CAA recommended takeoff factors for PPL exam??
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CAA recommended takeoff factors for PPL exam??
Hi
I'm about to take my exam for Flight Planning and Performance (only 2 exams left now!). I just wanted to clarify with you guys takeoff factors. Am I right in thinking that the CAA recommend "no more than 50% (factor 0.5) of a headwind component" and "not less than 150% (factor 1.5) of a tailwind component" when calculating takeoff performance? And are those factors (0.5 and 1.5) actually correct?
Also am I likely to have to add these to the factors taken from the standard CAA performance table including the safety factor of 33% (1.33) for the exam? It all seems a bit ambiguous as to the rules for having to add these or not?
I hope that makes sense!
Thanks for any info!
I'm about to take my exam for Flight Planning and Performance (only 2 exams left now!). I just wanted to clarify with you guys takeoff factors. Am I right in thinking that the CAA recommend "no more than 50% (factor 0.5) of a headwind component" and "not less than 150% (factor 1.5) of a tailwind component" when calculating takeoff performance? And are those factors (0.5 and 1.5) actually correct?
Also am I likely to have to add these to the factors taken from the standard CAA performance table including the safety factor of 33% (1.33) for the exam? It all seems a bit ambiguous as to the rules for having to add these or not?
I hope that makes sense!
Thanks for any info!
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The CAA's recommendations are in Safety Sense leaflet 7, Aeroplane Performance (114kB .pdf)
From p.3:
Can't remember the exam, but the usual rule is to multiply all the relevant factors, including the additional safety factor.
From p.3:
Where data allows adjustment for wind, it is recommended that not more than 50% of the headwind component and not less than 150% of the tailwind component of the reported wind be assumed. In some manuals these factors are already included; check the relevant section.
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Thanks for that. For those interested those figures are correct and it was just that I didn't calculate the factors correctly but all fine now. My head is battered with all the intense exam revision over the last few weeks - only 2 to go now 
Personally I think that the requirement to commit all the various performance factors to memory for the exam sets a very dangerous example.
In the 'real' aeroplane world, you NEVER attempt to remember all the performance degrades for contaminated runway operations - and short, wet grass is indeed a contaminated runway, for example.
I feel that exam students should be permitted to have access to Safety Sense Leaflet 7 for this exam - it shouldn't be a memory test!
You can also use an electronic calculator for this exam, provided that it doesn't have any 'navigation' functions included.
In the 'real' aeroplane world, you NEVER attempt to remember all the performance degrades for contaminated runway operations - and short, wet grass is indeed a contaminated runway, for example.
I feel that exam students should be permitted to have access to Safety Sense Leaflet 7 for this exam - it shouldn't be a memory test!
You can also use an electronic calculator for this exam, provided that it doesn't have any 'navigation' functions included.
