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Foxcow · October 12th, 2006, 20:56

If anyone could offer any insight, I would be grateful. Lets say you have two aircraft that are the same type, weight, and configuration. One is cruising at FL350 the other at FL310. My groundschool instructor explained that if they lost an engine at the same time, they will both reach their single engine driftdown altitude at the same time because:

-the aircraft at the higher altitude is cruising at a lower IAS so it will reach its initial driftdown speed faster and start descending sooner.
-the aircraft at the higher altitude will also descend faster for obvious reasons.

This almost makes sense but it seems like there is more to the story. I would think the lower aircraft will get down to altitude before the higher one.

October 12th, 2006, 20:56	#1
Foxcow Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 1,123	Single engine driftdown. If anyone could offer any insight, I would be grateful. Lets say you have two aircraft that are the same type, weight, and configuration. One is cruising at FL350 the other at FL310. My groundschool instructor explained that if they lost an engine at the same time, they will both reach their single engine driftdown altitude at the same time because: -the aircraft at the higher altitude is cruising at a lower IAS so it will reach its initial driftdown speed faster and start descending sooner. -the aircraft at the higher altitude will also descend faster for obvious reasons. This almost makes sense but it seems like there is more to the story. I would think the lower aircraft will get down to altitude before the higher one. __________________ Trans Sates Airlines Downgraded...