Thread: AOPA Flight planner CTLS

I am trying to load the CTLS on the AOPA flight planner and is asking me this:

Taxi
* Taxi FuelGallons)

On Climbing

*Climb Fuel Burn Rate?(Gallons/hr)
* Indicated Climb Speedknots)

On descending:

* Rate of DescentFeet/min)
* Indicated Descent SpeedKnots)
* Descent Fuel Burn RateGallons/hr)
* FAA Designator I try LSA but is not taking it)

Can you guys help me with this

Taxi
* Taxi FuelGallons) 2gal - guessing

On Climbing

*Climb Fuel Burn Rate?(Gallons/hr) 6gal - depends on altitude
* Indicated Climb Speedknots) 95kts - depends on you

On descending:

* Rate of DescentFeet/min) 500fpm
* Indicated Descent SpeedKnots) 120kt - depends on alt and you
* Descent Fuel Burn RateGallons/hr) 4gal - guessing
* FAA Designator I try LSA but is not taking it) FDCT - correct for ctsw not sure about other models

FDCT is the correct type designator, but the AOPA flight planner does not accept it. When you go to file a flight plan, it warns that you have entered an invalid type and may not work.

I have contacted AOPA twice to get it added, but no luck so far. Here is a link to a document on the FAA site showing FDCT as the correct designator for CT's: http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/ ... /5-2-F.htm

I have not actually tried filing through AOPA to see if it works anyway. After using the planner, I've just entered the flight plan directly in DUATS.

I also contacted AOPA about the identifier problem (Nov 2008 and January 2009)... both times I received responses that it would be fixed... oh well.

Tim

Charlie thank you for the info. So With 95 knots in rate of climb then the rate of clime is higher that the one that is on the book correct. And If am cruising at 3500 or 4000 what will be the climb burn rate. Can you help me calculate that ? what formula do you use?.

Jose,

I picked 95kts out of the air, I use a climb speed that matches the bulk of my climbs, the objective is to have the flight plan match the way you fly. Once I'm safely away from the ground I tend to cruise climb. So I climb at 2 different speeds but the flight planner only takes one, should work best with an average weighted more towards the cruise climb speed if you spend more time there.

rather then calculating fuel burn at 3,500 or 4,000 rpm why not flatten your pitch and cruise at 5,500? your engine was designed to run at that rpm for it's entire life and if you run 3,500-4000 you will shorten the life span of your engine and gear box.

I think it is a good idea to begin with approximate numbers in your flight planner and then tweak them based on results. Fly with lots of reserve fuel and if your plans are off by 15min that's only 1 gallon.

So Charlie :How do you normally do your climbs? For Example do you take off then keep a 75 knot climb in till you reach 1000 feet?. Then low down nose to keep a cruse climb of 85 knots in till desire cruise altitude?

I use Vy at -6 degrees, rounding it to 85 knots for climb. This gives me a better climb rate and cooler oil temps. I use about 105 indicated for cruise descent at 500'/" and cruise rpm, maybe 110 down low. I agree with Charlie Tango on the rest, except I don't cruise at 5500 rpm, more like 5100-5200. Maybe if I cruised routinely above 10,000 msl I might go higher. WF

i don't have a normal climb, i climb to suit my mission.

at altitude i take off with 15 degrees and climb from the runway at 58kts ias till i get 600' agl, this is where i feel i can return to the runway if engine is lost and where i begin to clean up flaps and accelerate. here in the mountains and deserts i have seen many climbs this year already where i could get 1,400fpm @ 105kts ias so i go with that, why slow down in all that lift.

once away from the ground i will useually climb at about 200-300fpm and keep my speed up. it depends on conditions and weight and current prop pitch

my descents, if smooth i trim nose down to whatever speed is comfortable and retard the throttle to maintain 5,500rpm. i use the vnav on my 496 for descent guidence.

all in all i do what i can to keep my speed up and my rpm at 5,500, if terrain or safety require i climb steeper probably 90kts at negative flaps. i also tend to make my climb angle match the terrain and climb along ridges where there is lift, another way to keep my speed up.

With the LS I have found the base of the windshield on the horizon will give a speed close to what the book calls for when climbing with any flap setting from 15 to -6. Tom