AGL Ceiling Descent 
Air Facts
APRIL 29, 2024
KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic. I was soon cleared to descend to 4,000’ and entered IMC during the descent while I located the approach chart to brief. Was this rule being broken? Not really.
Professional Pilot
AUGUST 8, 2024
It is based on the pilot’s judgment of certain visual clues, and depends on the maintenance of a constant final descent airspeed and configuration. The destination is a couple thousand feet above sea level, with an RNAV approach that depicts a higher-than-normal descent gradient to a down-sloping runway. The ceiling is 800 ft overcast.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Air Facts
MAY 10, 2024
An acceptable meteorological combination of ceiling, visibility, and wind. Perhaps just prior to the start of descent could be the optimum time–certainly completed no later than commencement of approach. Recall that we must remain at or above MDA until we are in a normal position to perform a normal rate of descent to landing.
Flight Training Central
FEBRUARY 17, 2024
AIM 5-3-3 ) When unable to climb/descent at a rate of at least 500 feet per minute.( Each is defined by varying ceilings and visibility. VFR = Ceilings greater than 3,000’ AGL and visibility greater than 5 miles MVFR = Ceilings between 1,000’ and 3,000’ AGL and/or visibility between 3 to 5 miles.
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. Even though synthetic vision might help me perform an emergency descent to a valley that might not be cloud filled, that’s pretty sketchy as a risk-mitigation strategy. It was now time to plan the trip.
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. We continued our descent into Great Falls, leaving “the wave” behind and above. Airspeed was approaching VMO.
Flight Training Central
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
However, during the descent on an ILS approach, you encounter VMC prior to reaching the initial approach fix. For any flight above an altitude of 1,200 feet AGL, when the visibility is less than 3 miles. From 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, forecast ceiling 2,000, and visibility 3 miles. The en route weather is IMC.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
98 
Let's personalize your content