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How to Read METAR and TAF Reports

Pilot Institute

Altimeter Pressure (A2990) The next part of the report indicates the local atmospheric pressure, measured in inches of mercury (inHg). Pilots use this value to adjust their altimeters, ensuring they display altitude as close to mean sea level (MSL) as possible. Its also possible to report negative temperatures with an M prefix.

AGL 98
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Quiz: Understanding Aircraft Performance

Flight Training Central

Among the performance elements are takeoff and landing distances, rate of climb, ceiling, speed, payload, and fuel economy. Determine the pressure altitude at an airport that is 1,300 feet MSL with an altimeter setting of 29.6. What is ground effect? Becoming airborne before reaching recommended takeoff speed.

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The anatomy of a commercial flight – all you ever wanted to know:   Part two   

Aerotime

While most of it tends to be hidden away either in the cabin ceiling space or under the cabin floor panels, some of it – particularly the air conditioning riser ducts – is fitted in the cabin walls at certain intervals, making the inclusion of a window at that position impossible.

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Who is the pilot in command of your aircraft?

Air Facts

We no longer need to worry about identifying VORs and dialing in the right radial, but we do need to worry about that thunderstorm sitting right on top of our direct route or the low ceiling at our destination. I concentrated as never before, and the airplane tracked true as the altimeter hand crawled upward.

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Trial by Ice

Air Facts

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. How can this be?

VOR 52
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What Is a SPECI and When Is It Issued?

Pilot Institute

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. A2992 : Altimeter setting of 29.92

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“Totally a visibility issue.”

Fear of Landing

By now, it was dark and the weather in Gaithersburg had deteriorated with fog and low cloud ceilings. However, the METAR for their destination showed an overcast ceiling at 200 feet above ground level and fog. Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) is at about 540 feet above mean sea level. He seemed to think this was something to be avoided.