Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

IFR Alternate Airport Planning While every IFR flight requires you to file an IFR flight plan and receive an ATC clearance, not every flight is flown in IFR conditions. While every IFR flight requires you to file an IFR flight plan and receive an ATC clearance, not every flight is flown in IFR conditions.

Ceiling

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

In contrast to a control tower, an FSS is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances to aircraft. The systematic approach is designed to help pilots approach troublesome situations in a calm and logical manner. A structured approach to SRM helps pilots learn to gather information, analyze it, and make sound decisions.

Pilot

Air Facts

JUNE 4, 2025

With takeoff clearance from the tower, I pushed the throttle forward. I tuned the Manila VOR to confirm my position and set up the next waypoint. Post-Flight: Lessons Learned I checked in with Bohol Approach, received vectors for the field, and joined the pattern in VMC. I filed my flight plan and headed out.

Altimeter

AV Web

JUNE 24, 2025

Familiar Is The Enemy Another pitfall real pilots make is assuming that simming is all about approaches. Believe it or not, flying approaches in the sim has very little value for most seasoned instrument pilots who fly them on a weekly basis. Or even a full-procedure approach own nav? But how often do you fly a SID?

Weather

Flight Training Central

JUNE 16, 2025

If the restricted area is not active and has been released to the controlling agency, the ATC facility will allow the aircraft to operate in the restricted airspace without issuing specific clearance. An aircraft can operate in these corridors without a clearance from or communication with ATC.

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

JUNE 29, 2025

I departed the Williamson-Sodus Airport solo at 8:00 am and picked up my instrument clearance in the air from a Rochester Approach controller with a familiar voice. Allentown approach re-cleared me to Delaware Coastal from my present position via East Texas (ETX), Victor 29, Smyrna (ENO, just north of Dover AFB), then direct.

Runway

Air Facts

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

We’ve included questions that cover everything from clearances to complex arrival procedures, each crafted to test your technical know-how and situational awareness. climb to, but not descend from 4,000 feet, without further ATC clearance. climb to, but not descend from 4,000 feet, without further ATC clearance. Let’s go!

Clearance

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 13, 2024

These commonly missed questions often relate to IFR regulations, ATC clearances, meteorology, and complex instrument procedures. An ATC clearance to "CRUISE FOUR THOUSAND FEET" would indicate that the pilot is authorized to: vacate 4,000 feet without notifying ATC. Let’s get to the quiz! Refer to figure 34.)

Clearance

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Use the CRAFT acronym to note down departure clearances quickly. You may be asking for a clearance or reporting your position. For example: Pilot: Seattle Approach, Cessna November Four Five One Romeo, Two Zero miles west of Seattle VOR, at 8,000, with Sierra, to land. is talking to Dallas Clearance Delivery.

Approach

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

IFR Alternate Airport Planning Legal requirements for selecting an alternate airport Additional GPS Approach Considerations Which weather forecast should you use? While every IFR flight requires you to file an IFR flight plan and receive an ATC clearance, not every flight is flown in IFR conditions.

Ceiling

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

If the learner is not instrument rated but is training at an airport with an instrument approach, this might be a great time to teach them how to fly the approach as an emergency measure. Next, introduce the VOR. Then the CFI should increase the winds so they are 10 knots (or more) above the demonstrated crosswind component.

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

ABEAM

JULY 5, 2024

Hurghada Approach passed us off to Cairo Control and they refused to give us a direct to the first Saudi VOR WEJ at the east side of the Red Sea due to unknown reasons. We coasted into mainland of Saudi-Arabia near the WEJ VOR and continued onwards to Al Ula. And then we droned on from VOR to VOR over the desert.

VOR

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Departure procedures are designed primarily to provide obstacle clearance. Departure procedures are designed primarily to provide obstacle clearance and should be used when published. Provided nothing else has been specifically assigned, ODPs may be flown without an ATC clearance.

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. Even though I was likely to be cleared through the outer ring by ATC (air traffic control) while on an instrument flight plan, I filed a route from Sodus to the Williamsport VOR (FQM) that circumvented the TFR entirely. Famous last words.) Foolish mortal.

Approach

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

When controllers anticipate a delay, usually due to a high volume of traffic, weather, or both, pilots are usually issued a holding clearance. When ATC issues a clearance requiring you to hold at a fix where a holding pattern is not charted, pilots are issued complete holding instructions. Parallel Procedure.

Clearance

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

When controllers anticipate a delay at a clearance limit or fix, usually due to a high volume of traffic, weather, or both, pilots are usually issued a holding clearance. When ATC issues a clearance requiring you to hold at a fix where a holding pattern is not charted, pilots are issued complete holding instructions.

Clearance

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

The tricky part is that you are expected to proceed on course after reaching 5,000′ MSL, so technically, this is sort of your “expect further clearance” information. Santa Monica Municipal (KSMO) has a fix called DARTS, located on V-186, that serves as the intermediate fix for the RNAV 21 and the VOR-A approaches.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

No ATC clearance is required for VFR flights below 10,000 feet. The 700-Foot Exception In some cases, Class E can begin as low as 700 feet AGL to offer support for instrument approaches. Surface-Level Class E Sometimes, Class E airspace can start from the surface in airports with instrument approaches but no control tower.

Airspace Classes

Pilot Institute

AUGUST 9, 2024

Most holding fixes are NAVAIDs such as VORs, RNAV (GPS) waypoints, and even ILS markers. When VORs are used as holding fixes, the fix is usually a specific DME distance on a particular radial. If the VOR doesn’t have DME capability, it will be the intersection between two radials from two separate VORs.

VOR

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

Pilots must meet equipment and certification requirements and have ATC clearance to enter. Operating Requirements in Class B Airspace Operational Requirements VFR traffic needs explicit clearance to enter Bravo airspace. Two-way radio contact with the approach controller is not enough. What is Class B Airspace?

Clearance

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

Flight Training Central

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

An ATC clearance is required for operations within Class B airspace. The shape of the surface area and layers are tailored to the individual airport and the instrument approach corridors to its runways. IFR operations require an operable VOR or TACAN receiver or a suitable RNAV system.

Indicated Airspeed

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

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. After startup, I’d record a VOR check in the aircraft log while waiting for our clearance. We flew the usual approaches: VOR, ILS, and the now extinct NDB.

NDB

WayMan

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

” Besides separation, SIDs give way clearances and assure safe aircraft separation during the departure phase. SID procedures are found in the Terminal Procedures Publication (TPP), also known as approach plates, in paper and digital formats from providers like ForeFlight and Jeppesen.

Pilot

Gary's Flight Journal

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

I've been going through weather updates and long range forecasts for the last two weeks along with reviewing approaches and alternates for our flight. I called the clearance delivery number on the OXB NOTAM but they gave me another number to call. I was handed off to Charleston approach and the controller turned me to the coast.

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 10, 2023

When both plans were filed, he asked me to stand-by while he verified that the flight plan was properly pushed to Cleveland Center where Rochester Approach would be able to retrieve it. When I contacted Rochester Approach, the controller came back with, "Are you looking for your clearance to College Park?"

Transponder

Air Facts

APRIL 10, 2024

The written test had 25 questions and the hardest thing on the practical was explaining what VOR was and how it worked. I was beginning to make small mistakes when copying clearances or even remembering frequencies-an incorrect digit, a readback that faltered or wasn’t perfect. Infrequent but noticeable. I had a burning question.

VOR

AeroSavvy

AUGUST 20, 2021

Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six Navigation equipment includes a Garmin GNS-530W GPS navigator and two VOR receivers for secondary navigation. The approach and taxi are time compressed; the landing is normal speed. Phoenix Approach Control gave us a few delay vectors before turning us onto final approach.

Density Altitude

Photographic Logbook

JULY 6, 2024

It is an old school approach and feels like a throwback to my earlier flying days. Specifically, I was told by Potomac Approach in 2023, "I cannot give you direct to destination out of College Park." Long story short, when I received my clearance that evening, it was to my originally intended BELTS waypoint.) Tough room.

Pilot

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

I filed a route of BRUIN to ART (Watertown VOR) to Kingston to avoid overflying significant portions of Lake Ontario. Because Restricted Area R-5203 over Lake Ontario was hot that morning, Syracuse Approach vectored me closer to the shoreline and, once past the restricted area, offered direct to Watertown. What the Heck is a LANRK?

Runway

Gary's Flight Journal

MAY 3, 2024

I launched from runway three-two and pointed for the Snow Hill VOR. I already had set up for Patuxent approach so I switched from CTAF to Pax to pick up my clearance. As we approached the Bay I counted seventeen ships at anchor, waiting to be cleared through the temporary channel at the former Francis Scott Key bridge.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 19, 2023

In a prior telephone conversation with the Rockliffe Flying Club, I was assured that I could pick up my IFR clearance in the air from Ottawa Terminal and planned to do exactly that. My filed route to Ogdensburg was via YOW (the Ottawa VOR) and IKLAX. Two officers emerged from the car and approached. All went according to plan.

Approach

Pilot Institute

APRIL 26, 2024

Cleared for the option – authorization to make a touch-and-go, low approach, missed approach, stop-and-go, or full-stop landing. Practice requesting and receiving clearances. Before you request your first clearance, follow these inflight tips. First, be mentally prepared for the clearance.

Clearance

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. Fortunately, the clearance was a simple one that morning because I was absurdly tongue tied while talking to Rochester. ForeFlight ground track showing the aerial survey and approach to Put-In-Bay.

Runway

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Say you are approaching the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport from the south in a Cessna 12345 and want to make a full stop landing. There are a wide variety of options on the market, ranging from simple radios to units with GPS/VOR navigation features and full ILS capabilities.

Aeronautical Information Manual

Gary's Flight Journal

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Nope, VFR today, but if I need it I’ll open with whatever approach I’m on with. As we approached Barrett’s Mountain VOR you could make out the mountains ahead. I contacted Asheville ground to pick up my clearance but it was not on file. I worked each approach in reverse order of our flight south. That’s odd.

Approach