Flying Magazine

JUNE 20, 2025

According to the report and previously acquired ADS-B data, the pilot was attempting an instrument approach in thick fog and flew below the published glideslope. The pilot was in contact with the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SOCAL TRACON) controller while at 17,000 ft mean sea level (msl).

Knot

One Mile at a Time

JUNE 11, 2025

While other airlines have doors in first class, Air France instead has floor-to-ceiling curtains. At 12:05PM, the captain announced that we’d be starting our descent shortly, and would be landing in around 35 minutes. Despite the rough approach due to the winds, the touchdown was smooth as silk.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 15, 2025

Recorded track data revealed that the pilot began a descent to the destination airport and crossed over the approach end of the runway on a heading perpendicular to the runway heading. The airplane impacted terrain about 1,200 feet short of the runway approach end and about 40 feet north of runway centerline.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 24, 2025

Normal and emergency operations—takeoffs, landings, stalls, instrument approaches. Performance planning—charts, weight/balance, fuel, climb/descent profiles. Single-engine IFR approaches and single-engine missed approaches. Systems knowledge—propellers, fuel, electrical, and feathering.

Checkride

Fear of Landing

MAY 23, 2025

Yesterday, the 22nd of May 2025, a Cessna S550 Citation II crashed in San Diego, on approach to the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. They approached San Diego in the early hours of Thursday morning. The approach to Runway 28R has a minimum descent altitude of 673 feet above mean sea level, which is 250 feet above ground level.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

JUNE 1, 2025

Weather factors for this trip included the always concerning combination of low ceilings and rough terrain over Pennsylvania combined with forecasts for strong, gusty wind. Given the terrain around Lock Haven, descent into the Susquehanna River valley in strong gusts can make for a very unpleasant ride.

Airplanes

Aerotime

MARCH 21, 2025

While the report draws no conclusions as to the cause of the crash, investigators set out a detailed timeline which focuses heavily on the Mitsubishi CRJ900s descent. TSB At a height of 50 feet the rate of descent had increased to 1114 feet per minute (fpm) from 672 fpm around 14 seconds before. to the right, the TSB said.

Indicated Airspeed

Aerotime

DECEMBER 20, 2024

We will also examine the next most critical phase of our flight, from descent and deceleration to the approach and landing phases, even touching upon what happens when the aircraft arrives safely at the gate. Mario Hagen / Shutterstock The announcement will also be one of the first items on the pilots before-descent checklist.

Cabin Crew

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

Danger lurks in circling approaches Air Facts Journal the circling approach maneuver is designed as a last resort, non-precision approach. The very first question that should pop up into our head during a circling approach is “Why are we circling in the first place”? The n ext one is “What are our other options?”

Approach

Fear of Landing

DECEMBER 6, 2024

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. During the final stages of the flight, air traffic control told the pilot to expect the RNAV A approach to Montgomery County.

Approach

Flying Magazine

MAY 30, 2025

He lost 200 feet before even noticing the descent. Radio calls, hold entries, and approach briefs all contribute to the mental stacka skill in itself to manage. At its core, an EFB replaces the binders and kneeboards once stuffed with paper charts, performance tables, and approach plates. His scan fell apart within seconds.

Pilot

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Its easy to get in a rut practicing approaches around your home drome. Its easy to get in a rut practicing approaches around your home drome. Or, maybe you dont even practice approaches enough to have a same. Maybe today its partial-panel approaches with an ILS or LPV. Rate the approaches and have the loser buy lunch.

Approach

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses in the appropriate category of aircraft. completes the required 6 hours and six approaches, followed by an instrument proficiency check given by an FAA-designated examiner. the ILS approach can be credited only if you use a view-limiting device.

Instrument Flight Rules

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Often, turbulence is the harbinger of mountain waves, not the ideal ceiling—and visibility unlimited—day. Flight idle and nose down, which normally produced a 2,000-3,000-feet descent rate, resulted in a 2,000-feet-per-minute climb. Airspeed was approaching VMO. I flew into that and the venturi effect that day.

Turbulence

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 4, 2023

Flight planning becomes more advanced than before, flying SIDs and STARs, and instrument approaches. For at least 1 hour before and for 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 statute miles.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

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. Even though synthetic vision might help me perform an emergency descent to a valley that might not be cloud filled, that’s pretty sketchy as a risk-mitigation strategy. It was now time to plan the trip.

Airplanes

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

AIM 5-3-3 ) When unable to climb/descent at a rate of at least 500 feet per minute.( AIM 5-3-3 ) When an approach has been missed. ( Approaches, holding and tracking are all required for IFR currency. Each is defined by varying ceilings and visibility. LIFR = Ceilings below 500’ and/or visibility less than 1 mile.

Instrument Flight Rules

Air Facts

JANUARY 6, 2025

We had just been cleared for the ILS approach to runway 30R when a mayday was declared on frequency. The flight had been unremarkable for a wintery Midwest afternoon, typical with low ceilings and IFR conditions. Light icing in the descent, we had briefed the increased Vref speeds as we had many times before.

Drag

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

I had no interest in flying one hour north only to be shut out of our destination by weather below minimums for the available instrument approach procedure. ATC was great, the FBO (FlightLevel - Beverly) treated us well and charged reasonable fees, and radar services were managed by the perennially capable Boston Approach.

Ceiling

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. This was the actual conversation that started the journey for this green commercial pilot.

Weather

Plane and Pilot

JUNE 2, 2025

Recorded track data revealed that the pilot began a descent to the destination airport and crossed over the approach end of the runway on a heading perpendicular to the runway heading. The airplane impacted terrain about 1,200 feet short of the runway approach end and about 40 feet north of runway centerline.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected to manage some cloud layers during the New York portion of the flight, but the forecast called for a high ceiling at Northeast Philadelphia Airport. I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. Grab Bag My latest adventure in Warrior 481 had a little bit of everything. Famous last words.)

Approach

Air Facts

JULY 1, 2024

It reminded me of the ILS approaches that many Instrument-rated pilots do, ‘chasing needles’ when they fly oblivious of the “Flight by the Numbers.” But he had the habit of jamming power at the approach end of the runway and with a shove on the throttle, and a quick pull on the yoke, he would take off. The chase was on.

Knot

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

VFR to MVFR…then 2 miles visibility and a ceiling of 1,200 feet agl. Put the aircraft in level flight to give them a moment to consider their next course of action so they are not anxiously doing climbs, descents, and unplanned turns. These flights work best if they are limited to an airport 10 to 15 miles away.

Crosswind

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. One of the standout features of the Cessna 172’s cockpit is its digital autopilot system. It is powered by a 180-hp Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine.

Knot

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Camera at the Ready We passed from Syracuse, through multiple sectors of Boston Center, and ultimately to Boston Approach once within the boundaries of New Hampshire. Weather conditions on Groundhog Day were better than the week prior, characterized by a high ceiling and no thin screen of clouds hiding the ground from view.

Runway

One Mile at a Time

MAY 16, 2025

Hawaiian Airlines business class seats 787 Hawaiian Airlines business class seats 787 Meanwhile those traveling alone, or those who just value being able to gaze out the window (not that theres much in the way of views over the Pacific, though the departure and approach can be beautiful!), may prefer one of the window seats.

Airlines

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Consisting of timed, coordinated climbs and descents, Patterns A and B required the pilot to be on altitude, on heading, and on time. Then, we’d meet in Signature’s lobby, IAD’s FBO, and go over the day’s lesson: destination, altitude, maneuvers, approaches, and completion standards. The basics: aviate, navigate, and communicate.

NDB

ABEAM

AUGUST 26, 2023

After almost 3h55 Aberdeen made us contact Approach and we got a RNP 31 approach onto Wick (EGPC) from over the sea. From my preparation I knew that this airport had customs & immigration and avgas and was closer to us than Reykjavik, so I checked the weather at Egilsstadir via my InReach: it was CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK)

Weather

Charles Ryan's Flying Adventure

MARCH 28, 2024

Finally before started our descent, our female Captain came on and updated us on our arrival and weather update and with a prediction of light turbulence during our approach. At this point, we started our descent into LHR airport. At this point, it was slightly turbulence as we flew through some low ceiling clouds.

Turbulence

Professional Pilot

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Airbus has incorporated an auto emergency descent feature in its A350-1000, which will fly the aircraft to an altitude where theres enough breathing oxygen. Any passenger can press this guarded switch on the cabin ceiling, then the aircraft will calculate where the next suitable runway is, and will land there automatically.

Pilot

Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Challenger 604, G-IV Contributing Writer Pilatus PC-12 on approach at ORL. Air traffic control instructions often lead to unstable approaches. The request to make a short approach or maintain a higher-than-normal speed to the final approach fix is the most common reason pilots don’t meet stable approach criteria.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Off Sodus, I briefly leveled at 2,500 feet to remain visual until I received my instrument clearance from Rochester Approach. South of Buffalo, I tried to assist Approach by alerting them to a Citabria west of the Perry-Warsaw Airport that was trying to reach them. Looking north to the east end of Lake Erie and Buffalo, NY.

Runway

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

KCPC was reporting IFR conditions with a 700’ ceiling and one mile visibility. I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic. I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic. ATC then informed us we were number two for the approach and to maintain 4,000’.

Descent

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 13, 2023

While I anticipated an IFR departure that morning, I wanted to see ceiling and visibility of at least 300 feet and a mile to avoid smacking into mountainous terrain around Pickens County Airport during take-off. Before too long, the visibility rose to unrestricted while the ceiling remained around 300 feet.

Approach

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 11, 2023

Within moments of departing Pickens County, we were on with Atlanta Approach and, shortly thereafter, handed off to McCollum Tower at Cobb County. The entire route to Pickens County was under IFR conditions with low ceilings. RNAV-34 approach procedure at Pickens County Airport. Maintain 6,000 until crossing VIVIC."

Descent

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

I checked the weather by phone and was assured it would be great CAVU (ceiling and visibility unlimited) with 2-3-knot winds from 090 degrees. As I approached the river, the plane started to settle faster than it had. It looked like I was still on a descent to touch down at the threshold on Runway 15. I flew into it, unaware.

Threshold