Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 30, 2024

” This is especially common when flying in IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) —like clouds or fog—when you can’t see outside. They are: Runway Width Sloping Runway Sloping Terrain Black Hole Approach Autokinetic Illusion False Horizon Vection Illusion Let’s look at each one in detail.

Runway

Pilot Institute

MARCH 7, 2025

As you return to the traffic pattern, focus on short and soft field approaches and landings. Lets dig into them: Disorientation : Flying into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without proper training is a very dangerous move. Make the most out of this opportunity to refine your skills.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

MAY 24, 2025

It has a 5,890-foot asphalt runway big enough for business jets, with runway and approach lights. There were no medical conditions. The NTSB final report finds the probable cause to be loss of control during visual flight rules flight in night instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Northstar VFR

MARCH 23, 2025

As the plane descends toward the runway on final approach, it may encounter various scenarios where a safe landing cannot be assured. As soon as the pilot realizes this, they must abort the landing and climb back to traffic pattern altitude and attempt the approach and landing again. How Do You Perform a Go-Around?

Pilot

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

Northstar VFR

JANUARY 4, 2023

by Gustin Robinson, FAA CFI-I ASEL Flying under instrument meteorological conditions keeps even a good pilot on their toes. But now, while flying in low visibility and overcast cloud layers, you have to rely on your instrumentation more than ever before and keep your eyes inside the airplane.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

From flight planning, I knew that we would experience rain, instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and darkness. Mitigating factors included no risk of convection (thunderstorms) or icing at our cruise altitude of 5,000 feet and VFR conditions expected to prevail at Saratoga Springs for our landing.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 9, 2024

Approaching their destination, the pilot asked Memphis Center ATC for an airport weather report. When the airplane was about 3 miles from KCVK, it turned right, gently descended, and flew a track consistent with an attempt to make an approach. However, from the passenger’s texts, we know that they knew fuel was running low.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Professional Pilot

JANUARY 2, 2025

The HGS-6000 is certified in the US and abroad for low-visibility takeoff (LVTO) and manual Cat III approaches, and delivers superior low-operating minima guidance. Additional features, such as speed offsets, velocity cues, and crosswind adjustments enhance precision, particularly during approach and in turbulent or crosswind conditions.

Flight Deck

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

Aeronautical experience in the regulations does not require that you have any actual instrument flight time to obtain your instrument rating. That’s correct, you can earn your instrument rating with flight time only in simulated conditions. If it is IFR in your area, take advantage of it.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 9, 2024

Approaching their destination, the pilot asked Memphis Center ATC for an airport weather report. When the airplane was about 3 miles from KCVK, it turned right, gently descended, and flew a track consistent with an attempt to make an approach. However, from the passenger’s texts, we know that they knew fuel was running low.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Pilot's Life Blog

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Regulatory Requirements for Instrument Currency Instrument Currency Basics To maintain instrument currency, the FAA mandates that within the preceding six months, a pilot must have performed and logged at least six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses using navigational systems.

Instrument Flight Rules

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

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

JANUARY 25, 2025

Not Cool, Man After transitioning across multiple sectors of Boston Center's vast airspace, the home stretch found us on with Boston Approach under a crisp, blue New Hampshire sky. Rolling out on final approach, I was surprised to see another airplane stopped right at the runway threshold. It was only half full of parked aircraft.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

AUGUST 13, 2023

The ODP was a key element of my departure strategy, but I also filed to IPECA, the missed approach fix for the instrument approach to the runway we would use that morning. This was high enough to fly the RNAV-34 approach back into the airport if needed and meant that we were a "go" for launch. Where was NetJets?

Approach

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

A bad approach results in a bad landing. A go-around is a maneuver performed to abort or reject a landing on the final approach or once the aircraft has already touched down. Top Reasons for Go-Arounds Unstabilized Approach An aircraft must have a stabilized approach before landing. What Is a Go-Around?

Wind Shear

Professional Pilot

MARCH 6, 2025

By Karsten Shein Comm-Inst Climate Scientist QYK (Gstaad, Switzerland) is located in a mountainous region, which can create complex wind patterns and require precise maneuvering during approach and landing. And, given the wind, the only viable approach path took them just above a ridge surrounded closely by jagged peaks.

Crosswind

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 28, 2023

Finding us there, Chief Instructor Mike B commented that we were an "optimistic group" owing to an approaching cold front. Putting the front to our tails, we flew in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) for 30 minutes before emerging under a clear blue sky. Better safe than sorry.

Clearance