Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. Unicom also confirmed the weather was still showing a 700’ ceiling with one mile of visibility. I immediately leveled off at around 650’ AGL, and began slowing down. Tuning in the AWOS, I heard an unpleasant surprise.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Cloud ceilings below 1,500 feet or cumulonimbus clouds can trigger a SPECI. This information is vital for determining cloud ceilings, especially during landing approaches. Low cloud ceilings, especially below 1,500 feet, lower visibility in VFR. OVC010CB : Overcast layer of cumulonimbus clouds at 1,000 feet AGL.

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Weather Wind Shear Runway 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

This central core extends up to around 10,000 feet MSL, the airspace’s ceiling. However, the ceiling for each shelf is the same as the core. Although Class B airspace has a typical ceiling of 10,000 feet MSL, exceptions exist. New York’s Class B airspace has a 7,000-foot ceiling, allowing more room for overflying aircraft.

Clearance 52

Clearance Ceiling Airspace Classes Transponder 52

Learn to Fly

MARCH 12, 2024

This is always reported in the sequence: amount, height, and type or indefinite ceiling/height (vertical visibility). METAR KGGG 161753Z AUTO 14021G26KT 3/4SM +TSRA BR BKN008 OVC012CB 18/17 A2970 RMK PRESFR The heights of the cloud bases are reported with a three-digit number in hundreds of feet AGL. Visibility is ¾ statute mile.

Weather 40

Weather Knot UTC Ceiling 40

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 1, 2025

Altimeter Pressure (A2990) The next part of the report indicates the local atmospheric pressure, measured in inches of mercury (inHg). Pilots use this value to adjust their altimeters, ensuring they display altitude as close to mean sea level (MSL) as possible. Its also possible to report negative temperatures with an M prefix.

Turbulence 98

Turbulence AGL Weather UTC 98