Airline Ceiling Clearance 
AV Web
MAY 6, 2025
Operations below minimums on an instrument approach can be quite simple if the ceilings and visibilities are significantly above minimums. But when the chips are down along with the ceilings and visibilities, things arent quite so simple. In fact, many airlines prohibit their pilots from circling approaches, especially at night.
Flight Training Central
FEBRUARY 23, 2024
Flying a light airplane offers access to thousands more airports than the airlines serve, which means you can land closer to your destination, avoid long taxi routes, and save time. Call for your IFR clearance, including route, altitude, and transponder code. Here are three ways to get a clearance at a non-towered airport.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Plane and Pilot
AUGUST 6, 2024
The route is simple, GPS direct, but…there’s my personal 1,000-foot en route ceiling requirement, and those silly Smoky Mountains. Also, from when I lived out West, there was the mountaintop clearance guideline—1,000 feet for every 10 knots of wind, with 30 knots meaning no-go. I broke down and used airline miles.
Air Facts
FEBRUARY 10, 2025
They arent just a list of priorities in an emergency, they also neatly sum up the different roles a pilot must play, roles that used to be divided very specifically on the flight deck of an airliner. Consider the amazing picture below, taken on the flight deck of a Boeing 314 flying boat over 80 years ago.
Flying Magazine
MAY 21, 2025
The pilot requested Special VFR for low ceilings and visibility, but didnt really express to ATC the issue he was having trying to maintain clearance from the clouds, Sedor said. It is part of the airline company operating procedures. Declaring an emergency does not automatically trigger notification of the NTSB, Sedor said.
Air Facts
MAY 5, 2025
The hourly sequence report showed Springfield had a ceiling of 100 feet obscured, a visibility of 3/8 mile and fog with a surface temperature of 30 degrees F. The forecast at our arrival time at Jefferson City was for a ceiling of 1,200′ overcast with a visibility of four miles in fog. Phil was a cool head under pressure.
Plane and Pilot
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
This rating should end any temptation to “scud run” around TV towers or under a low ceiling and eliminate the dreaded VFR-into-IMC trap. One more thing: Just because you have earned an instrument rating, there is no requirement to go out and fly in low ceilings and visibilities. The ATC service is better. Second, make every hour count.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
94 
Let's personalize your content