Takeoff & Landing Page Structure

The example screenshots below are from the takeoff distance page for a Pilatus PC-12; however, the landing distance page and all other aircraft types use the same overall structure, though the details may vary. Every blue value is user-adjustable.

Takeoff Output Labels

The following table lists generic takeoff output labels used for most aircraft, though not all aircraft provide every output label and some aircraft have specific output labels that apply only to that aircraft, which are not listed here. Consult your aircraft’s POH for further detail on the specific aircraft configuration used for these outputs.

Rotate Speed	Target takeoff speed upon which to initiate takeoff rotation
Liftoff Speed	Approximate speed when main gear leaves the runway; faster than rotate speed, but slower than 50 ft speed
Ground Roll	Takeoff distance from brake release point until main gear lifts off the runway.
50ft Speed	Initial climb speed reached at end of total takeoff distance and at the obstacle height of 50 ft AGL with gear down and takeoff flaps.
Total Distance	Takeoff distance from brake release point through reaching 50 ft obstacle height point above ground level (AGL). Consists of ground roll distance and air segment for initial climb, all at takeoff flap setting and gear down (if retractable).
Accel-Stop Distance	Distance from brake release point through acceleration to a reject speed and subsequent deceleration to a full stop; aircraft never leaves the runway (this distance is typically only found with twin engine aircraft)
Climb Speed	Target speed for the initial climb after reaching the 50 ft AGL takeoff point, typically gear up, if retract (see POH for flap setting used)
Climb Rate	Instantaneous rate of climb in ft/min for the initial climb after reaching the 50 ft AGL takeoff point typically gear up, if retract (see POH for flap setting used)
Climb Gradient	Instantaneous climb gradient (rise/run) for the initial climb after reaching the 50 ft AGL takeoff point typically gear up, if retract (see POH for flap setting used)
Takeoff Climb Speed	Target speed for the initial climb after reaching the 50 ft AGL takeoff point in the POH-defined takeoff flap and gear configuration
Takeoff Climb Rate	Instantaneous rate of climb in ft/min for the initial climb after reaching the 50 ft AGL takeoff point in the POH-defined takeoff flap and gear configuration
Takeoff Climb Gradient	Instantaneous climb gradient (rise/run) for the initial climb after reaching the 50 ft AGL takeoff point in the POH-defined takeoff flap and gear configuration
Cruise Climb Speed	Target enroute climb speed, typically flaps up and gear up, if retract
Cruise Climb Rate	Enroute climb rate, typically flaps up and gear up, if retract
Cruise Climb Gradient	Enroute climb gradient, typically flaps up and gear up, if retract
OEI Climb Speed	Target climb speed when one engine inoperative (OEI) on a twin engine aircraft
OEI Climb Rate	Climb rate when one engine inoperative (OEI) on a twin engine aircraft

 

Landing Output Labels

The following table lists generic landing output labels used for most aircraft, though not all aircraft provide every output label and some aircraft have specific output labels that apply only to that aircraft, which are not listed here. Consult your aircraft’s POH for further detail on the specific aircraft configuration used for these outputs.

50ft Speed (or Approach Speed)	Target threshold crossing speed for landing and at 50 ft AGL (obstacle height point). Typically referred to as the reference speed (VREF), some manuals call it the approach speed (VAPP).
Total Distance	Landing distance from 50 ft AGL obstacle height point (over approach end runway threshold) until full stop is reached. Consists of air portion with flare, touchdown and stopping portion.
Ground Roll	Landing distance from touchdown point on the runway until full stop is reached.
Go-Around/Balked Landing Climb Speed	Target go-around speed, typically in landing flap/gear configuration.
Go-Around/Balked Landing Climb Rate	Go-around climb rate in ft/min. Consult POH for flap and gear configuration.
Go-Around/Balked Landing Climb Gradient	Go-around climb gradient (rise/run). Consult POH for flap and gear configuration.

 

Takeoff & Landing Distances FAQs

 

Q: I’m not seeing the Takeoff and Landing button on Flights page. Why?

A: Runway distance calculation requires a subscription to the Performance Plus tier, as well as use of an aircraft for which a runway performance model exists. View the list of supported aircraft models at the bottom of the page to see if we support your aircraft.

Q: How do I know if my aircraft is supported for runway distance calculations?

A: View the list of supported aircraft models at the bottom of the page, or search our Performance Directory for your aircraft. Any aircraft with a blue line stating “Supports Takeoff & Landing Distances”, then your aircraft has been modeled and will provide takeoff/landing distance calculations.

Q: Why can’t I change my takeoff/landing weight on the runway distance page?

A: The takeoff/landing weight is directly tied to the takeoff/landing weight on Flights page; if the presented takeoff/landing weight on the runway distance page is not what you desire to use for calculations, you will need to modify your payload and/or fuel load on Flights first, to achieve the desired takeoff/landing weight for runway distance calculations.

Q: I’m changing my takeoff/landing weight, but the distance results do not change. Why is that?

A: Consult your POH. It is likely that takeoff and/or landing performance data are only published for a single takeoff or landing weight, specifically that maximum takeoff or landing weight for your aircraft. If that is the case, you will always see results for the maximum takeoff or landing weight, regardless of your actual takeoff/landing weight.

Q: Runway slope does not seem to affect distance results.

A: Consult your POH. Many aircraft do not publish runway slope effect on takeoff and landing distances. If that is the case, runway slope changes will not be reflected in the calculated distance results.

Q: Why am I seeing “runway slope of 3% exceeds published limit of 2%” message?

A: Most aircraft POH do not include runway slope effects on takeoff/landing distance. For those POH which do include this effect, the published slope range is a hard limit. Typically slope effects of +2% uphill through -2% downhill are published. Any runway slope outside of that range is unknown and cannot be used for calculation. Consult your POH for more information around the slope limits for your aircraft.

Q: Why am I seeing an “Outside air temperature out of range”message?

A: Consult your POH. The provided input Temperature likely exceeds what is published for that pressure altitude.

Q: Why am I seeing a “Tailwind component out of range” message?

A: Most aircraft are limited to a maximum of 10 knot tailwind component. Some aircraft have a 5 knot limit. When the tailwind component exceeds this limit, you will see this message because takeoff/landing with this tailwind component is not allowed. Consult your POH for full details on the limits of your aircraft.

Q: I’m not seeing any calculation result differences when changing from 31 knot to 36 knot headwind. Why?

A: Most aircraft manufacturers publish wind effect on takeoff/landing distances up to 30 knots headwind component (some publish to 15 knots). For winds greater than the published maximum headwind component, the maximum published headwind component is used, as a greater headwind component results in an even shorter, and therefore more conservative, takeoff/landing distance.

Q: Changing wind has no effect on my takeoff/landing distances.

A: Consult your POH. It is likely that the takeoff/landing distance data does not include a wind effect at all.

Q: Why can’t I change the runway surface to grass for my aircraft?

A: Consult your POH. Some (but few) aircraft POHs publish non-paved runway corrections. If your aircraft’s POH includes them, you will see a Runway Surface selection in the Runway group on the takeoff/landing page.

Q: If I select a grass runway in the runway picker, and my aircraft’s POH support grass runway corrections, why isn’t the Runway Surface selector automatically set to Grass Runway?

A: Automatic selection of runway surface type based on the runway selected is currently not supported. Grass runways can be tricky, as some aircraft manufacturers simply use “Grass Runway” while others use “Dry Grass” and “Wet Grass” and yet others have 3-4 different grass depths. For this reason it’s up to the pilot to manually make the best selection for their runway condition.

Q: Is density altitude considered in these performance calculations?

A: Yes. Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for temperature effects. Most POH performance data operate with pressure altitude and outside air temperature inputs, which together, factor into a density altitude.

Q: Why can’t I directly change my altitude input on the takeoff/landing page?

A: Because distance calculations are based on pressure altitude, pressure altitude is automatically calculated from the aircraft’s elevation and the METAR or manually provided altimeter setting.

Q: I’m changing cold temperature (or light weight) inputs, but my performance results are not changing. Why?

A: Consult your POH for the low-end temperature and weight limits. For inputs less than those limits, performance results are calculated at the published low weight (or temperature) limit. The results provided are more conservative (longer distance, lower rate-of-climb, etc) than if calculated with your actual inputs.

Q: Why am I not seeing any results when I provide a set of inputs?

A: Consult your POH, specifically checking for the allowable aircraft configuration. Some aircraft require a specific flap setting when other conditions (such as icing) exist. If a non-allowed flap setting is chosen, no results are displayed, as this flight condition is not allowed, per POH.

Q: I picked my aircraft, it supports Takeoff & Landing Distances, I tapped on the Takeoff button and see a list of serial number ranges for my aircraft - what do I do? Which one do I pick?

A: Consult your POH and your aircraft registration information. Some aircraft have differing runway performance data for multiple serial number ranges within the total production run. In other words, as the aircraft production continued over many years, improvements were made, which affect runway distances. Find the serial number for your aircraft and pick the option within which your serial number falls. If your range is not provided, please contact us at team@foreflight.com to provide details on your aircraft (POH, serial number) so we can research your specific case.

Q: Are runway distance data synced between FF Mobile and FF Web?

A: Yes

Q: When connected to ADS-B, or any other in-flight weather source, will METAR data be used to prefill runway distance page weather for an airport with METAR coverage?

A: Yes.

Q: Does Takeoff and Landing Distances support single-engine turboprops?

A: No, but turboprops are supported by our Runway Analysis capability.