Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What is the distance and time to reach 8,500 feet MSL based on specific departure parameters?

1. 20 NM and 1047 DST

2. 23 NM and 1044 DST

3. 25 NM and 1047 DST

4. 30 NM and 1050 DST

The correct answer is: 23 NM and 1044 DST

To determine the correct distance and time to reach 8,500 feet MSL, it's essential to consider the aircraft's rate of climb and the environmental factors impacting altitude gain. The altitude of 8,500 feet MSL signifies a reasonably elevated airspace that usually requires several minutes of climb depending on the performance characteristics of the aircraft. In this scenario, if you assume a typical rate of climb for general aviation aircraft (which often ranges from 500 to 1,200 feet per minute), you can calculate the approximate time to reach that altitude by dividing the target altitude by the climb rate. For instance, if the aircraft ascends at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute, reaching 8,500 feet would take about 8.5 minutes. To find the corresponding distance, convert the time in minutes to the distance covered, integrating the aircraft's groundspeed. For example, if the aircraft's groundspeed is around 120 knots, you can calculate the distance as follows: Distance = Groundspeed (knots) x Time (hours). If you consider the aircraft flying at 120 knots and taking approximately 8.5 minutes (or about 0.14 hours), you would compute: Distance = 120 knots