Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

This rating should end any temptation to “scud run” around TV towers or under a low ceiling and eliminate the dreaded VFR-into-IMC trap. One more thing: Just because you have earned an instrument rating, there is no requirement to go out and fly in low ceilings and visibilities. The ATC service is better.

Pilot 77

Pilot Ceiling Clearance Pilot in Command 77

Flight Training Central

MARCH 18, 2024

For example, a pilot flying IFR in controlled airspace will have to file an IFR flight plan and receive an ATC clearance. For VFR flight, controlled airspace means increased cloud clearance and visibility requirements. For the VFR pilot flying in B, C, and D airspace, there are communication and/or clearance requirements.

AGL 52

AGL Indicated Airspeed Clearance Transponder 52

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 19, 2024

When flying IFR, ATC is working with you for the entire flight, from the clearance before you depart or slightly after you takeoff and pickup up a clearance in the air until you land, get close enough to your destination to cancel your IFR, or choose to cancel at some intermediate point. There are lots of benefits to doing this.

Pilot 52

Pilot Clearance Weather Approach 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. Where was NetJets?

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Runway Clearance 52

Air Facts

AUGUST 16, 2024

Clearing Canadian Customs was a breeze,—a simple telephone call to CANPASS to get our clearance number. The next day was VFR with some lower cloud ceilings along the way. As a Canadian pilot, I have my VFR OVER-THE-TOP rating, so the thin overcast ceilings were not an issue.

Weather 77

Weather Knot Ceiling Turbulence 77

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 28, 2023

Once the rain relented, we staggered our departures and called for our IFR clearances on the ground. Despite those ground clearances, we found that the ceiling above our home airport was high enough to accommodate VFR departures with airborne clearances. Better safe than sorry.

Clearance 52

Clearance Knot Instrument Meteorological Conditions Airplanes 52

Photographic Logbook

JULY 9, 2024

Exactly like NYC, downtown Boston is encircled by restrictive Class Bravo airspace down to the surface that requires explicit clearance to enter. November Four Eight One, continue inbound, you'll get your Bravo clearance from Tower." Although Boston ATC had cut us loose, we were still beneath a 2,000 foot Bravo airspace ceiling.

Clearance 52

Clearance Runway Approach Stability 52

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. I queried ATC about when to expect the approach clearance and was informed that the Saratoga had appeared to land but the pilot hadn’t contacted ATC to close his IFR flight plan. Tuning in the AWOS, I heard an unpleasant surprise.

Descent 71

Descent Approach Weather Runway 71

ABEAM

AUGUST 26, 2023

IFR clearance was direct to DEVBI while we knew we could pick up our oceanic clearance (my first ever !) After passing DEVBI, Scottish Control passed us to Reykjavik Control who told us to pick up our Oceanic Clearance with Iceland Radio on 127.850. after DEVBI with Iceland Radio. So perfect weather.

Weather 52

Weather Clearance Knot Airplanes 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

VFR to MVFR…then 2 miles visibility and a ceiling of 1,200 feet agl. Remind the learners that GPS is much more than the “Direct To” key, because the direct key and the magenta line will put them through a mountainside or airspace requiring a clearance, so they best have their wits about them and maintain situational awareness.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

The conditions were a mile of visibility and about 500 feet of ragged ceiling, barely enough to maintain orientation by landmarks passing below. A low ceiling absolutely ends a planned flight, though visibility may be the legal determining factor in some situations. If on radar vectors, the controller may have another option for you.

Weather 73

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance 73

Gary's Flight Journal

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

I called the clearance delivery number on the OXB NOTAM but they gave me another number to call. I could not get my Bluetooth headset to connect so the I tucked the iPhone up under my ear seal and picked up my clearance and release. I decided to depart VFR and pick up my clearance in the air if I needed it.

Weather 52

Weather Clearance Approach VOR 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

The conditions were a mile of visibility and about 500 feet of ragged ceiling, barely enough to maintain orientation by landmarks passing below. A low ceiling absolutely ends a planned flight, though visibility may be the legal determining factor in some situations. If on radar vectors, the controller may have another option for you.

Weather 52

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance 52

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. 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. It was now time to plan the trip.

Airplanes 87

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence 87

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

Moments after climbing through the ceiling over Beverly, MA. We made an IFR departure that morning on runway 16 and climbed above the ceiling in short order. But I accepted the clearance knowing that I could change it with a local Approach control like Syracuse. This was even better than I requested. Still IFR, but barely.

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Weather Runway 52

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 20, 2023

hours, the 4,000 foot ceiling over the Williamson Sodus Airport was high enough that no instrument procedures were needed that night. Without guidance, I flew a high and steep approach to runway 28 to ensure clearance with the treetops lurking invisibly in the darkness.

Runway 52

Runway Airplanes Approach Final Approach 52

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 4, 2024

More often than not, winter flying in Upstate New York is contingent on the ceiling. Ceilings are often too low to fly beneath and slowly climbing through a cloud layer of indeterminate thickness in sub-freezing temperatures risks icing. However, a persistent low ceiling scuttled those morning plans.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Pilot Weather 52

Air Facts

AUGUST 5, 2024

” Not only that, you just never know what kind of surprise ATC will spring on you when you’re picking up your IFR Clearance, so preparation is everything! He was quite insistent that you never forego this process saying, “what you can’t see and avoid can kill you.” That’s a big difference from standard isn’t it?

Density Altitude 74

Density Altitude Ceiling Runway Weather 74

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. Phantom City Initially, I believed that the original forecast claiming high ceilings around Philadelphia would come to pass. Famous last words.)

Approach 97

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR 97

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

MARCH 28, 2024

At this point, it was slightly turbulence as we flew through some low ceiling clouds. It took us about 15 minutes to reach the automated machines for clearance into the country. At this point, we started our descent into LHR airport. We followed the traffic east into London which allows to enjoy some view of the city.

Weather 52

Weather Turbulence Runway Narrow-Body Aircraft 52

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

An acceptable meteorological combination of ceiling, visibility, and wind. If you depart MDA on the downwind or base leg, you’re on your own as far as obstacle clearance. Be fully configured and on speed prior to receiving landing clearance. A known degree of familiarity with the airfield and surrounding terrain. No later than).

Approach 70

Approach AGL Descent Runway 70

Air Facts

MAY 27, 2024

In fact, if I could visually see a cloud deck from the ground, it would mean the troposphere ended at around 3,000 feet for me regardless of what the actual ceilings were. I was used to flying low, not § 91.119 (Minimum safe altitude) illegally so, but low nevertheless, and always avoiding clouds.

Approach 71

Approach Ceiling Turbulence Pilot 71

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

The ceiling is 800 ft overcast. A controller who withholds or issues a late descent clearance is also to blame. Sleep last night was inadequate, catering never showed up, so you’re hungry and irritable, and just want the flight to be over.

Approach 105

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Runway 105

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 26, 2024

Upon completing his mission, Kidder requested a clearance to land over the radio, and received a vector heading and told by the controller he was only 15 miles from the base. The weather along the flight path was poor, described by Pruett as consisting of “…low clouds and heavy fog, a ceiling of only a couple hundred feet.”

Weather 124

Weather Tail Drag Ceiling 124

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

JULY 22, 2024

Departure Hall (Landside) The design of the ceiling caught my attention. Notice the small disks of colour glass recess on the underside of the ceiling? What does this design of the ceiling look like to you? The reason for this is to restrict the number of people in the terminal. I can imagine how nice it is at night.

Cabin Crew 59

Cabin Crew Runway Weather Airlines 59