Definition
A graph or table published by the aircraft manufacturer that shows how the aircraft will perform under specified conditions — for example, takeoff distance, climb rate, cruise fuel burn, or landing distance — based on inputs such as weight, temperature, pressure altitude, and wind.
Plain English
A chart in the aircraft's handbook that lets you look up how the airplane will perform on a given day, based on things like weight, temperature, and altitude.
Context Anchor
Seen in the aircraft handbook during preflight planning and aeronautical decision-making, especially before takeoff, landing, or operating from a high, hot, short, or wet runway.
Derivation
Performance comes from older words meaning “to carry out” or “to accomplish.” Chart comes from a word meaning “paper” or “map.” Together, the phrase points to a mapped-out way of seeing what the aircraft is expected to accomplish.
Why Pilots Care
Using these charts lets pilots confirm the airplane can safely use a given runway under current conditions before attempting takeoff or landing.
Intuition Check
A performance chart is not a general promise that the airplane will perform well. It is specific data for specific conditions, and the pilot must match the chart to the situation.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing the high-altitude airport on a hot afternoon, the pilot used the performance chart to confirm the runway was long enough for takeoff.
Example Sentence 2
The performance chart showed that with a 10-knot headwind the required landing distance dropped by 300 feet.