Ceiling Clearance Turbulence 
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. The two considerations are turbulence and headwinds.
Air Facts
FEBRUARY 10, 2025
“The instrument conditions, likely turbulence, and increased workload imposed by beginning the approach phase of the flight presented a situation that was conducive to the development of spatial disorientation and a loss of situational awareness. Communicate sounds self-explanatory, and it mostly is.
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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.
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.
Air Facts
AUGUST 16, 2024
Allowing the altitude to sort itself out was the most practical approach with dealing with the wave and associated turbulence. Once on the north side of the Appalachians, the mountain wave and turbulence subsided making the flight into London (CYXU) quite enjoyable. The next day was VFR with some lower cloud ceilings along the way.
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.
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.
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