Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 28, 2023

As our trip to Sleepy Hollow neared, forecasts for IFR weather inspired a shuffling of airplanes and pilots so that our seven adventurers were distributed among three IFR-capable airplanes with current IFR pilots. Once the rain relented, we staggered our departures and called for our IFR clearances on the ground. That was a good plan.

Clearance 52

Clearance Knot Instrument Meteorological Conditions Airplanes 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

You check the weather, get information Charlie, and then tune up tower frequency. Consider what calls might come up given the route of flight and the types of airspace and weather it might pass through. Say you are approaching the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport from the south in a Cessna 12345 and want to make a full stop landing.

Aeronautical Information Manual 63

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control 63

Gary's Flight Journal

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Weather Outlook The weather watch starts two weeks in advance for any of our adventures. As we approached Barrett’s Mountain VOR you could make out the mountains ahead. I contacted Asheville ground to pick up my clearance but it was not on file. The whole process has become second nature. Saturday 11.4 That’s odd.

Approach 52

Approach Knot VOR Weather 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

You check the weather, get information Charlie, and then tune up tower frequency. Consider what calls might come up given the route of flight and the types of airspace and weather it might pass through. Say you are approaching the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport from the south in a Cessna 12345 and want to make a full stop landing.

Aeronautical Information Manual 52

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control 52

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

One rule is to allow plenty of planning time, consider alternates even in good weather, and accept the fact that the best option very well could be to fly another day. Departure procedures are designed primarily to provide obstacle clearance. but there are common considerations that should be followed by all.

Clearance 52

Clearance Turbulence Weather Approach 52

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

It was not an inspiring morning to fly out of Sodus, but I knew that the poor weather was localized to the Lake Ontario shore and that Washington DC was forecast to be sunny and significantly warmer. When I contacted Rochester Approach, the controller came back with, "Are you looking for your clearance to College Park?"

Transponder 52

Transponder Approach Clearance General Aviation 52

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

However, a forecast for low IFR weather in that part of Maine led us to cancel it. I had no interest in flying one hour north only to be shut out of our destination by weather below minimums for the available instrument approach procedure. Still the better part of an hour away from home, weather conditions were concerning.

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Weather Runway 52

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

This year, a promising weather forecast featuring high freezing levels (expected to be 9,000+ feet) led to a decision to fly myself. The day before departure, satisfied that days of consistent weather forecasts reasonably assured a successful flight, I cancelled the rental car reservation. Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the gloom.

Approach 97

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR 97

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six Navigation equipment includes a Garmin GNS-530W GPS navigator and two VOR receivers for secondary navigation. ADS-B provides real-time traffic information and almost-live NEXRAD radar and weather data. It’s technically an IFR procedure, but can be used by any pilot to assure clearance from obstacles.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude OAT Airplanes Fixed Base Operator 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

The weather can change, and approach equipment can fail. ATIS broadcasts usually include active runways, available approaches, important NOTAMs, and the weather. Get the destination weather as soon as possible. Use the weather (along with the NOTAMs) to ensure your chosen approach is still the best choice.

Approach 52

Approach NOTAMs Runway Weather 52

Photographic Logbook

JULY 6, 2024

Long story short, when I received my clearance that evening, it was to my originally intended BELTS waypoint.) We had excellent weather for the trip to College Park and the scenery was beautiful as we flew through the Finger Lakes Region, across the ruffled landscape of central Pennsylvania, and into Maryland. En Route Seneca Lake.

Pilot 52

Pilot Flight Plan Air Traffic Control General Aviation 52

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

I learned during the process that all Canadian IFR flight plans require an alternate airport regardless of weather conditions. In the US, the requirement to file an alternate is contingent on weather forecast within an hour of arrival at the destination as described by the “1-2-3 rule”. Delta was current at Kingston.

Runway 52

Runway Flight Plan Clearance Weather 52

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

In a prior telephone conversation with the Rockliffe Flying Club, I was assured that I could pick up my IFR clearance in the air from Ottawa Terminal and planned to do exactly that. My filed route to Ogdensburg was via YOW (the Ottawa VOR) and IKLAX. I have received vectors around other aircraft, airspace, and weather.

Approach 52

Approach Clearance Airplanes Runway 52