Flight Training Central

JANUARY 10, 2025

Descent planning is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of managing your flight. And if not planned properly, a poorly executed descent can present challenges and unnecessary risks when transitioning to an approach or the traffic pattern. Finally, you can enable messages to alert you as to when to begin the descent.

Descent 98

Descent Groundspeed Flight Plan AGL 98

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 11, 2025

These alerts include runway proximity, traffic, cabin altitude, destination weather, terrain, airspace and TFRs, carbon monoxide and more. The alert will only sound once every 60 seconds and is automatically disabled if groundspeed is less than 40 knots. AGL (or when AGL is unknown), the descent rate exceeds 4,000 ft.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Groundspeed Descent 52

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

A pit stop at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (KCRE) was planned, and after a weather briefing, I filed an IFR flight plan. The Mooney is well-equipped for weather avoidance as it is equipped with a sophisticated spheric lighting detector. I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98

AV Web

MAY 22, 2024

Also, other than mention in reports of “minor” convective activity in the area, not much information is available on weather, including bottoms of the clouds, which could be an important factor. Radar contact was lost some 3,500 feet lower, airspeed and rate of descent not known, but presumably at a significant increase.

Tail 105

Tail Instrument Meteorological Conditions Knot Groundspeed 105

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

FAA weather charts can help for higher altitudes but when just a few thousand feet agl, they may be less useful. Great Falls weather is fair and warm. 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. Lessons learned, some forgotten. What had I missed?

Turbulence 97

Turbulence Weather Knot Descent 97

AV Web

MAY 22, 2024

Also, other than mention in reports of “minor” convective activity in the area, not much information is available on weather, including bottoms of the clouds, which could be an important factor. Radar contact was lost some 3,500 feet lower; airspeed and rate of descent not known, but presumably at a significant increase.

Tail 98

Tail Instrument Meteorological Conditions Knot Groundspeed 98

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

ICAO minima for circling approaches is much higher than that stipulated in the FARs so consider higher weather minima. We also benefit from the latest weather updates. Perhaps just prior to the start of descent could be the optimum time–certainly completed no later than commencement of approach. What is the runway lighting?

Approach 97

Approach AGL Descent Runway 97