Teaching Performance at PPL level

[Alex Whittingham]

Class C is for aircraft with reciprocating engines and with either an MOPSC of more than nine or a maximum take-off mass exceeding 5 700 kg. Light piston singles and twins would be certified under CS.23 and operated in Performance Class B, a Class for aeroplanes powered by propeller engines with an MOPSC of nine or less and a maximum take-off mass of 5 700 kg or less.

The CAA factors come from pre-JAA days when different Performance Groups A to E existed, the TORA/TODA/ASDA factoring requirements in a modern Class B operation are quite different.

The 1.33 factor undoubtably originates from the old CAA Performance Group E although it may have been retained by EASA for any big piston aircraft still flying commercially. Safety Sense leaflet 07 even refers to ANGRs and specifically mentions Group E.

The Air Navigation (General) Regulations 1993 said at 10 1. (b) The distance required by the aeroplane to attain a height of 50 feet, with all power units operating within the maximum take off power conditions specified, when multiplied by a factor of 1:33 does not exceed the emergency distance available at the aerodrome at which the take off is to be made.

The whole thing looks a bit out of date to me. Seems a bit odd to be teaching factors at PPL based on a UK regulation that is 20 years plus out of date and then teaching different factors for the same aircraft at CPL/ATPL. Do we know who is in charge of this section of the PPL syllabus at the CAA?