Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

The go-to instrument approach for keeping the mail moving is: Cleared for the visual. So its worth a review of the corner-cases and gotchas hidden in the plain-sight (visual) approach. Weather reporting at the destination isnt required so long as some reliable source says theres at least 1000-foot ceilings and three miles visibly.

Approach 52

Approach Pilot Clearance Runway 52

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. Continued along at 6,000’ I advised ATC that the weather was received and requested the RNAV 24 approach. I was soon cleared to descend to 4,000’ and entered IMC during the descent while I located the approach chart to brief. RNAV 24 at KCPC.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

The conditions were a mile of visibility and about 500 feet of ragged ceiling, barely enough to maintain orientation by landmarks passing below. There was no point in trying another approach, and we’d already checked the alternate airport’s weather on the way in, which was equally bad. Now, where to go?

Weather 83

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance 83

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

AGL Above Ground Level AGL is simply a way to tell the basis from which any given height or altitude is measured. Simply put, 400 feet AGL means that the 400 feet is measured from the underlying ground surface above the specific airspace. This is as opposed to other altitude measurements, such as AMSL or above mean sea level.

Pilot 52

Pilot Weather Air Traffic Control NOTAMs 52

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

AIM 5-3-3 ) When an approach has been missed. ( Approaches, holding and tracking are all required for IFR currency. Six instrument approaches One holding procedure and tasks Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation electronic systems. Each is defined by varying ceilings and visibility.

Instrument Flight Rules 52

Instrument Flight Rules AGL Ceiling True Airspeed 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 6, 2024

The route is simple, GPS direct, but…there’s my personal 1,000-foot en route ceiling requirement, and those silly Smoky Mountains. But if I was going VFR over strange territory, I would want lots more than 1,000 feet agl. The 1,000-foot en route ceiling means that approach minimums never come into question.

Airplanes 95

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence 95

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses in the appropriate category of aircraft. completes the required 6 hours and six approaches, followed by an instrument proficiency check given by an FAA-designated examiner. the ILS approach can be credited only if you use a view-limiting device.

Instrument Flight Rules 52

Instrument Flight Rules Ceiling Descent Approach 52

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 4, 2023

Flight planning becomes more advanced than before, flying SIDs and STARs, and instrument approaches. For at least 1 hour before and for 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 statute miles.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 52

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Ceiling Approach Weather 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Often, turbulence is the harbinger of mountain waves, not the ideal ceiling—and visibility unlimited—day. FAA weather charts can help for higher altitudes but when just a few thousand feet agl, they may be less useful. Airspeed was approaching VMO. I flew into that and the venturi effect that day. That’s OK, Horizon 253.

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Weather Knot Descent 97

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

The conditions were a mile of visibility and about 500 feet of ragged ceiling, barely enough to maintain orientation by landmarks passing below. There was no point in trying another approach, and we’d already checked the alternate airport’s weather on the way in, which was equally bad. Now, where to go?

Weather 52

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance 52

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 4, 2024

More often than not, winter flying in Upstate New York is contingent on the ceiling. Ceilings are often too low to fly beneath and slowly climbing through a cloud layer of indeterminate thickness in sub-freezing temperatures risks icing. However, a persistent low ceiling scuttled those morning plans.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Pilot Weather 52

Flying Magazine

APRIL 30, 2024

That’s why the fresh approach Cirrus took to its next model in the SR series makes a lot of sense. Stephen Yeates] A Beginner’s Mind When you must approach something from a fresh perspective, it helps to go into a beginner’s mindset. Having been the former kind, I’ve had trouble putting myself in the latter’s point of view.

Pilot 111

Pilot Airplanes Approach Jet 111

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

VFR to MVFR…then 2 miles visibility and a ceiling of 1,200 feet agl. If the learner is not instrument rated but is training at an airport with an instrument approach, this might be a great time to teach them how to fly the approach as an emergency measure. It’s just a few minutes, right? What could go wrong?

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

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

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. When these happen, they’ll usually call for an instrument approach.

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Weather Wind Shear Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 9, 2024

Approaching their destination, the pilot asked Memphis Center ATC for an airport weather report. When the airplane was about 3 miles from KCVK, it turned right, gently descended, and flew a track consistent with an attempt to make an approach. However, from the passenger’s texts, we know that they knew fuel was running low.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 55

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Weather Airplanes Pilot 55

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

I checked the weather by phone and was assured it would be great CAVU (ceiling and visibility unlimited) with 2-3-knot winds from 090 degrees. With nothing to lose, at a little over 1,000 feet agl, I started a turn to the left, looking for a place to land. As I approached the river, the plane started to settle faster than it had.

Runway 73

Runway Threshold Approach AGL 73

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 9, 2024

Approaching their destination, the pilot asked Memphis Center ATC for an airport weather report. When the airplane was about 3 miles from KCVK, it turned right, gently descended, and flew a track consistent with an attempt to make an approach. However, from the passenger’s texts, we know that they knew fuel was running low.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 52

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Weather Airplanes Pilot 52

Air Facts

APRIL 24, 2024

We had light winds, good visibility, full cloud cover, and ample ceiling heights. But, with a frontal system approaching, the conditions were expected to worsen over the hours subsequent to our passing through, including the chance for moderate to severe turbulence. The flight started off uneventfully enough. We weren’t.

Turbulence 52

Turbulence Wind Shear Final Approach Ceiling 52