Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Together, let’s untangle the mystery of occluded fronts with a clear and steady approach. And when you hear about one approaching, expect a change in the weather soon. For example, as a cold front passes, surface winds may shift from southwesterly to northwesterly, while winds above may continue from the west.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

JULY 4, 2025

Moisture, instability, lift, and wind shear are needed to form and sustain a squall line. Wind Shear But on top of all of that, there’s another piece of the puzzle that can help sustain the squall line. Wind shear is the change in wind speed or direction with height. Wind shear is a serious threat.

Weather

Northstar VFR

MARCH 23, 2025

As the plane descends toward the runway on final approach, it may encounter various scenarios where a safe landing cannot be assured. As soon as the pilot realizes this, they must abort the landing and climb back to traffic pattern altitude and attempt the approach and landing again. How Do You Perform a Go-Around?

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 2, 2025

Bellanca 7ECA Midlothian, Texas/Injuries: None NTSB Report: CEN23LA392 The pilot was familiarizing himself with the airplane in preparation for a multiday, cross-country flight. He said that as he approached the airport, the reported weather indicated the wind was aligned with the runway.

Crosswind

Greg Brown's Flying Carpet Blog

AUGUST 4, 2024

It includes discussions on high-speed aerodynamics, automation, wake turbulence, high-altitude and adverse weather, air carrier operations, transport airplane performance, and cockpit professionalism and leadership. This manual clarifies the complex topics of turbine aircraft engines and all major jet and turboprop power and airframe systems.

Wind Shear

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Next, every six months, captains must undergo a proficiency check in the simulator or airplane to ensure proficiency in all normal and emergency procedures. Simulators are preferred for these checks since many of the maneuvers are very dangerous in the airplane. This is not training; this is a pass or fail check.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 8, 2025

As we walked from the wharf to breakfast, I saw that peak wind gusts were tickling the 40-knot mark. Amy and I walked our gear out to the airplane, and she returned to the FBO while I did my ritual of loading everything up. It doesnt have any limits for wind. The hourly forecast called for winds to lessen around 4 p.m.,

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

For new instrument pilots, flying an approach to minimums is a big challenge. Adding an approach briefing to the mix feels like one task too many. Luckily, mastering approach briefings is not as hard as it seems. This article breaks down how to deliver a top-notch approach briefing, every time. Final approach course.

Approach

Flying Magazine

APRIL 25, 2024

hour flight in a Columbia 400 from Rock Hill/York County Airport ( KUZA ) in South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, to Lincoln Park Airport (N07) in northern New Jersey was uneventful with outstanding weather and smooth air ahead of an approaching weather system. My presentation later that afternoon went extremely well.

Weather

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. hours I had already put on the airplane since the repair increased my confidence that the issue was suitably managed. In a nod to airplane cleanliness, I shunned my preferred "everything" sub roll for a plain one that was guaranteed to shed less debris.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. The peppering of rain on the windshield, the darkening of thick clouds, or the battering of wind shear all deliver a clear message that some piloting is now required. Go no lower.

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. The peppering of rain on the windshield, the darkening of thick clouds, or the battering of wind shear all deliver a clear message that some piloting is now required. Go no lower.

Wind Shear

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Thunderstorms can also bring wind shear and lightning. 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

Air Facts

APRIL 24, 2024

We had light winds, good visibility, full cloud cover, and ample ceiling heights. 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. We got a severe dose of “it” in those final three minutes of flight.

Turbulence

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. READ MORE: What Does It Take to Transition from a Jet to a Piston Airplane? Time increases from left to right.

Wind Shear

One Mile at a Time

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

What causes airplane go arounds? Looking at Wills specific flight, it appears that the aircraft descended down to just under 1,000 feet, and then terminated its approach, while still a few miles from the airport. How common are airplane go arounds? Id love to hear your thoughts or any insights you might have on this situation.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 11, 2024

And being the junior airplane at the company meant most of the captains weren’t the demographic nearing retirement—and you can’t be a grumpy old man if you’re still young. Being paired with a first officer who was basically just refreshing his acquaintance with the airplane was a godsend because it was my first upgrade to captain—ever.

Wind Shear

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

A bad approach results in a bad landing. A go-around is a maneuver performed to abort or reject a landing on the final approach or once the aircraft has already touched down. Top Reasons for Go-Arounds Unstabilized Approach An aircraft must have a stabilized approach before landing. What Is a Go-Around?

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

JULY 2, 2024

And the operating environment presents its own limitations on our activity, quite aside from the skills of the pilot and innate performance of the airplane. Each of these three constraints—pilot, airplane, and environment—needs its own consideration to assure adequate safety. Stay honest in your relationship with the airplane.

Density Altitude

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

This is a hard one to gain insight from other than this: Some atmospheric events are bigger than our plastic airplanes. Moderate wind shear in some areas could make some thermals somewhat difficult to work but that, too, is typical. This would have shortened his approach, a seemingly prudent decision.

Pilot