Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 8, 2025

Dawn had broken bright and clear, and while icing , ceiling, and visibility had been my preoccupationrightfully so, given our arrival into Portlandthe actual threat of the day was wind. As we walked from the wharf to breakfast, I saw that peak wind gusts were tickling the 40-knot mark.

Crosswind 96

Crosswind Wind Shear Knot Airplanes 96

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected to manage some cloud layers during the New York portion of the flight, but the forecast called for a high ceiling at Northeast Philadelphia Airport. I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. Grab Bag My latest adventure in Warrior 481 had a little bit of everything. Famous last words.)

Approach 69

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR 69

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Cloud ceilings below 1,500 feet or cumulonimbus clouds can trigger a SPECI. 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. Thunderstorms can also bring wind shear and lightning.

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Weather Wind Shear Runway 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

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings. Fixating on the runway numbers can lead to flying through treetops during the approach. They may be rated, but not ready for the real world. Go no lower.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings. Fixating on the runway numbers can lead to flying through treetops during the approach. They may be rated, but not ready for the real world. Go no lower.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52

Plane and Pilot

JULY 2, 2024

We may be the best pilot ever born, but we can’t force a tired Skyhawk to climb above its genuine absolute ceiling, undefined by any performance chart. Can you fly a zero-thrust, single-engine approach to minimums today? But the reported ceiling was only 400 feet at the appointed hour. Probably not without some practice.

Density Altitude 60

Density Altitude Airplanes Wind Shear Pilot 60