'Critical Point' and 'Point of No Return'
 

Hello Friends,
I had read about the terms 'critical point' and 'point of no return' some time back. I can't seem to recollect their meanings.
Do any of u have a link to where I can find the meanings of these terms or can anyone please explain the terms to me.
Thank you for your time.
Mav.

Go to the techlog menu, then click on post #2 - useful website references. Scroll down and voila!

CP: The point where equal time exists between two suitable diversion airports.

PNR (P Safe R): The point where the aircraft has sufficient fuel (safe endurance) to return to the point of departure. Note: this means arriving back at the departure field with safe reserves!!.

I stand to be corrected (a little time has elapsed since I last looked at this).

Mr L.

Thanks L,

If A is point of Departure and B is our destination; C is destination alternate and D is planned enroute alternate.

I understand that PNR will be at the mid point in ur course to B ( if flying from A to B ) in terms of ur cruise fuel and that u will still have ur reserve fuel incase u decide to come back to point of departure A.

In Critical Point, for example if I am flying from A to B with planned destination alternate C, is it the point before/at which
a) i cannot return to A ( sounds like PNR, But i am not sure )
b) cannot continue to B due to weather/fuel constraints
C) preplanned point, X, at which I have to decide to either go to B or an enroute alternate D and, if this (c) is the answer then, how do I preplan this point.

I hope I am clear..
Thanks for your help.

A lot depends on whether you are studying this for practical useage in flight or for an exam.

A PNR is the furthest you can fly out and still make it back to your dept point with reserves intact.

For preflight calculation:

1. Calculate Fuel on Board (FOB) preflight
2. Subtract taxi fuel from ans1 FOB at takeoff.
3. From ans2, subtract Fixed Reserve, wx/traffic Holding at Deptarture aerodrome (which will end up being destination if you return)
4. Ans3 / 1.1 (For Variable reserve of 10%) This Answer is your Safe Useable fuel for your flight. You want to use ALL of this and not a drop more.
5. Ans 4 less climb fuel (from POH)
6. This fuel figure is your safe useable fuel from top climb
7. Calculate the fuel required to return to departure point from this same distance from departure aerodrome
8. Subtract this fuel from Ans6
9. Calculate FuelFlowOut/Gsout plus FuelFlowBack/Gsback This figure is how much fuel you will use for every nm past topc to return to that point
10. Ans6 divide by Ans9 gives you an answer which is your distance to your PNR.

Note the return configuration can be in any case – DP, Engine out, etc.
Inflight – FOB less fixed res, holding then divide by 1.1. Minus fuel req’d to return pres pos to dept aerodrome. Repeat step 9 and 10. Voila!

It does not make allowances for turning the aircraft around 180 degrees at the PNR. You would need to subtract this fuel figure from the Safe Useable Fuel at step 8.

It also makes no calculation for increased range (if any) for engine out drift down...you can add that in at your leisure.

Remember, the further into the flight you calculate, the further the PNR should be - because of the Variable Reserve is only calculated on the fuel in front of you. (provided the GS is less than 110% of the planned).

The second scenario you describe is in my language a LPSD – Last Point Safe Diversion.

You want to fly as far along the track from departure point A to destination B before diverting to C and at C with your reserves intact.

From a point Enroute (say X)

Useable fuel = (FOB-Fixed Reserve-Holding at C) divided by 1.1 (VR)

Calculate: Useable Fuel / fuel req’d X-B-C * Distance to X to B = Approx Distance X to LPSD

Draw this point on the map. Call it L. Calculate fuel req’d to fly X to L then C. Compare it to your Useable fuel. Calculate the difference, then work out how many miles you will travel with that much fuel. Divide this distance by two.

If the fuel required X-L-C is more than Fuel on Board, move L back towards by the distance above. Away if less…

You can also do it for pre dept by following the intial steps for the PNR re the climb.

Hope that helps!

(with thanks to Checkboard).

Thank you
 

Dear Compressor Stall and Checkboard....
Thank you for your time and effort to help me out. Will go thru ur explaination and get back if i have any further doubts...
Thanks again.
Mav...