Of all the skills that go by the wayside after the check ride, determining aircraft performance is right up there next to 'obtaining a weather briefing' and 'weight and balance.' [iStock]
Key Takeaways:
Pilots must consistently perform and verify aircraft performance calculations (e.g., density altitude, takeoff distance, weight and balance) for every flight, as these critical skills often degrade post-check ride.
Aircraft performance is significantly degraded by environmental factors like high temperature, humidity, and altitude, necessitating careful planning such as managing fuel loads to maintain safety margins.
Pilot performance also suffers from heat and challenging conditions; pilots should actively manage their well-being through hydration, strategic scheduling, and personal cooling methods to ensure alertness and safe operations.
It was a hot day when the rather frazzled-looking young man came into the FBO with the dispatch book of the Cessna 150.
He complained there was something wrong with the airplane. The engine wasn’t producing enough power. He had attempted two takeoffs and wisely chose to abort, as it did not lift off when he expected.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
