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 experienced moderate turbulence even at our gate. I flew into that and the venturi effect that day.

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Turbulence Weather Knot Descent 95

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 6, 2024

Also, from when I lived out West, there was the mountaintop clearance guideline—1,000 feet for every 10 knots of wind, with 30 knots meaning no-go. But if I was going VFR over strange territory, I would want lots more than 1,000 feet agl. The two considerations are turbulence and headwinds. And then there’s headwinds.

Airplanes 90

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence 90

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

Air Facts

APRIL 24, 2024

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. At first it was just gradually, then more decidedly, evolving into moderate turbulence. But the turbulence would continue to worsen. We weren’t.

Turbulence 52

Turbulence Wind Shear Final Approach Ceiling 52

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

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

A sudden wind shift, a 10-knot or greater speed increase, a 45-degree or more direction change, or gusts exceeding limits may also cause a SPECI. This includes the wind direction in degrees and the wind speed in knots. Expect poor visibility, increased turbulence, and slippery runway surfaces.

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Altimeter Weather Wind Shear Runway 52

Chess In the Air

JULY 4, 2022

Possible causes include: Rotor turbulence, e.g. on wave days. That does very little when you’re in 10-20 knot sink. The possibility of a stall may not even have been on his mind: the ground speed of the glider before the stall was much higher than one normally experiences in the landing pattern – ADSB shows 92 knots.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear AGL Lift Runway 52