Performance 3a

Calculations
Introduction:

Math is always going to be more accurate than charts

Charts provide a quick reference, that is based off of math, but subject to inaccuracies,
due to its simplicity and human error
When calculating performance referencing a pilot information manual and ALWAYS read
the notes associated with the chart
Calculation Examples:
o Temperature Conversion
o Crosswind Component
o Short Field Takeoff
o Load Factor
o Stall Speed Banked
o True vs Magnetic North Course Conversion
o Mach Number
o Pressure Altitude
o Density Altitude
o Cloud Bases
o Climb Rate Required
o Maneuvering Speed
o True Airspeed
o Top of Climb

Units of Measure:
Statute Mile: the same as a standard mile as you would see driving a car
Nautical Mile: defined as one minute of arc along a meridian of the Earth. Using the
widely accepted WGS84 ellipsoid model, this averages a nautical mile to 6,076 feet
(1,852 meters), or 1.15 statute miles

Figure 1: Temperature Conversion

Chart

Temperature Conversion:
The U.S. is used to operating on the Fahrenheit scale for day to day life but aviation
standard is Celsius
o Formula:
C = [(F - 32) x 5/9]
F = [(C x 9/5) + 32]
o Example:
70F day
o Calculate:
C = ((70F-32) x 5/9)
You should come out with 21.1C
o Chart [Figure 1]
Start at your initial temperature on the Fahrenheit scale
Move across until you hit the reference line
Move down and read the temperature off of the bottom
In this example it comes out to be roughly 22C
o Chart: [Figure 2]
Find the temperature you need and read across the appropriate column
Notice this chart is more designed for Celsius to Fahrenheit but we still
come out just over 21C

Figure 2: Temperature Conversion Chart

Crosswind Component:
MOVED! See more about crosswinds on the crosswind landing page

Short Field Takeoff:

Use the chart for all performance data specific to an aircraft, in this example, a
Cessna 172
Typically, there will be more than one chart for the same thing, separated by weight
or aircraft configuration conditions

 Always round up if your weight is not close to the reference weights they provide, this
is because takeoff data will never improve with weight and therefore your numbers
will be more conservative and provide a safety margin
o Example:
Aircraft Weight: 2300lbs
Altitude: 3,000' MSL
20 C
o Chart: [Figure 4]
Starting at the left with the altitude, continue right across the chart
until you reach the appropriate temperature
We expect a 1,100' takeoff without obstacles and 1,970' with a 50'
obstacle
With a headwind of 9 knots, we can expect 990' takeoff without
obstacles and 1,773' with a 50' obstacle
With a tailwind of 4 knots, we can expect 1,320' takeoff without
obstacles and 2,364' with a 50' obstacle

Figure 4: Short Field Takeoff Performance

Load Factor:
Load factor is generally not calculated as part of preflight however, it has a close
relation to stall speed, which is very important
As load factor increase, stall speed increases

o Formula:
Load Factor = 1 / cos(angle of bank)
o Example:
Angle of Bank: 60
o Calculate:
Load Factor = 1 / cos(60)
Load Factor = 1 / 0.5
Load Factor = 2
o Chart: [Figure 5]
Look at the 60 mark at the bottom of the chart and move up until you
intercept the reference line
Move over to the left and see the load factor imposed on the aircraft
You should come up to approximately 2

Figure 5: Load Factor vs. Stall Speed

Stall Speed Banked

Stall speed increases in a turn due to a loss in the vertical component of lift
o Formula:
Stall Speed Banked = [Stall Speed Level / Cos (Bank Angle)]
o Example:
Stall Speed: 48 KIAS
Bank Angle: 60

o Calculate:
Stall Speed Banked = [48 / Cos(60)]
Stall Speed Banked = [48 / 0.5]
Stall Speed Banked = 96 KIAS

True Vs. Magnetic North Course Conversion

Used primarily for flight planning when converting a chart (always true north) to a
course to fly in the aircraft (magnetic north)
o Formula:
"East is least, west is best"
Magnetic Course (MC) = True Course (TC) - East Variation
Magnetic Course (MC) = True Course (TC) + West Variation
o Example:
True course is 270
Variation is 14 east
o Calculate:
MC = 270 - 14
MC = 256

Mach Number
Most high-speed aircraft are limited to a maximum Mach number at which they can
fly
This is shown on a Machmeter as a decimal fraction

Figure 6: AerospaceWeb.org. Mach 1 vs. Altitude

o Formula:

 Mach Number = Aircraft Speed/Speed of Sound (dependent on

altitude)
o Example:
Aircraft is flying at 30,000'
Speed of sound at 30,000' = 589.4 knots
The airspeed is 489.3 knots
o Calculate:
489.3/589.5 = 0.83 Mach

Pressure Altitude
As altitude increases pressure will decrease in a standard atmosphere
o Formula:
Pressure Altitude = [(29.92 - current baro) * 1000] + Current field
elevation
o Example:
Current baro: 29.82
Field elevation: 500'

Figure
7: Pressure/Density Altitude Conversion Chart
o Calculate:

 29.92-29.82 = .10
0.10 * 1000 = 100'
100' + 500' = 600'
o Chart: [Figure 7]
Using the chart on the right of the graph, look for the current altimeter
setting
To the right of it there will be an altitude in feet, and that is your
conversion

Density Altitude
Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature
Used for performance calculations
o Formula:
Pressure Altitude + (120 x [Outside Air Temperature (OAT) - 15C (ISA
Temp)])
o Example:
Pressure Altitude = 600' (as calculated above)
OAT: 10C
o Calculate:
600' + [120 * (10-14)]
600' + (-480) = 120'
o Chart: [Figure 7]
From the temperature on the bottom move up to your pressure altitude
Next move left and read your density altitude off the scale
Other tools are available to help you calculate density altitude such as NOAA's
Density Altitude Calculator

Cloud Bases
Used for VFR planning or when icing is a concern
This is a very rough formula as cloud bases are not always flat and can change
rapidly
o Formula:
Temperature-Dew Point (C) divided by 2 = Base of clouds
Temperature-Dew Point (F) divided by 4 = Base of clouds
o Example:
Temperature: 10C / 50F
Dew Point: 5 C / 41F
o Calculate:
(10-5) ÷ 2 = 2,500' MSL

(50-41) ÷ 4 = 2,250' MSL

Climb Rate Required

 Used to determine rate of climb for a given departure/climb out

o Formula:
Ground Speed (GS) (knots) ÷ 60 * Climb Gradient (Feet Per Mile)
o Example:
Ground Speed = 75 knots
Climb Gradient Required = 200 feet per mile
o Calculate:
75 ÷ 60 * 200 = 280 feet per minute climb rate required

Maneuvering Speed:
Also referred to Va
More weight = more stable
o Formula:

Figure
8: Maneuvering Speed Formula

o Example:
Follow instructions given on page 6 of the POH

True Airspeed:
The general rule of thumb is to increase TAS by 2% for every 1,000' increase in the
altitude
o Example:
Indicated airspeed = 100 knots
Altitude = 5,000'
o Formula:
5 * 0.02 = .1
.1 * 100 = 10 knots
100 (IAS) + 10 = 110 knots TAS

Conclusion:
Many calculations are rules of thumb that are constantly handy