Northstar VFR

JANUARY 4, 2023

by Gustin Robinson, FAA CFI-I ASEL Flying under instrument meteorological conditions keeps even a good pilot on their toes. But now, while flying in low visibility and overcast cloud layers, you have to rely on your instrumentation more than ever before and keep your eyes inside the airplane.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Instrument Meteorological Conditions Approach Weather 52

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

That’s correct, you can earn your instrument rating with flight time only in simulated conditions. This is because instrument flight rules (IFR) and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) are much less prevalent in certain areas of the world. If it is IFR in your area, take advantage of it.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 52

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Instrument Flight Rules Ceiling VOR 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 54

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Weather Airplanes Pilot 54

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Challenger 604, G-IV Contributing Writer Pilatus PC-12 on approach at ORL. Air traffic control instructions often lead to unstable approaches. The request to make a short approach or maintain a higher-than-normal speed to the final approach fix is the most common reason pilots don’t meet stable approach criteria.

Approach 105

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Runway 105

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

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 13, 2023

While I anticipated an IFR departure that morning, I wanted to see ceiling and visibility of at least 300 feet and a mile to avoid smacking into mountainous terrain around Pickens County Airport during take-off. Before too long, the visibility rose to unrestricted while the ceiling remained around 300 feet.

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Runway Clearance 52

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

I had no interest in flying one hour north only to be shut out of our destination by weather below minimums for the available instrument approach procedure. ATC was great, the FBO (FlightLevel - Beverly) treated us well and charged reasonable fees, and radar services were managed by the perennially capable Boston Approach.

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Weather Runway 52