Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Cloud ceilings below 1,500 feet or cumulonimbus clouds can trigger a SPECI. This information is vital for determining cloud ceilings, especially during landing approaches. Low cloud ceilings, especially below 1,500 feet, lower visibility in VFR. When these happen, they’ll usually call for an instrument approach.

Altimeter

Air Facts

DECEMBER 30, 2024

The year was 2017, and I was two months into my first pilot job flying skydivers in the C182 at a small Canadian drop zone, when my boss approached me with this question. My approach into St. Additionally, the needle on my altimeter at one point was swinging through 500 increments!

Weather

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

This system includes modes for: roll pitch heading vertical speed altitude hold approach These modes allow for a steady rate of descent, ascent, and consistent speed and altitude ranges. The classic six-pack of flight instruments that pilots have relied on for decades remains a staple in the Cessna 172.

Knot

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

This central core extends up to around 10,000 feet MSL, the airspace’s ceiling. However, the ceiling for each shelf is the same as the core. Although Class B airspace has a typical ceiling of 10,000 feet MSL, exceptions exist. New York’s Class B airspace has a 7,000-foot ceiling, allowing more room for overflying aircraft.

Clearance

AeroSavvy

JANUARY 16, 2024

Pilots often “refresh” METARs when approaching an airport with poor weather to monitor trends and have the most current decision-making information available. Green – VFR ( Visual Flight Rules ) Ceiling > 3,000 ft. C ( 12°F)/-11.0°C C ( 12°F) Remark: Very light icing In other words, typical gorgeous day atop Mt.

Weather

Air Facts

AUGUST 5, 2024

Your CFI-I back in SoCal always taught you to look at the approach plate for the departure airport as well as the departure procedure/takeoff minimums/ODPs. So why bother to look at an approach chart for your departure airport? My response would be, “what if ?” Fill in the blank yourself.

Density Altitude

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 10, 2024

However, many older legacy autopilots take their roll commands from various instruments located within the six-pack, most often the turn coordinator, DG, and the altimeter. It is one thing to consider breaking a 400-foot ceiling when everything in the cockpit is working.

Cockpit

Air Facts

JULY 19, 2024

Before you realized it, the altimeter had wound itself well past the initial ceiling you had mentally calculated in your preflight planning, and now you found yourself squarely inside Class B airspace – OUCH! What is it that this unique approach to safety can do for us in a situation such as this?

Altimeter

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. 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. RNAV 24 at KCPC.

Descent

Fear of Landing

OCTOBER 18, 2024

The last 700 feet of the runway aren’t visible until you approach the crest. If you carried on straight, the next city lights would be in 6,800 nautical miles as you approach Tasmania. Weather reports from the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field on the island warned of a low cloud ceiling, overcast at 700-800 feet.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

DECEMBER 16, 2023

Cherokee Four Eight One, Allentown Approach, altimeter 30.48, remain at or above 3,500 feet." Allentown Approach thoughtfully held me high to clear the massive east-west ridge just north of my destination. Approach signed off with, "Cherokee Four Eight One, altitude your discretion, squawk VFR, frequency change approved."

Runway