Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

I filed my IFR flight plan, received a clearance and took off into the gray winter sky. We entered the holding pattern over Jeff City, flew two circuits and finally received our approach clearance. Passing through 2,800, the altimeter almost stopped, but finally, at 2,900 we punched through the inversion layer!

VOR

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Holding in Lieu of Procedure Turns Flying a ‘holding pattern’ is a great way to reverse your course and leave yourself pointing towards the runway threshold. Holding patterns are a great way to keep your position and ensure clearance from terrain and other aircraft. Yep, that’s a missed approach hold. How Do You Do a Holding Pattern?

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

The minima table lists the DA and Height Above Threshold for each type of RNAV approach. LP+V approaches dont always account for obstacle clearance, so theyre not an officially protected procedure. Use your altimeter, vertical speed indicator, and other instruments to double-check that youre flying the approach correctly.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

Investigators noted at the time of the accident the temperature was 30 degrees Celsius, the dew point was 4 C, and the altimeter setting was 29.98. Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees after takeoff, during high density altitude weather conditions. The calculated density altitude was 4,790 feet.

Density Altitude

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

If it prevents you from landing close to the threshold, a short runway becomes even shorter. This can greatly impact landing performance and obstacle clearance. The local altimeter setting is 29.65, the temperature is 25°C, and we have a 9-knot headwind. Our imaginary destination airport is at 1,500 feet MSL.

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