Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

If the weather is not appropriate for instrument flight in light piston-engine airplanes, meaning the clouds contain ice, turbulence, or embedded thunderstorms, you’re probably better off using your VFR privileges, so long as you set strict limits. And your own currency may be long out of date, despite your qualifications.

Weather 76

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance 76

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Fly at least 1,500 above ground level (AGL) to allow room for recovery in case you stall the aircraft. For a greater margin of safety, select an altitude that leaves you 1,500 feet AGL after recovery from a stall. Higher altitudes are also less prone to turbulence and have fewer birds. Target Altitude Pick a safe altitude.

Lift 52

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 12, 2024

A power-on stall occurs when the airplane’s nose rises too high, and the angle of attack becomes too steep, disrupting the airflow over the wings. The turbulent air hits the horizontal stabilizer, which causes a vibration that can be felt throughout the aircraft. They might feel scary at first, especially on your stomach.

Stability 52

Stability Horizontal Stabilizer Lift Airplanes 52

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

This is a hard one to gain insight from other than this: Some atmospheric events are bigger than our plastic airplanes. He only needed a glide ratio of 14:1 to reach the airfield to arrive at a typical pattern altitude of 1,000 ft AGL. At this point he still had an altitude of 8,275 ft MSL, i.e. 2,739 ft AGL.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

If the weather is not appropriate for instrument flight in light piston-engine airplanes, meaning the clouds contain ice, turbulence, or embedded thunderstorms, you’re probably better off using your VFR privileges, so long as you set strict limits. And your own currency may be long out of date, despite your qualifications.

Weather 52

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Expect poor visibility, increased turbulence, and slippery runway surfaces. OVC010CB : Overcast layer of cumulonimbus clouds at 1,000 feet AGL. In this example, you should watch out for an overcast layer (ceiling) of cumulonimbus clouds 1,000 ft AGL. And if you see “TSRA,” that’s a red flag. A2992 : Altimeter setting of 29.92

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Weather Wind Shear Runway 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 1, 2024

Some gust fronts can be completely harmless or may be a precursor for an encounter with severe turbulence and dangerous low-level convective wind shear. These gust fronts often contain severe or extreme turbulence, strong and gusty straight-line winds, and low-level convective wind shear.

Wind Shear 114

Wind Shear Weather Turbulence Knot 114

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 4, 2024

Current minimums on the RNAV-28 are 558 feet AGL since we lost our LPV approaches due to obstructions. Seeing a plume of snow billowing from the peak of Whiteface, I was concerned about experiencing turbulence downwind of the peak, but the air remained benign all the way around. Peak of Whiteface with Lake Placid behind it.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Pilot Weather 52

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 1, 2025

m/s) Visibility: 9999 6 or more sm (10+ km) Weather: VCSH VCSH (showers in the vicinity) Clouds: SCT010 BKN030 OVC060 Scattered clouds at 1000 feet AGL, broken clouds at 3000 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 6000 feet AGL Ceiling: BKN030 3000 feet AGL Icing: 620509 Light rime in clouds from 5000 to 14000 feet AGL 1.

Turbulence 98

Turbulence AGL Weather UTC 98