Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

An acceptable meteorological combination of ceiling, visibility, and wind. Perhaps just prior to the start of descent could be the optimum time–certainly completed no later than commencement of approach. Recall that we must remain at or above MDA until we are in a normal position to perform a normal rate of descent to landing.

Approach 97

Approach AGL Descent Runway 97

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. Even though synthetic vision might help me perform an emergency descent to a valley that might not be cloud filled, that’s pretty sketchy as a risk-mitigation strategy. It was now time to plan the trip.

Airplanes 90

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence 90

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

However, during the descent on an ILS approach, you encounter VMC prior to reaching the initial approach fix. From 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA, forecast ceiling 2,000, and visibility 3 miles. From 2 hours before to 2 hours after ETA, forecast ceiling 2,000, and visibility 2 and 1/2 miles. The en route weather is IMC.

Instrument Flight Rules 52

Instrument Flight Rules Ceiling Descent Approach 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Often, turbulence is the harbinger of mountain waves, not the ideal ceiling—and visibility unlimited—day. Flight idle and nose down, which normally produced a 2,000-3,000-feet descent rate, resulted in a 2,000-feet-per-minute climb. We continued our descent into Great Falls, leaving “the wave” behind and above.

Turbulence 95

Turbulence Weather Knot Descent 95

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

It was capable of flying up to 172 mph (277 km/h, 149 knots) and reach a service ceiling of 18,000 ft (5,500 m). The aircraft began its descent from an altitude of 1,000 feet to land on a predetermined spot at NASA Ames Research Center, December 7, 1962.

Thrust 94

Thrust Center of Gravity Descent Cockpit 94

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 4, 2023

For at least 1 hour before and for 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 statute miles. Ceiling 600 feet and visibility 2 statute miles. (B) Ceiling 800 feet and visibility 2 statute miles. (2)

Instrument Meteorological Conditions 52

Instrument Meteorological Conditions Ceiling Approach Weather 52

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

AIM 5-3-3 ) When unable to climb/descent at a rate of at least 500 feet per minute.( Each is defined by varying ceilings and visibility. VFR = Ceilings greater than 3,000’ AGL and visibility greater than 5 miles MVFR = Ceilings between 1,000’ and 3,000’ AGL and/or visibility between 3 to 5 miles.

Instrument Flight Rules 52

Instrument Flight Rules AGL Ceiling True Airspeed 52

Vintage Aviation News

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

These combined factors led to a slower top speed for the aircraft than expected, but the XP-81 still had descent handling and climb rate and was light on the controls. In November 1946, Convair produced the second XP-81 prototype, 44-91001, which was ready for flight testing at Muroc by February 1947.

Thrust 52

Thrust Tail Jet Drag 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. Approaching the Green Mountains of Vermont, the ceiling began to close back up. This meant that there would be no getting into Sodus unless the ceiling lifted.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Weather Runway 52

Air Facts

JANUARY 6, 2025

The flight had been unremarkable for a wintery Midwest afternoon, typical with low ceilings and IFR conditions. Light icing in the descent, we had briefed the increased Vref speeds as we had many times before. It was the first officers (FO) leg to fly and I was the pilot monitoring.

Drag 98

Drag Runway Approach Ceiling 98

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

This system includes modes for: roll pitch heading vertical speed altitude hold approach These modes allow for a steady rate of descent, ascent, and consistent speed and altitude ranges. One of the standout features of the Cessna 172’s cockpit is its digital autopilot system. What are the performance specifications of the Cessna 172?**?

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Cranky Flier

OCTOBER 15, 2024

It’s very nice with high ceilings, good lighting, and all that. We came in from the north, and I was on the right, so it remained pitch black most of the initial descent. They didn’t give us any timeline, but I knew it was going to take awhile. But, it is severely lacking in food options. I was getting restless.

Airplanes 130

Airplanes Runway Cargo Ceiling 130

Air Facts

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Upon clearing the Pine Valley Mountain range, I began my descent once clear of its 10,000-foot peak past breathtaking red sandstone cliff walls to the 2,800 ft elevation field. Day 2 included flying over the most desolate and remote terrain I had ever flown over with mountain peaks reaching 11,000 feet. My approach into St.

Weather 98

Weather Approach VFR On Top Knot 98

Air Facts

JULY 1, 2024

I put the gear down one dot above the glideslope and let the drag bring the aircraft down at its 550 foot-per-minute descent rate. Upon reaching our agreed upon, 500-foot ceiling, I put the flaps down and, without touching the power until the runway was made, I glided the aircraft to a (lucky for me) smooth landing.

Knot 97

Knot Approach Pilot Runway 97

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Rather than ending every flight with a missed approach, let your safety pilot make the call just as you reach minimums or a reasonable visual descent point. Circling is a great skill even if youd only use it with high ceilings and in daylight. Youll be ready for either.

Approach 52

Approach Pilot Ceiling Descent 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

VFR to MVFR…then 2 miles visibility and a ceiling of 1,200 feet agl. Put the aircraft in level flight to give them a moment to consider their next course of action so they are not anxiously doing climbs, descents, and unplanned turns. These flights work best if they are limited to an airport 10 to 15 miles away.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

Ask the Pilot

MARCH 27, 2024

A floor-to-ceiling window looked out over the town, more than a thousand feet below. And it wasn’t a gradual or tapered descent; this was straight down, a sheer vertical drop. And I remember a place in Ecuador, overlooking a valley. It was a hacienda-style hotel perched at the top of a mountain. Was it Otavalo, maybe?

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Descent Pilot Airplanes 52

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 69

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR 69

iPad Pilot News

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

It also includes complications to show the current ceiling or surface winds for a favorite airport ( read our full review of the ForeFlight Watch app here ). ForeFlight This well-designed app displays airport weather, NOTAMs, communication frequencies, runway information and more.

Pilot 52

Pilot Altimeter Weather NOTAMs 52

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Weather conditions on Groundhog Day were better than the week prior, characterized by a high ceiling and no thin screen of clouds hiding the ground from view. In the descent, wind direction rotated counterclockwise until it became a direct southerly crosswind. Same course, same altitude, same frequency handoffs as the week prior.

Runway 89

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 89

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

MAY 20, 2024

Personally I don't like the "spikes" attached to the ceiling. At this point, we started our descent into Singapore, flying near Malaysia. The windows were unlocked when we started our descent. This is the arrival hall The departure hall. One of the airline's check-in area. Once I was done, I made my way to terminal 2.

Runway 59

Runway Descent Airline Airlines 59

ABEAM

AUGUST 26, 2023

From my preparation I knew that this airport had customs & immigration and avgas and was closer to us than Reykjavik, so I checked the weather at Egilsstadir via my InReach: it was CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK) ! So perfect weather. We kept at FL090 so icing was above us.

Weather 52

Weather Clearance Knot Airplanes 52

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Consisting of timed, coordinated climbs and descents, Patterns A and B required the pilot to be on altitude, on heading, and on time. 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

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

MARCH 28, 2024

Finally before started our descent, our female Captain came on and updated us on our arrival and weather update and with a prediction of light turbulence during our approach. At this point, we started our descent into LHR airport. At this point, it was slightly turbulence as we flew through some low ceiling clouds.

Turbulence 52

Turbulence Weather Runway Narrow-Body Aircraft 52

Professional Pilot

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Airbus has incorporated an auto emergency descent feature in its A350-1000, which will fly the aircraft to an altitude where theres enough breathing oxygen. Any passenger can press this guarded switch on the cabin ceiling, then the aircraft will calculate where the next suitable runway is, and will land there automatically.

Pilot 52

Pilot Cockpit Pilot in Command Cabin Crew 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Our trusty Continentals or Lycomings do well in cold climates as long as we warm up the engine fully before takeoff, manage the cowl flaps smartly, and avoid shock cooling in idle descents. A complete weather briefing is a must with an emphasis on ceilings, visibilities, cloud layers if IFR, and freezing levels.

Ceiling 105

Ceiling Airplanes Weather Density Altitude 105

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Our trusty Continentals or Lycomings do well in cold climates as long as we warm up the engine fully before takeoff, manage the cowl flaps smartly, and avoid shock cooling in idle descents. A complete weather briefing is a must with an emphasis on ceilings, visibilities, cloud layers if IFR, and freezing levels.

Ceiling 96

Ceiling Airplanes Weather Density Altitude 96

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

It is based on the pilot’s judgment of certain visual clues, and depends on the maintenance of a constant final descent airspeed and configuration. The destination is a couple thousand feet above sea level, with an RNAV approach that depicts a higher-than-normal descent gradient to a down-sloping runway. The ceiling is 800 ft overcast.

Approach 105

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Runway 105

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic. I was soon cleared to descend to 4,000’ and entered IMC during the descent while I located the approach chart to brief. Was this rule being broken? Not really.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98

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

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Though I am no geologist, I found myself biting my tongue whenever the tour guide -- who otherwise did a fine job -- referred to the ceiling-bound mineral formations as "stalagtites". Features on the floor and ceiling matched perfectly, adding plausible support to the split that had occurred.

Runway 82

Runway Approach Knot Drag 82

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 11, 2023

The entire route to Pickens County was under IFR conditions with low ceilings. I established a more aggressive descent rate than the usual 500 feet per minute, but was still too high upon reaching CICCA. That was a pleasant surprise from a big corporate kind of FBO at a big corporate kind of airport.

Descent 52

Descent Approach Airplanes Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

I checked the weather by phone and was assured it would be great CAVU (ceiling and visibility unlimited) with 2-3-knot winds from 090 degrees. It looked like I was still on a descent to touch down at the threshold on Runway 15. A little more investigation revealed that the club’s mechanic had just completed a 100-hour inspection.

Runway 67

Runway Threshold Approach AGL 67

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 22, 2024

I glanced over my shoulder to see our loadmaster scramble up the cargo bay’s side panels, then cling to the ceiling, barely clear of slashing horns. Descent check!” Aim to the back or the side of the airplane, not up here and not toward the ceiling,” I warned. Photo via USAF Airchives “ Yiiieee! Load to pilot! he screamed.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Tail Cargo Airplanes 52

Vintage Aviation News

OCTOBER 13, 2024

The aircraft performed well at a high speed with stable cruise and descent however, during the second flight, some issues surfaced with the longitudinal stability during the climb. Ernst Heinkel (right) with Siegfried Günter. meters Length 16.4

Cockpit 52

Cockpit Aileron Ceiling Descent 52

Fear of Landing

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Weather reports from the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field on the island warned of a low cloud ceiling, overcast at 700-800 feet. According to ADSB data , they were just 75 feet above ground when the aircraft entered a rapid descent of 1,700 feet per minute as they passed the departure end of the runway.

Runway 52

Runway Altimeter Pilot Lift 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Precisely what the single-engine ceiling is, the team can’t say. “We We just fly the thing around at 1000 feet, so the ceiling, we don’t know. Climbs and descents were normal, and while not stunning, it seemed like this airplane could carry a load up and over the hills if needed—even though it is designed to operate down low.

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Rudder Knot Aileron 77