Table 5-5-1-4: Time, Fuel and Distance to climb from Departure Airport to Cruise Altitude
Climb
Time
Fuel
Distance
From S.L. to 28000 ft 21 min
190 lb
68 nm
From S.L. to
departure airport
2 min
30 lb
6 nm
Departure airport to
28000 ft
19 min
160 lb
62 nm
5-5-1-4
Descent
Note
The descent performance chart assumes a no wind condition. The pilot must consider the
effect of the winds aloft when computing time, fuel, and distance to descend.
Apply the cruise conditions of pressure altitude and temperature (respectively 28000 ft and ISA
+10 °C in this case) to the appropriate chart to determine the time, fuel, and distance to
descend from cruise altitude to sea level. The weight at the beginning of the descent is not
known exactly at this stage, but it can be estimated in practice as shown below:
Takeoff weight
- Usable fuel
+ Fuel reserve* + Allowance for
descent
= Weight at beginning of
descent
8798
- 1650
+ 300
+ 100
= 7548 lb
* As required by operating regulations, here a reserve corresponding to 45 min hold at 5000 ft
is assumed.
Next, apply the destination airport conditions (respectively 2000 ft and ISA + 5°C in this case)
to the same chart to determine those same values to descend from the destination airport to
sea level. Subtract the values for the destination airport from those for the cruise altitude. The
remaining values are the time, fuel, and distance to descend from the cruise altitude to the
destination airport.
Table 5-5-1-5: Time, Fuel and Distance to descent from Cruise Altitude to Destination Airport
Descent
Time
Fuel
Distance
From 28000 ft to S.L. 14 min
88 lb
66 nm
From destination
airport to S.L.
1 min
9 lb
4 nm
From 28000 ft to
destination airport
13 min
79 lb
62 nm
5-5-1-5
Cruise
Calculate the cruise distance by subtracting the climb and descent distances from the total trip
distance. Select a cruise power setting and refer to the appropriate chart to determine the true
airspeed and fuel flow for the forecast cruise conditions. Adjust the true airspeed for the winds
aloft headwind component to determine the ground speed. Divide the cruise distance by the
ground speed to determine the cruise time. Calculate the cruise fuel required by multiplying the
fuel flow by the cruise time.
Cruise distance
Total trip distance
- Climb distance
- Descent distance
= Cruise distance
765
- 62
- 62
= 641
Section 5 - Performance (EASA Approved)
Flight Planning Example
Pilot's Operating Handbook
Report No: 02406
Issue date: Mar 06, 2020
Page 5-5-1-2
12-C-A15-60-0505-00A-043A-A
FOR
GENERAL
AND
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