Critical Point CP

Flight Planning Index
Chapter
 General Terms and Definitions.

 Runway Terminology.
 Fuel Calculations.
 Cruise Performance.
 Weight and Balance.
 Point of Equal Time ( PET ).
 Critical Point ( CP ).
 Point of No Return ( PNR ).
 Boeing 747 Flight Planning.
Flight Planning Index
Chapter
Critical Point ( CP ).
 Definition of Critical Point.

 Step Guide Method to Solve Critical Point.
 Basic Critical Point.
 Critical Point with a Wind Component.
 Multi Leg Critical Point.
 Critical Point with Two Separate Winds.
 Critical Point with a Change in Wind Speed.
Critical Point ( CP )
Definition
The Critical Point is defined as the point along a track where it will take the same Time to
return to departure point as it would take to continue to destination with an engine failure.
Time = Time
RGSR RGSO
Track
Departure CP Destination
A B
Step Guide to Solve the CP
 Determine which one of the five types of CP’s is required to be solved.

 Draw the sketch and take note of the direction of the arrows.
 Calculate a Reduced Ground Speed Out ( RGSO ) and a Reduced Ground Speed Return
( RGSR ) for each leg.
 Apply the formula to calculate distance to the CP.
 Apply the leg time function on the pathfinder to the FULL TAS to calculate the FULL GS,
and then calculate the time to the CP.
Basic Critical Point ( CP )
Example No 1
The track from point A to point B is 078°. Full TAS is 176 Kts. Reduced TAS 150 Kts Distance
from A to B is 843 nautical miles. W/V 120/40. What is the time to the CP?
Time = Time
177 Kts 118 Kts

RGSR RGSO
144 Kts
GSO Destination
Departure
A B
CP
CP Time  506 nautical miles  144 Kts
RGSR
CP   Total Distance
RGSO  RGSR
CP Time  03 H 31 min
177 Kts
CP   843 nautical miles
118 Kts  177 Kts
CP Distance  506 nautical miles

Critical Point with a Wind Component
Example No 2
The track from point A to point B is 140°. Full TAS is 180 Kts. Reduced TAS 150 Kts Heading
is 152°. Distance from A to B is 1000 nautical miles. Wind component OUT is 25 Kts. What is
the time to the CP?
Time = Time
119 Kts 175 Kts

RGSR RGSO
205Kts
GSO Destination
Departure
A B
CP
We can not complete our sketch because we can not calculate GSR without having the wind.
Calculate the wind and velocity using the pathfinder. Wind and velocity  272/42
RGSR CP Time  405 nautical miles  205 Kts

RGSO  RGSR
CP Time  01 H 58 min
119 Kts
175 Kts  119 Kts

Multi Leg Critical Point
Example No 3
The track from point A to point B is 075°. Distance from A to B is 364 Nm. The wind and
velocity is 210/25. Full TAS is 175 Kts. Reduced TAS is 150 Kts. The track from B to C is 110°.
The distance from B to C is 568 Nm. The wind from B to C is 260/30. The Full TAS from B to
C is 175 Kts. Reduced TAS is 150 Kts. What is the time to the CP?
K ts RG
SR 123
131 B K
17 5 ts
SR Kts
RG S O
Kts RG RG
SO
16 7
56 8
m Nm
3 64 N
Departure Destination
A Trk 075° Trk 110° C
 We can not complete our sketch because we can not draw in the arrows.
 Assume position B is the CP.
 If an assumption is made it must be proved later.
Example No 3
= Tim
e e
Tim K ts RG
SR
131 B 123
17 5 Kts
SR Kts
RG SO
RG
Kts RG
16 7 SO
56 8
m Nm
3 64 N
A Trk 075° Trk 110° C
 Because we assumed the CP to be at position B we must have proof that this is so.
Proof :
Time from B to A must be the same as the time from B to C.
Time B to A = 02 H 47 min.
Time B to C = 03 H 15 min.
Clearly the CP is not at position B, so where is it?
Example No 3
Tim
n e 03
i H1
7m 5m
H4 RG in
02 Kts SR
e 131 B 123
Tim 17 5 Kts
SR Kts
RG SO
Kts RG 81 N RG
16 7 CP
m SO
56 8
Nm
m
3 64 N
48 7
Nm
A Trk 075° Trk 110° C
Tim
e 0
Time B to A = 02 H 47 min. 2H
47
Time B to C = 03 H 15 min. min
 Clearly the CP is not at position B, so where is it?

 The CP is too close to position A, therefore it must lie on the B to C leg.
 Now solve the small CP problem with the use of the formula.
Example No 3
Tim
n e 03
i H1
7m 5m
H4 RG in
02 Kts SR
e 131 B 123
Tim 17 5 Kts
SR Kts
RG O
ts S 81 N RG
67 K RG m SO
1 CP 568
Nm
Nm
36 4 48 7
Nm Destination
Departure
A Trk 075° Trk 110° C
Tim
RGSR e 0
CP   Total Distance 2H
RGSO  RGSR 47
min
123 Kts CP Distance  33 nautical miles  364 nautical miles

175 Kts  123 Kts
CP Distance from B  33 nautical miles
Example No 3
Tim
n e 03
i H1
7m 5m
H4 20 0 in
02 Kts Kts RG
e 131 B SR 123
Tim GSO Kts
SR 175
RG S O Kts
ts RG 81 N
1 67 K CP
m
RG
56 8 SO
Nm
ts GSO Nm
19 2
K 36 4 48 7
Nm Destination
Departure
A Trk 075° Trk 110° C
Tim
e 0
CP Time from A to B  364 nautical miles  192 Kts 2H
47
min
CP Time from A to B  01 H 54  min
CP Time from A to CP  01 H 54 min  00 H 10 min
CP Time from B to PET  33 nautical miles  200 Kts
CP Time from A to CP  02 H 04 min
CP Time from B to PET  00 H 10 min
Critical Point with an Increase in Wind
Example No 4
Distance from point X to Y is 900 Nm. The distance from X to the CP is 520 Nm. Full TAS is
160 Kts. Reduced TAS is 140 Kts. The wind is along track. If the current wind is increased by
10 Kts, where will the new CP be?
Time = Time
RGSR RGSO
RTAS + A Kts RTAS - A Kts
Departure 520 Nm Destination

X Y
CP 900 Nm
 By definition the CP moves into wind.
 Because the CP is more than halfway from the departure point one can deduce that the original
wind is a headwind.
 Now use the CP formula to solve for the original wind.

Example No 4
Time = Time
RGSR RGSO
Departure 520 Nm Destination

X Y
CP 900 Nm
RGSR
RGSO  RGSR
140  A Kts
520 nautical miles   900 nautical miles
( 140 - A ) Kts  ( 140  A ) Kts
140  A Kts
520 nautical miles   900 nautical miles
280 Kts
520 nautical miles  280 nautical miles  ( 140  A Kts )  900 nautical miles
Original Wind Component A  21.7 Kts

Example No 4
Time = Time
RGSR RGSO
Departure 520 Nm 900 Nm

Destination
X Y
CP
 The original wind is 21.7 Kts.
 If the wind is increased by 10 knots, then the new wind must be 31.7 knots.
 Use this wind to calculate the new CP.

Example No 4
Time = Time
171.7 Kts 108.3 Kts

RGSR RGSO
Departure 520 Nm 900 Nm

Destination
X Y
CP
 The original wind is 21.7 Kts.
 If the wind is increased by 10 knots, then the new wind must be 31.7 knots.
 Use this wind to calculate the new CP.
RGSR
RGSO  RGSR
171.7 Kts
108.3 Kts  171.7 Kts
CP  552 nautical miles

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Flight Planning Index

 General Terms and Definitions.

 Definition of Critical Point.

 Determine which one of the five types of CP’s is required to be solved.

177 Kts 118 Kts

CP Distance  506 nautical miles

119 Kts 175 Kts

RGSR CP Time  405 nautical miles  205 Kts

CP Distance  405 nautical miles

 Clearly the CP is not at position B, so where is it?

123 Kts CP Distance  33 nautical miles  364 nautical miles

Departure 520 Nm Destination

 By definition the CP moves into wind.

 Now use the CP formula to solve for the original wind.

Departure 520 Nm Destination

Original Wind Component A  21.7 Kts

Departure 520 Nm 900 Nm

 The original wind is 21.7 Kts.

 Use this wind to calculate the new CP.

171.7 Kts 108.3 Kts

Departure 520 Nm 900 Nm

CP  552 nautical miles

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