You get on the plane and, while you listen to music, read a book or rest, there are messages that are heard through the loudspeaker. Often these messages have to do with each phase of the flight of the plane that takes you from your holiday or work destination to home (or vice versa). Today we are going to learn about each of these phases a little more in depth and also about which professionals contribute to each one.
Taxiing: Aircraft Movement on the Runways
OK, you’ve just boarded, everyone is seated, the luggage is safely stowed away. Many of us may think that takeoff is the first phase of an aircraft’s flight, but that’s not the case. Taxiing (which of course is also done after an aircraft lands) is moving at low speed along the taxiways of the airfield using its own propulsion prior to takeoff. During this phase, pilots check and adjust all aircraft systems and controls as well as deal with air traffic controllers, who monitor ground movement before takeoff. Ground staff assist the aircraft by signaling. Cabin crew usually give instructions to passengers at this time.
Take-off
Once on the runway, the plane accelerates from zero to reach the speed which allows it to rise. This speed will depend on both the weather conditions and the aircraft itself. Take-off is governed by Bernoulli’s principle, named after its author, the 18th-century Swiss physicist and mathematician and which led to the formulation of the Venturi effect. As in the previous phase, take-off involves mainly the pilots, but also the ground crew and the air traffic controllers.
Ascent
The altitude that an aircraft takes during takeoff is variable, although it is usually around ten metres (11 feet). From here and until reaching the cruising phase, the climbing phase occupies the remaining metres. The climb phase, in general, is the section that goes from takeoff to cruise, yes; but not exclusively. There may be certain circumstances that force pilots to climb already in cruise; for example, to avoid turbulence. The pilots take the lead here, since in addition to making the plane climb also carry out protocols such as adjusting the flaps or the landing gear, among other tasks, although they continue in communication with the controller who guides the aircraft from the ground. The climb is perhaps the most demanding phase for both pilots and controllers, because they have to be aware of numerous variables (fuel consumption, air density, etc.).
Cruising Phase
During all flights – but especially in medium- and long-haul flights – this is the longest phase. The aircraft has reached the desired height and from this moment on remains completely horizontal and maintains a constant speed and height, set in the flight plan. In this part of the flight, again, the main actors are the pilots, who not only have to maintain the constants but also monitor both the performance and the route to follow.
Descent
Here the aircraft begins to shed altitude in a controlled manner. It begins where the cruise phase ends, ends with the approach manoeuvre (see below), and keeps the pilots and controller in constant communication. Continuous descent operations are a way of managing descents that, as stated by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), are safer and more efficient, in addition to reducing the workload for controllers and pilots.
Approximation/Approach
Although technically part of the descent, the approach occurs immediately before the control tower authorises landing. Therefore it may happen that the landing is not authorised immediately and that the pilot carries out what is called a holding pattern (which is basically flying in circles within an area standardised on the navigation charts while waiting to be granted a runway).
Landing
Once again, traffic control and pilots coordinate with ground personnel to complete the last phase of the aircraft’s flight, which ends as it began: with taxiing and parking. Before touching the ground, and after having progressively decreased the speed until the aircraft has stopped completely, the landing gear has been lowered again for when the aircraft stops flying and begins to taxi.