AGL, Approach and Turbulence - Aviator Connection

Trial by Ice

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

VOR Weather Approach Runway

Practicing Steep Turns: Techniques to Improve Pilot Control and Precision

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

Pilot Aileron Rudder Turbulence

Drone Lingo Simplified: Acronyms Every Pilot Needs To Know

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 Weather Air Traffic Control NOTAMs

We Fly: Epic E1000 AX

Flying Magazine

JULY 22, 2025

We consider that reassuring when the weather becomes turbulent. 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

Rudder Airplanes Flight Deck Gross Weight

Stupid Pilot Tricks

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. Not scared?

Pilot

Pilot Airplanes Runway Descent

ForeFlight adds wake turbulence alerts

iPad Pilot News

JUNE 7, 2024

ForeFlight adds wake turbulence alerts iPad Pilot News Datalink weather stole the show when portable ADS-B technology debuted over a decade ago, providing pilots with free in-flight weather imagery in mobile apps like ForeFlight. The visual depiction of the wake provides an aid to situational awareness when approaching wake turbulence.

Turbulence

Turbulence Runway AGL Airplanes

Riding the Mountain Waves

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Often, turbulence is the harbinger of mountain waves, not the ideal ceiling—and visibility unlimited—day. FAA weather charts can help for higher altitudes but when just a few thousand feet agl, they may be less useful. Airspeed was approaching VMO. We experienced moderate turbulence even at our gate. We didn’t test it.

Turbulence

Turbulence Weather Knot Descent

Descent Planning: Strategies for Safe and Smooth Arrivals

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

Descent Groundspeed Flight Plan AGL

Long Trips & Small Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 6, 2024

But if I was going VFR over strange territory, I would want lots more than 1,000 feet agl. The 1,000-foot en route ceiling means that approach minimums never come into question. The two considerations are turbulence and headwinds. The RV-9A has a light wing loading and a very bouncy, uncomfortable ride in turbulence.

Airplanes

Airplanes Weather Ceiling Turbulence

ForeFlight vs. Garmin Pilot: 3 key differences to help you decide

iPad Pilot News

DECEMBER 17, 2024

It takes just a few taps to get to any location in the app which youll appreciate when you need to access information quickly, like finding an instrument approach chart or airspace information. In the air, theyll notify when approaching Class, B, C or D airspace, a TFR or the Washington, D.C. and jump to its location in the app.

Pilot

Pilot Weather Flight Plan Approach

How Low is Too Low?

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

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance

What was one of the scariest moments in your life?

Air Facts

APRIL 24, 2024

But, with a frontal system approaching, the conditions were expected to worsen over the hours subsequent to our passing through, including the chance for moderate to severe turbulence. At first it was just gradually, then more decidedly, evolving into moderate turbulence. But the turbulence would continue to worsen.

Turbulence

Turbulence Wind Shear Final Approach Ceiling

How Low Is Too Low?

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

Weather Ceiling Approach Clearance

How to Master Slow Flight (Step-By-Step)

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

Fly at least 1,500 above ground level (AGL) to allow room for recovery in case you stall the aircraft. For a greater margin of safety, select an altitude that leaves you 1,500 feet AGL after recovery from a stall. Higher altitudes are also less prone to turbulence and have fewer birds. Target Altitude Pick a safe altitude.

Lift

Lift Rudder Drag Checkride

Are Dry Microbursts Really An Invisible Trap? – Responding to Reactions

Chess In the Air

JULY 4, 2022

If we can wait for the threat to pass this is clearly the best approach; especially when the virga is fairly isolated and the clouds are cycling. Possible causes include: Rotor turbulence, e.g. on wave days. Rapidly approaching cold fronts (or other fronts, e.g. sea breeze fronts). Very well said! Absolutely!

Wind Shear

Wind Shear AGL Runway Lift

What Is a SPECI and When Is It Issued?

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Expect poor visibility, increased turbulence, and slippery runway surfaces. This information is vital for determining cloud ceilings, especially during landing approaches. When these happen, they’ll usually call for an instrument approach. This can get you in a lot of trouble, especially during approaches.

Altimeter

Altimeter Weather Wind Shear Runway

Always Have an Out

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 4, 2024

Because I am willing to descend quickly through a thin cloud layer during the winter, an instrument approach into Sodus would be my "out" if the forecast for a marginal VFR ceiling came to pass. Current minimums on the RNAV-28 are 558 feet AGL since we lost our LPV approaches due to obstructions. In actuality, we never went IMC.

Ceiling

Ceiling Approach Pilot Weather

What Is an Outflow Boundary Shown on a Surface Analysis Chart?

Flying Magazine

MAY 1, 2024

READ MORE: Should I File an Initial Approach Fix? Some gust fronts can be completely harmless or may be a precursor for an encounter with severe turbulence and dangerous low-level convective wind shear. As the gust front approaches, the vertical velocity of the air upward increases quickly over a one- or two-minute period.

Wind Shear

Wind Shear Weather Turbulence AGL

My Near Death Experience

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

Continued along at 6,000’ I advised ATC that the weather was received and requested the RNAV 24 approach. I was soon cleared to descend to 4,000’ and entered IMC during the descent while I located the approach chart to brief. ATC then informed us we were number two for the approach and to maintain 4,000’. RNAV 24 at KCPC.

Descent

Descent Approach Weather AGL

Invisible Trap Kills Glider Pilot – How To Avoid Microbursts

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

Approaching Rifle The last six minutes of Shmulik’s flight are plotted on the following map. He only needed a glide ratio of 14:1 to reach the airfield to arrive at a typical pattern altitude of 1,000 ft AGL. At this point he still had an altitude of 8,275 ft MSL, i.e. 2,739 ft AGL. Shmulik was directly south of midfield.

Pilot

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway

Power-on Stall: How to Recover

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 12, 2024

The turbulent air hits the horizontal stabilizer, which causes a vibration that can be felt throughout the aircraft. Poor Control Feel When the aircraft approaches a stall, the boundary layer separates from the wing. The FAA recommends that stalls should be practiced no lower than 1,500 ft AGL.

Stability

Stability Horizontal Stabilizer Airplanes Lift

Fly a contact approach from Pilot Workshops

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Plan for a missed approach. Request the approach. Understand What’s Required You can’t fly a contact approach to Martin Field (S95) because it lacks any published approaches. What about flying a contact approach to Walla Walla (KALW) but breaking off to land at S95 when you have it in sight? Pick your battles.

Approach

Approach Pilot Clearance Descent

Two injured as Southwest Airlines flight dives to avert a ‘midair collision’ (click photo for details)

World Airline News

JULY 26, 2025

Air Austral is navigating a turbulent financial chapter, marked by persistent deficits, restructuring efforts, and cautious optimism. China Airlines is currently postponing the retirement of its aging Boeing 737-800s and Airbus A330-300s due to significant delays in receiving replacement aircraft—primarily the Boeing 787-9.

Airline

Airline Airlines Cargo Jet

Transavia Netherlands takes delivery of a new Airbus A321neo in its original 1966 Transavia Holland livery to mark its 60th anniversary

World Airline News

JULY 25, 2025

Air Austral is navigating a turbulent financial chapter, marked by persistent deficits, restructuring efforts, and cautious optimism. China Airlines is currently postponing the retirement of its aging Boeing 737-800s and Airbus A330-300s due to significant delays in receiving replacement aircraft—primarily the Boeing 787-9.

Cargo

Cargo Airline Airlines Jet