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

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

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. This is consistent with Rick’s report, which referenced 9 knots of wind. His altitude was 1339 AGL and his ground speed was 92 kts.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL 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 Runway AGL Lift 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 Knot Turbulence 114

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 87

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence 87

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 AGL 52