850 51.464355 -0.535063 --- --- ---
13:35:23 2875 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:25 2950 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:25 2975 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:26 3000 51.464309 -0.539146 --- --- ---
13:35:26 3000 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:27 3025 51.464290 -0.539550 --- --- ---
13:35:27 3025 --------- --------- 164 --- ---
13:35:27 3025 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:27 3025 --------- --------- --- 170 130
13:35:27 3025 51.464290 -0.539932 --- --- ---
13:35:27 3050 51.464290 -0.540542 --- --- ---
13:35:28 3075 51.464263 -0.541002 --- --- ---
13:35:29 3100 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:29 3100 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:29 3125 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:30 3125 51.464218 -0.542487 --- --- ---
13:35:31 3150 51.464197 -0.543518 --- --- ---
13:35:31 3175 --------- --------- 162 --- ---
13:35:32 3175 --------- --------- 162 --- ---
13:35:32 3175 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:32 3200 --------- --------- 162 --- ---
13:35:33 3200 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:33 3200 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:33 3200 51.464172 -0.545975 --- --- ---
13:35:33 3225 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:34 3225 51.464126 -0.547089 --- --- ---
13:35:35 3250 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:37 3275 --------- --------- --- 168 128
13:35:37 3275 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:37 3275 51.464104 -0.549240 --- --- ---
13:35:37 3275 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:37 3300 51.464080 -0.549687 --- --- ---
13:35:37 3300 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:37 3300 --------- --------- 162 --- ---
13:35:37 3300 --------- --------- --- 168 128
13:35:38 3300 --------- --------- 163 --- ---
13:35:38 3300 51.464080 -0.550281 --- --- ---
13:35:38 3300 51.464057 -0.550308 --- --- ---
13:35:38 3300 --------- --------- 163 --- ---
13:35:38 3300 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:38 3300 --------- --------- --- 170 128
13:35:39 3300 51.464080 -0.550801 --- --- ---
13:35:39 3325 51.464057 -0.551300 --- --- ---
13:35:40 3325 51.464035 -0.552879 --- --- ---
13:35:41 3325 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:41 3325 51.464010 -0.553970 --- --- ---
13:35:42 3325 --------- --------- 165 --- ---
13:35:42 3325 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:42 3325 --------- --------- --- 172 132
13:35:42 3350 51.464010 -0.554351 --- --- ---
13:35:43 3350 51.464010 -0.554809 --- --- ---
13:35:43 3350 51.463964 -0.555267 --- --- ---
13:35:43 3350 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:43 3350 51.463964 -0.555801 --- --- ---
13:35:44 3350 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:44 3350 51.463943 -0.556368 --- --- ---
13:35:45 3350 51.463964 -0.556869 --- --- ---
13:35:45 3350 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:45 3350 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:45 3375 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:45 3375 --------- --------- 168 --- ---
13:35:45 3375 --------- --------- --- 176 136
13:35:46 3375 51.463943 -0.557927 --- --- ---
13:35:46 3375 51.463943 -0.558372 --- --- ---
13:35:46 3375 51.463917 -0.558853 --- --- ---
13:35:47 3375 --------- --------- 169 --- ---
13:35:47 3375 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:47 3375 --------- --------- --- 176 136
13:35:47 3375 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:48 3400 51.463897 -0.560525 --- --- ---
13:35:49 3400 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:49 3400 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:50 3400 51.463871 -0.562133 --- --- ---
13:35:50 3400 --------- --------- 172 --- ---
13:35:50 3400 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:50 3400 51.463851 -0.562678 --- --- ---
13:35:50 3425 51.463871 -0.563125 --- --- ---
13:35:51 3425 51.463851 -0.563494 --- --- ---
13:35:52 3425 --------- --------- 173 --- ---
13:35:52 3425 --------- --------- --- 180 140
13:35:52 3425 51.463851 -0.564088 --- --- ---
13:35:52 3425 51.463824 -0.564575 --- --- ---
13:35:53 3425 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:53 3425 51.463851 -0.565127 --- --- ---
13:35:53 3425 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:53 3450 51.463824 -0.565719 --- --- ---
13:35:53 3450 --------- --------- 174 --- ---
13:35:53 3450 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:53 3450 --------- --------- 174 --- ---
13:35:53 3450 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:53 3450 --------- --------- 174 --- ---
13:35:53 3450 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:54 3450 51.463824 -0.566330 --- --- ---
13:35:55 3450 51.463824 -0.566558 --- --- ---
13:35:55 3475 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:56 3475 51.463778 -0.568313 --- --- ---
13:35:56 3475 51.463778 -0.568924 --- --- ---
13:35:57 3475 --------- --------- 177 --- ---
13:35:57 3475 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:57 3475 --------- --------- --- 184 144
13:35:57 3475 51.463760 -0.569581 --- --- ---
13:35:57 3475 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:57 3475 --------- --------- 177 --- ---
13:35:57 3475 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:35:58 3475 51.463714 -0.571363 --- --- ---
13:35:59 3500 51.463714 -0.572031 --- --- ---
13:35:59 3500 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:00 3500 51.463714 -0.572699 --- --- ---
13:36:00 3500 51.463685 -0.573272 --- --- ---
13:36:00 3500 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:01 3500 51.463685 -0.573654 --- --- ---
13:36:01 3500 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:01 3500 51.463668 -0.574184 --- --- ---
13:36:01 3500 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:02 3500 --------- --------- 182 --- ---
13:36:02 3500 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:02 3500 --------- --------- --- 190 150
13:36:02 3525 --------- --------- 182 --- ---
13:36:02 3525 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:02 3525 --------- --------- --- 190 150
13:36:02 3525 51.463668 -0.575817 --- --- ---
13:36:03 3525 51.463638 -0.576400 --- --- ---
13:36:03 3525 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:03 3525 51.463668 -0.576262 --- --- ---
13:36:04 3525 51.463638 -0.576858 --- --- ---
13:36:04 3525 51.463623 -0.577747 --- --- ---
13:36:05 3550 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:05 3550 51.463577 -0.579306 --- --- ---
13:36:06 3550 51.463591 -0.580597 --- --- ---
13:36:07 3550 --------- --------- --- 194 154
13:36:07 3550 51.463577 -0.581458 --- --- ---
13:36:08 3575 51.463531 -0.582052 --- --- ---
13:36:08 3575 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:08 3575 --------- --------- 186 --- ---
13:36:09 3575 --------- --------- --- 194 156
13:36:09 3575 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:09 3575 51.463498 -0.583648 --- --- ---
13:36:09 3575 --------- --------- 188 --- ---
13:36:10 3575 51.463498 -0.584106 --- --- ---
13:36:11 3600 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:11 3600 --------- --------- 190 --- ---
13:36:11 3600 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:11 3600 --------- --------- --- 198 158
13:36:12 3625 51.463452 -0.587234 --- --- ---
13:36:12 3625 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:13 3625 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:14 3625 51.463439 -0.588807 --- --- ---
13:36:14 3625 51.463394 -0.589179 --- --- ---
13:36:14 3650 51.463405 -0.589752 --- --- ---
13:36:15 3650 --------- --------- 193 --- ---
13:36:15 3650 51.463394 -0.590366 --- --- ---
13:36:16 3650 --------- --------- --- 202 162
13:36:16 3650 51.463348 -0.591554 --- --- ---
13:36:16 3675 --------- --------- 193 --- ---
13:36:16 3675 --------- --------- --- 202 162
13:36:17 3675 51.463348 -0.592296 --- --- ---
13:36:17 3675 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:17 3675 51.463348 -0.592742 --- --- ---
13:36:17 3675 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:17 3675 --------- --------- --- 204 162
13:36:18 3675 51.463312 -0.593338 --- --- ---
13:36:19 3675 51.463312 -0.594635 --- --- ---
13:36:19 3675 51.463312 -0.595092 --- --- ---
13:36:19 3700 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:20 3700 51.463256 -0.595711 --- --- ---
13:36:20 3700 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:21 3700 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:21 3700 --------- --------- 198 --- ---
13:36:21 3700 --------- --------- --- 208 166
13:36:22 3700 51.463219 -0.598526 --- --- ---
13:36:22 3700 --------- --------- 198 --- ---
13:36:22 3725 51.463219 -0.599289 --- --- ---
13:36:22 3725 51.463219 -0.599670 --- --- ---
13:36:23 3725 51.463172 -0.600128 --- --- ---
13:36:23 3725 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:24 3725 51.463172 -0.601196 --- --- ---
13:36:24 3750 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:25 3750 51.463172 -0.601959 --- --- ---
13:36:25 3750 51.463126 -0.602493 --- --- ---
13:36:25 3750 --------- --------- 201 --- ---
13:36:25 3750 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:25 3750 51.463119 -0.603134 --- --- ---
13:36:26 3750 51.463126 -0.603790 --- --- ---
13:36:26 3750 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:26 3750 --------- --------- --- 212 170
13:36:27 3750 51.463126 -0.604400 --- --- ---
13:36:27 3775 --------- --------- --- 212 172
13:36:27 3775 51.463079 -0.604934 --- --- ---
13:36:28 3775 --------- --------- --- 214 172
13:36:29 3775 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:29 3775 51.463033 -0.608368 --- --- ---
13:36:29 3775 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:30 3775 51.463027 -0.608850 --- --- ---
13:36:31 3775 51.462982 -0.610631 --- --- ---
13:36:31 3775 --------- --------- 208 --- ---
13:36:31 3775 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:31 3775 --------- --------- --- 218 178
13:36:32 3800 51.462986 -0.611267 --- --- ---
13:36:32 3800 51.462940 -0.611801 --- --- ---
13:36:32 3800 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:33 3800 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:33 3800 --------- --------- --- 220 178
13:36:33 3800 --------- --------- 210 --- ---
13:36:33 3800 --------- --------- --- 220 178
13:36:33 3800 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:34 3800 51.462940 -0.613632 --- --- ---
13:36:34 3825 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:35 3825 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:36 3825 51.462893 -0.615463 --- --- ---
13:36:36 3850 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:36 3850 --------- --------- 214 --- ---
13:36:37 3850 51.462844 -0.617535 --- --- ---
13:36:37 3850 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:38 3875 51.462754 -0.620193 --- --- ---
13:36:39 3875 51.462753 -0.620727 --- --- ---
13:36:39 3900 --------- --------- 216 --- ---
13:36:40 3900 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:40 3900 51.462660 -0.622558 --- --- ---
13:36:40 3900 --------- --------- 217 --- ---
13:36:40 3925 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:40 3925 --------- --------- --- 228 186
13:36:41 3925 51.462615 -0.623325 --- --- ---
13:36:41 3925 51.462615 -0.623845 --- --- ---
13:36:41 3925 --------- --------- 218 --- ---
13:36:41 3925 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:41 3925 --------- --------- --- 228 186
13:36:41 3925 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:41 3925 --------- --------- --- 230 186
13:36:41 3925 --------- --------- --- --- ---
13:36:42 3925 51.462567 -0.624542 --- --- ---
13:36:43 3975 51.462428 -0.626373 --- --- ---

It looks pretty typical to me - your problem is that you are misinterpreting the data from FlightAware/FR24:

Originally Posted by ImageGear

That seems to me like a very steep climb to 3500' with an equally large drop in corresponding airspeed/VSI. (162 down to 131)

It's the groundspeed that's dropping, not the airspeed, and the reason is pretty straightforward. Surface wind at LHR this afternoon was about 15 kts westerly, but by the time the A333 had climbed to 3,500 ft, it was flying into a headwind component of about 40 kts.

I hope that makes sense.

[ImageGear]

Ohh yes,

Should have looked at the Metar (TAF) that explains a lot.

[Uplinker]

I suspect that you reversed the KTS and MPH columns.

Yep. RTFQ !

I'll get my coat......

[FlightDetent]

Mystery solved, exactly why I asked- it is GROUNDSPEED. Winds blowing with +20 knots as early as 2000 ft above surface are quite an everyday occurence. If the aircraft track is parallel to the wind direction, ... voila!

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by FlightDetent

Mystery solved, exactly why I asked- it is GROUNDSPEED. Winds blowing with +20 knots as early as 2000 ft above surface are quite an everyday occurence. If the aircraft track is parallel to the wind direction, ... voila!

Most of the commercial and enthusiast flight tracking websites only capture groundspeed (because it's part of the ADS-B squitter, and easier to decode), but of course that only tells half the story.

In Europe, at least, most commercial jets have Mode S EHS, which means that they also send a load of other parameters in response to ATC interrogation, but they are a bit trickier to capture.

[hobbit1983]

Crikey. What were you going to do if the oracle that is PPrune came back and said "yes, actually the pilot on that flight is a MAVERICK! " etc?

[ImageGear]

If PPRUNE is the source of a witch hunt, other than merely being the starting point for a question regarding flight safety, then anyone who climbs on an aircraft is at risk.

Imagegear

[Glamdring]

Also, keep in mind that altitudes reported by ADSB are based on the standard pressure setting of 1013. You need to convert them yourself to get the true altitude.