Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

The ice finally disappeared altogether as we descended into clear skies and above freezing air on our approach to Kirksville. All in all, the weather looked perfect for my very first cross country where I would be in actual instrument conditions for the entire flight, including the approach.

VOR

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

The snow plow operators were happy to be able to go about their clearing operations without having to hold short or vacate runways to wait for arrivals or departures. In the 70s, enroute navigation was usually on VOR Airways (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio). The Tower had no radar.

Weight-Shift-Control

Plane and Pilot

MAY 31, 2025

This first-things-first approach allows for smooth and controlled instrument flight and is vital when an in-flight emergency or unplanned situation occurs. In the old days of VOR and ADF, we just turned knobs and pushed a few buttons. 1 is to maintain flying speed.

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

Pilots use holds for traffic delays, weather, emergencies, planning, or runway changes. If it is obvious that the bad weather is transitory, air traffic control may ask approaching aircraft to take up a holding pattern while the weather subsides. Runway Changes (or Closure) Where possible, airplanes normally like to land in the wind.

Airplanes

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Though its rare, your destination airport could become unusable due to a thunderstorm moving in, or a disabled airplane on the runway. Also, the destination airport must have at least one instrument approach procedure or an alternate airport will always be required.

Ceiling

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Types of Stalls: At Leopard Aviation, we cover power-on stalls, simulating situations like takeoff stalls, and power-off stalls, similar to approach or landing configurations. Proper pitch, power management, and alignment with the runway are emphasized. What is the purpose of steep turns in pilot development?

Pilot

Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 30, 2025

Youll learn how to navigate, communicate with Air Traffic Control, interpret weather, and conduct instrument approaches to airports, all without relying on whats outside your window. An instrument rating unlocks access to: Airports with IFR approaches (ILS, RNAV, VOR, etc.) A busy Class B airport?

Pilot

Air Facts

JUNE 4, 2025

Taxiing to Runway 06, I ran through the before-takeoff checklist: fuel selector both, flaps up, mixture rich, lights on. 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.

Altimeter

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 17, 2025

Falcon Field has a rich history and excellent resources, and our personalized approach ensures each student’s success. Its history as a World War II training base adds to its charm, with well-maintained runways, modern air traffic control, and a nearby aviation museum that keeps the spirit of flying alive.

Checkride

Flying Magazine

MAY 9, 2025

READ MORE: Aeronautical Decision Making Is Never One Size Fits All Our incident in the Vision Jet occurred while flying the ILS Z Runway 19 approach into Jackson, Wyoming (KJAC), which is a favorite airport of mine with its scenic mountains, meadows, and streams along the way.

Aeronautical Decision-Making

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

JUNE 23, 2025

I turned back and entered the holding pattern over the VOR where the approach to Whiting Field began. As each airplane ahead of me began their approach, I descended in the holding pattern. The third one saw the runway but couldn’t land. I considered calling a missed approach. Two pilots landed successfully.

Altimeter

Air Facts

JULY 23, 2025

This would necessitate an instrument approach at every stop—11 approaches in all. Eight of these would be non-precision VOR and fixed-card NDB approaches flown to minimums in a non-radar environment. As we lined up on Runway 32, he advanced the throttles to 36.5 inches of manifold pressure. That was strange.

NDB

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Are you curious about flying a VOR approach? If you’re aiming to master instrument-rated flying, it’d be valuable to learn about VOR approaches. We’ll cover what a VOR approach is, how to fly it step-by-step, and even whether GPS can replace it in today’s navigation. Ready to make VOR approaches easy?

VOR

Flying Magazine

MAY 6, 2024

Subscribe Now Featured A) Two Radials Depicted From the STL VOR, there are two radials depicted that intersect with the final approach path—the R-144 and the R-194. Transitioning from the TOY VOR is also a heavy line radial along the R-261 and notes that no procedure turn would be needed (NoPT).

VOR

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

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

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. The departure runway and the departure procedure. For example, ATC: Fly runway heading until two miles from Kennedy VOR, then turn right, heading one zero zero.

Approach

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

If utilizing Runway 17 with left traffic, the crosswind turn will be heading 080, downwind 350, base 260, etc. Don’t accept the excuses of “I can’t fly if I can’t see the runway,” or “I can’t feel the airplane.” Note the 90-degree marks on the heading indicator as these help with orientation. It’s an ATD.

Crosswind

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Though it’s rare, your destination airport could become unusable due to a thunderstorm moving in, or a disabled airplane on the runway. IFR Alternate Airport Planning Legal requirements for selecting an alternate airport Additional GPS Approach Considerations Which weather forecast should you use?

Ceiling

ABEAM

JULY 5, 2024

After the necessary paperwork issues, we took off from runway 34R at Hurghada and got cleared to the right over the Red Sea. 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.

VOR

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

This approach gives perspective on all factors, including those that might otherwise be ignored or unrecognized. The instructor was able to complete the turn, but the airplane overshot the runway. From my point of view it was evident that we did not have enough room to safely land on Runway 17.

Gross Weight

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

If you’re on a non-precision or precision approach, understanding MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude) and DA (Decision Altitude) is incredibly important. Key Takeaways MDA applies to non-precision approaches, requiring pilots to level off at a minimum altitude. IFR approaches use something called approach minimums.

Altimeter

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

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 4, 2024

We’ll explain what these approaches are, what equipment you’ll need, and why it’s important to understand them for safer flight. Key Takeaways LPV approaches use satellite guidance for near-ILS precision and lower minimums. VNAV adds automated vertical guidance to approaches, reducing pilot workload during descents.

Approach

Gary's Flight Journal

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

The plan for today was flying to Delaware Coastal(GED)and knocking out the RNAV GPS 22 and RNAV GPS 4 approaches with the Stec 60-2 autopilot. I can't remember the last Localizer approach I shot. Once in the air and headed towards HUVOX, the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) for the GPS 22, we transferred controls. Forgot the cool.

VOR

iPad Pilot News

JUNE 3, 2025

Having access to always-updated, geo-referenced versions of sectionals, airport diagrams, and approach plates is table stakes these daysbut it still matters more than synthetic vision or digital logbooks. and any adjustments to be made (runway lighting out of service, remote altimeter setting, etc.). That changed last week.

NOTAMs

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. The flying club’s Cessnas and Pipers stood out like a flock of scrawny pigeons as the eagles of Pan Am, TWA, British Airways, and the like lumbered by on their way to and from the runways.

NDB

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

If you take off from Runway 27, you intercept and track the PDZ R-030 radial inbound and make a direct entry tracking the PDZ R-078 radial outbound, using non-standard left turns. If you take off from Runway 9, you would intercept and track the PDZ R-093 radial inbound, execute a parallel entry, and then track the PDZ R-078 outbound.

Aeronautical Information Manual

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

WayMan

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

This is a predetermined routing path of an aircraft from the departure runway onto an enroute airway. For example, a typical SID could read: “Fly runway heading to 3,000 feet, then radar vectors to the airway.” For example, “Fly runway heading to 3,000 feet, then DIRECT XYZ VOR.”

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MARCH 13, 2025

You can use the CDI with navigation aids like VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) or GPS. We wont explain technical details, so you may not understand the example if you havent used a VOR. Imagine were flying an HSI-equipped airplane away from VOR. Q: What is the difference between a VOR and a HSI? What would you say to them?

VOR

Air Facts

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

The VOR was useless, so I was now flying IFD (I Follow Directions) zig zagging across the country getting new vectors from time to time. As we approached the small cloud, Frank said we were too close, seeing no sign of lighting at all. He said the tower was about two miles out and if we didnt see ALL of it, we should return.

Weather

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

Flight Training Central

MAY 23, 2024

Does it feel like the more landings or instrument approaches you practice, the worse you get? No, you should take a proactive approach and there are some things you can do. A non-towered field with a shorter runway will challenge you and help you hone your aim-point on landings. What can you do? Keep trying and hope for best?

VOR

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 was handed off to Charleston approach and the controller turned me to the coast. When I was handed off to Wilmington approach they asked if I was VFR or IFR. Saturday 9.16

Clearance

Flight Training Central

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

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. As you move further from the primary airport, layers or shelves that start above the surface will be found.

Indicated Airspeed

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