PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Top of Descent/ glide angle calculations
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Old 13th June 2005 | 22:12
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FlyingTom
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 137
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From: London
The answer I was once given to this question was that the glidepath angle is non linear. The formula for a M0.73/280IAS descent is

: (((FL-10) * weight) / 17) + 40 = distance from airport. +/- 2nm for each 10kt of wind !!! Weight in tonnes.

From TOD the angle starts above average and by ED it is less than average. Divide by 3 works quite well I find.

I will look at the pitch angle next time I descend as this formula doesn't answer that question.
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