Descent, VOR and Weather - Aviator Connection

How to Fly a VOR Approach: Made Easy

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Are you curious about flying a VOR approach? If you’re aiming to master instrument-rated flying, it’d be valuable to learn about VOR approaches. We’ll cover what a VOR approach is, how to fly it step-by-step, and even whether GPS can replace it in today’s navigation. Ready to make VOR approaches easy?

VOR

VOR Approach Descent Final Approach

How to Fly an ILS Approach

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 14, 2025

Even driving a car can be dangerous in foggy weather. While it is particularly useful in low visibility or poor weather conditions, it is not limited to such situations. Air travel would be significantly reduced if aircraft were limited to landing only when the weather was perfect. Lets learn more about this system!

Approach

Approach Descent Runway Instrument Landing System

Air Facts IFR Challenge

Air Facts

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Climb/descent within the block can be made at the discretion of the pilot. However, once the pilot starts descent and verbally reports leaving an altitude in the block, the pilot may not return to that altitude without additional ATC clearance. The pilot may level off at any intermediate altitude within this block of airspace.

Clearance

Clearance NOTAMs VOR Descent

Flight Sims for the Win: It’s All About Repetition and Drill

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

Scenario 3: VFR into IFR If you read the accident reports the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) compiles, you will notice a lot are attributed in part to the pilot’s decision to continue VFR into deteriorating weather. In the ATD the scenario begins by having the pilot check the weather before takeoff. What could go wrong?

Crosswind

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway

Understanding LPV, LNAV, and VNAV: The Easy Way

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 4, 2024

VNAV adds automated vertical guidance to approaches, reducing pilot workload during descents. That’s because each one assists you in navigating to the runway based on the weather and your aircraft equipment. It calculates a descent route to maintain a stable approach from the initial approach fix to touchdown.

Approach

Approach Descent Weather VOR

The Flying Bear Goes to Beantown | Part 4, Going Missed

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.

Ceiling

Ceiling Approach Weather Runway

Sweet Dreams

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

Approach Wind Shear Runway VOR

How to Brief an Instrument Approach (Step-by-Step)

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

The landing minimums section includes: Minimum descent altitudes. Preflight Planning Some pilots believe an approach briefing means skimming the chart right before descent. The weather can change, and approach equipment can fail. Get the destination weather as soon as possible. Decision altitudes/heights.

Approach

Approach NOTAMs Runway Weather

Flying with the Old Breed—Why’d You Do That?

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. I’d get a full flight briefing, regardless of the weather. After startup, I’d record a VOR check in the aircraft log while waiting for our clearance. Then came the long taxi to the runway.

NDB

NDB Checkride VOR Approach

What NTSB Reports Say About Impossible Turns and Angle of Attack (Part II)

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

We continued our descent for a couple of seconds and then he began a turn again to the left towards the taxiway. The instructor wrote, “As far as my proficiency with the existing weather conditions, I was comfortable, current, and proficient. The scenario was that the pilot was returning due to weather.

Gross Weight

Gross Weight Runway Airplanes Pilot

Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks

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. I had an easy out available to me: a descent of 1000 feet would bring me out of the clouds with plenty of altitude to spare above the terrain.

Transponder

Transponder Approach Clearance General Aviation

The Key West of Ohio

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

With gusty winds forecast along the eastern seaboard on October 11, I let the weather prognostic chart suggest a different course. West of the Geneseo VOR, I passed high above Silver Lake and the gorge in Letchworth State Park. Serpentine tendrils of mist followed the course of the Genesee River south of Letchworth.

Runway

Runway Approach Knot Drag

Squawk Ident

Professional Pilot

JULY 3, 2024

Thinking we could be on fire, we initiated a 7000-fpm descent. Little thought is given to the fact that a 7000-fpm descent will fog the windows. Their flying skills are average, and weather decisions and other things they should have learned while getting a commercial license are poor. Fortunately, we were right over an airport.

Pilot

Pilot Runway NOTAMs TWR

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

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

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

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

Aeronautical Information Manual Runway Pilot Air Traffic Control

Aviator Connection

How to Fly a VOR Approach: Made Easy

How to Fly an ILS Approach

Trending Sources

Air Facts IFR Challenge

Flight Sims for the Win: It’s All About Repetition and Drill

Understanding LPV, LNAV, and VNAV: The Easy Way

The Flying Bear Goes to Beantown | Part 4, Going Missed

Sweet Dreams

How to Brief an Instrument Approach (Step-by-Step)

Flying with the Old Breed—Why’d You Do That?

What NTSB Reports Say About Impossible Turns and Angle of Attack (Part II)

Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks

The Key West of Ohio

Squawk Ident

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

ATC Communications: What to Say, and When

Stay Connected