Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

Our NIFA team of pilots would travel to other colleges and compete in sanctioned competition involving precise navigation, pre-flight inspections, accuracy landings, and simulated bomb drops into a barrel from 100 AGL feet using bean bags as bombs. We refueled and resumed our flight, landing in Fairfield without further incident.

VOR

Flying Magazine

MAY 26, 2025

The good news is that some approach controllers are armed with near real-time weather data from two additional sources to include the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR). Many approach control facilities have ASRs like the ASR-9 or ASR-11 that are physically located on the field. Not too shabby.

Weather

Northstar VFR

MARCH 30, 2025

Make sure you're at the recommended altitude (600-1,000 feet AGL) per ACS guidelines. Maintain 600-1,000 feet AGL. Maintain 600-1,000 feet AGL. Lets take a look at these ground reference maneuvers: 1. Setup: Pick a reference pointsomething easy to see, like a water tower, large tree, or an intersection of roads.

Groundspeed

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

Key Takeaways Power-off stalls mimic a stall during the flight’s approach and landing phase. On final approach, it can be the difference between recovering and crashing. The ACS states that recovery should be completed no lower than 1,500 ft AGL for single-engine aircraft and 3,000 ft AGL for multi-engine aircraft.

Descent

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

A power-off 180 is a critical maneuver that simulates an engine failure on final approach, requiring pilots to glide the aircraft and execute a precise 180-degree turn to a safe landing spot. Maintain the proper approach speed to maximize glide distance, typically the best glide speed for your aircraft. How do I set up a power-off 180?

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

AGL Above Ground Level AGL is simply a way to tell the basis from which any given height or altitude is measured. Simply put, 400 feet AGL means that the 400 feet is measured from the underlying ground surface above the specific airspace. This is as opposed to other altitude measurements, such as AMSL or above mean sea level.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Above 10,000 feet MSL , excluding areas at and below 2,500 feet AGL. You can say: Approach, confirm squawk code for N123AB? You should say something like: You: Approach, N123AB, negative. The FAA requires transponders in certain types of airspace. If you plan to fly in: Group I Terminal Control Area (TCA).

Transponder

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Rolling Out: As you approach your desired heading, smoothly release the bank and return the aircraft to level flight. Leopard Aviation’s Training Approach At Leopard Aviation, our training approach to steep turns is hands-on, personalized, and focused on building competence and confidence. What defines a standard steep turn?

Pilot

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

Perform at a safe altitude (typically 3,000 feet AGL or higher) to demonstrate safely. Why It Matters: This mimics a common accident scenario where a pilot overshoots the final approach centerline and tries to “force” the turn with rudder, leading to a stall/spin. 65 knots in a Cessna 172).

Aileron

Flying Magazine

JUNE 5, 2025

Airport At an elevation of 1,206 feet agl, Carroll County Airports 3,554-feet-long-by-75-feet-wide runway sticks out amongst the rural area that immediately surrounds it. The runway and the surrounding apron area were repaved in late 2022, and there is an RNAV (GPS) approach on both ends.

Runway

Flight Training Central

JUNE 20, 2025

Does the elevator of a T-tail airplane buffet as the main wing approaches a stall? The minimum flight visibility required for VFR flights above 10,000 feet MSL and more than 1,200 feet AGL in controlled airspace is 5 miles. 180°-359° magnetic. 0°-179° true. 080° magnetic. No Yes, but only when flaps are extended Yes Correct!

VOR

Flying Magazine

JULY 22, 2025

The yaw damper automatically activates when 250 feet up on takeoff and deactivates at 200 feet agl on landing. The batteries provided so much cranking power that both cold and hot starts never even approached engine temperature limits.

Rudder

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Absolute altitude measures height above ground, which is critical during approaches and landings. Absolute Altitude The vertical distance of the aircraft above ground level (AGL), which is true altitude minus terrain elevation. Radio or radar altimeters measure absolute altitude, usually up to 2,500 feet AGL.

Density Altitude

Air Facts

JUNE 30, 2025

In aviation, there are memorable firsts too: that first flight when you catch the flying bug; the first solo, slipping the surly bonds all by yourself; your first VFR flight plan that unexpectedly ends up in IMC; or your first precision approach where you spot the runway right at minimums. I have my own memorable aviation firsts.

Weather

Flight Training Central

JUNE 16, 2025

They are not charted because activities are suspended immediately when spotter aircraft, radar, or ground lookout positions indicate an aircraft might be approaching the area. MTR’s with segments above 1,500′ AGL are identified by a three-digit number.

Clearance

AV Web

JUNE 24, 2025

Familiar Is The Enemy Another pitfall real pilots make is assuming that simming is all about approaches. Believe it or not, flying approaches in the sim has very little value for most seasoned instrument pilots who fly them on a weekly basis. Or even a full-procedure approach own nav? But how often do you fly a SID?

Weather

AV Web

OCTOBER 30, 2024

miles south-southwest of the airport when he made his last call at 2,700 feet MSL (1,424 feet AGL) and planning a straight-in approach to Runway 5. Audio recordings reveal the pilot announced the flight was 3.7

Pilot

Flying Magazine

JULY 25, 2025

Focus on maintaining consistent altitudes and airspeeds, as well as stable approaches. Establish the aircraft’s best glide speed, pick the best field, run your emergency checklist , declare an emergency and fly the approach. Then try it right after takeoff at 500 feet agl. Start at your home airport.

Cockpit

AV Web

DECEMBER 11, 2024

From that perch, you can eyeball the airport and then execute a circling descent to both lose altitude and set up for the approach and landing. But if you have enough altitude, you have the energy and flexibility to plan and execute a traffic pattern that puts you on final approach in a position from which to land. Are You Nuts?

Runway

Flying Magazine

JULY 16, 2025

Our training for the instrument ticket focused on flying by reference to instruments, how to shoot approaches, holds, etc. Your approach speed is an essential precursor to a good landing, even—or, perhaps, especially—for an instrument pilot. Thus, high-energy approaches continue to be the norm for the GA pilot.

Approach

AV Web

APRIL 15, 2025

As he approached the herd, with the intention of driving the cattle into the corral, the bull departed and headed toward an area covered with heavy mesquite brush. The pilot reported that he was too high and fast crossing the threshold 70 feet above ground level (AGL) at 90 mph. Im roped in, Sam.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

MAY 27, 2025

There was an overcast at 1,300 agl (1,850 msl), but no precipitation and good visibility below the clouds. READ MORE: Wildcat Approaches: Anti-Authority Attitude Goes Away Departure gave him a nudge: N66BK, are you on frequency? It was a little before 11 a.m. The pilot acknowledged.

Pilot

Flying Magazine

JULY 2, 2025

An hour and a half later, they approached Nashville in darkness. The Lance’s track was aligned with the runway, but rather than begin a descent it remained at 2,000 agl. It burst into fuel-fed flames, and motorists who stopped to help could not approach it. The sky was clear; the wind was 150 at 8. All aboard perished.

Approach

Aerotime

MARCH 21, 2025

TSB Approach sequence Due to reported wind gusts as the CRJ900 approached Toronto Pearson following a flight from MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport (MSP) the aircraft was flown at 149 knots. The aircraft was slightly below the glide slope, but on the visual segment of the approach and tracking the runway centerline.

Indicated Airspeed

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

Danger lurks in circling approaches Air Facts Journal the circling approach maneuver is designed as a last resort, non-precision approach. The very first question that should pop up into our head during a circling approach is “Why are we circling in the first place”? The n ext one is “What are our other options?”

Approach

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a precision approach and provides both lateral and vertical guidance to a runway. For most general aviation operations, it allows a pilot to descend to as low as 200′ AGL and assist a pilot in locating the runway in as low as 3/8 mile visibility.

Approach

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

IFR Master Scenario From PilotWorkshops: Missed Approach Decisions Air Facts Journal The IFR Mastery Series from PilotWorkshops is a continuing series of online, scenario-based workshops. There is a forecast for low ceilings at your destination, but there are two RNAV approaches including an LPV. Refuel there.

Approach

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

The go-to instrument approach for keeping the mail moving is: Cleared for the visual. So its worth a review of the corner-cases and gotchas hidden in the plain-sight (visual) approach. There is no missed approach procedure for a visual. The contact approach is akin to Special VFR. Well, almost all the flexibility.

Approach

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

The go-to instrument approach for keeping the mail moving is: Cleared for the visual. So its worth a review of the corner-cases and gotchas hidden in the plain-sight (visual) approach. There is no missed approach procedure for a visual. The contact approach is akin to Special VFR. Well, almost all the flexibility.

Approach

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 4, 2023

The approach for the soft-field landing is similar to the normal approach. The final approach speed for a soft field approach and landing should be the same as is used for a short field technique to minimuze float once you enter ground effect. Execute your soft field approach and landing with these steps: 1.

Approach

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

This is not an instrument procedure, but rather a way to enter the traffic pattern when approaching from the opposite side of the runway. Again, the AFH has some good advice: “if large or turbine aircraft operate at the airport, it is best to remain 2,000 feet AGL so as not to conflict with their traffic pattern.”

Crosswind

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

Louis Approach Control. Approach vectored us for the downwind for 26L. At 1,000’ AGL on mid-downwind, we could see Doc parked at the FBO. Two F/A-18 Hornets, the Blue Angels, on low approach, sped towards the runway on final. Eventually, approach cleared us to turn base. We were going to make our ride.

Approach

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 10, 2025

And if not planned properly, a poorly executed descent can present challenges and unnecessary risks when transitioning to an approach or the traffic pattern. For example, descending too late can lead to steep approaches, excessive speed, strain on the aircraft, or even discomfort for the passengers.

Descent

iPad Pilot News

JUNE 7, 2024

Last year, the app added Traffic on Runway alerts to notify pilots about potential conflicts between aircraft on final approach with another aircraft on the runway. The visual depiction of the wake provides an aid to situational awareness when approaching wake turbulence. It will not trigger again for at least one minute.

Turbulence

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

There was no point in trying another approach, and we’d already checked the alternate airport’s weather on the way in, which was equally bad. If you have 10 miles of clear air in all directions, you might be comfortable flying at 2,000 feet agl, but not with 3 to 5 miles of restricted visibility. Now, where to go?

Weather

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

AIM 5-3-3 ) When an approach has been missed. ( Approaches, holding and tracking are all required for IFR currency. Six instrument approaches One holding procedure and tasks Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation electronic systems. AIM 5-3-3 ) When leaving any assigned holding fix or point. (

Instrument Flight Rules

Ask Captain Lim

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

If the adjustment required rapid changes or the aircraft was not properly configured for the new approach, the captain could have requested to continue with the initially cleared runway. The crew was not obligated to accept this runway and could have requested an alternative or allowed more time for a stabilized approach.

Pilot