Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Reality IFR Alternate Airport Planning Contingency planning is even more important for IFR pilots on cross-country flights where a cloud ceiling shift of 100’ or visibility change of a ½ mile can mean the difference between seeing the runway at the end of an instrument approach or having to go around and find another place to land.

Ceiling 98

Ceiling Pilot Weather Approach 98

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

VFR to MVFR…then 2 miles visibility and a ceiling of 1,200 feet agl. Next, introduce the VOR. Have them use the VOR to determine what radial they are on, and if the unit has DME, show you where they are on a sectional. These flights work best if they are limited to an airport 10 to 15 miles away. What could go wrong?

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

Pilots must meet equipment and certification requirements and have ATC clearance to enter. This central core extends up to around 10,000 feet MSL, the airspace’s ceiling. However, the ceiling for each shelf is the same as the core. Although Class B airspace has a typical ceiling of 10,000 feet MSL, exceptions exist.

Clearance 52

Clearance Ceiling Airspace Classes Transponder 52

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. We were assigned a slightly ridiculous alteration to the route I filed: MANCH T316 LAMMS T608 ROC that had us flying past Sodus to the Rochester VOR before setting up for Sodus.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Weather Runway 52

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

We no longer need to worry about identifying VORs and dialing in the right radial, but we do need to worry about that thunderstorm sitting right on top of our direct route or the low ceiling at our destination. Navigate also means managing weather, because thats often the biggest challenge on an IFR flight.

Pilot in Command 95

Pilot in Command Pilot Approach Airplanes 95

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. The reroute was minimal, an insertion of Yardley VOR (ARD) into my flight plan. On Wednesday, April 17, I broke ground exactly at 11:00 am as planned. Famous last words.)

Approach 69

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR 69

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

After startup, I’d record a VOR check in the aircraft log while waiting for our clearance. We flew the usual approaches: VOR, ILS, and the now extinct NDB. One foggy morning out at Dulles, Charlie and I were waiting for the ceiling to improve so we could launch on an IFR training flight. We also flew in IMC.

NDB 52

NDB Checkride VOR Approach 52