Northstar VFR

MARCH 23, 2025

As an aircraft enters the traffic pattern, it begins the process of getting configured to land on the runway. As the plane descends toward the runway on final approach, it may encounter various scenarios where a safe landing cannot be assured. One factor is executing the approach with too high energy or too low energy.

Pilot

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

An aircraft go-around is when a pilot decides to abort a landing and climb back to a safe altitude for another approach. Whether it’s due to runway obstacles, unstable approaches, or weather changes, the aircraft go-around is a pilot’s best tool to avoid accidents and ensure a smooth, safe flight every time.

Air Traffic Control

Flying Magazine

MAY 3, 2024

The NTSB released its final report into the fatal April 2022 accident that occurred when the pilot was on approach to Burley Municipal Airport (KBYI). The aircraft collided with an exhaust stack that lies directly beneath the extended centerline of Runway 20. Google Earth view of the Gem State Processing plant and Runway 20 at KBYI.

Pilot

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

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 8, 2025

Most seemed to be using more flaps than normal for takeoff, the idea being to get away from the ground as quickly as possible to minimize their time near the ground, where a wind shear could have serious consequences. When making a cross-wind takeoff, hold the nose gear on the runway longer and accelerate to a higher speed than normal.

Crosswind

Flying Magazine

APRIL 25, 2024

hour flight in a Columbia 400 from Rock Hill/York County Airport ( KUZA ) in South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, to Lincoln Park Airport (N07) in northern New Jersey was uneventful with outstanding weather and smooth air ahead of an approaching weather system. I became increasingly worried that we might hydroplane off the runway.

Weather

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. The Inevitable Reroute Allentown Approach: "Cherokee Four Eight One, I have an amendment to your routing, advise ready to copy." Right after I saw the city, I was vectored away from it to the northeast and cleared for the approach. Foolish mortal.

Approach

Air

MAY 21, 2025

This is a key reason why pilots prefer to take off and land into the wind. For landing, it means a shorter landing roll and a slower approach speed over the ground, offering enhanced control. Drawbacks: For takeoff, a tailwind significantly increases the required runway length and results in a shallower climb angle.

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Runway visual range (RVR) under 2,400 feet triggers a SPECI, and another is issued if it rises to 2,400 feet or more within 10 minutes. Well, these events can quickly affect visibility or runway conditions so much that they call for a special report. Wind information. Runway visual range (RVR). Station identifier.

Altimeter

Chess In the Air

JULY 4, 2022

If we can wait for the threat to pass this is clearly the best approach; especially when the virga is fairly isolated and the clouds are cycling. Considering the delay in the AWOS reporting, it may also be helpful to proactively use the radio to ask anyone on the ground for the current winds (e.g. Very well said! Absolutely!

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings.

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While instructors idly watch, airplanes go off the runway, landings become too harsh, structure gets overstressed, and tolerances are exceeded. No flying in winds exceeding 10 knots, no chance of obscuring precipitation, no use of runways shorter than 5,000 feet, no risk of encountering darkness or lowering ceilings.

Wind Shear

Air Facts

APRIL 24, 2024

We had light winds, good visibility, full cloud cover, and ample ceiling heights. But, with a frontal system approaching, the conditions were expected to worsen over the hours subsequent to our passing through, including the chance for moderate to severe turbulence. Most of those few minutes were tolerable.

Turbulence

Aerotime

JULY 26, 2024

At approximately 17:47 local time, the B-1B supersonic bomber, tail number 85-0085, crash-landed outside Runway 13 at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The aircraft touched down about 100 feet (30 meters) short of the runway, causing the rear radome to strike the ground and the main landing gear to hit the approach lighting system.

Wind Shear

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. These include a runway collision, porpoising, bouncing, or possible overrun. In other words, it is an unstabilized approach. What Is a Go-Around?

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Image: Adobe Stock Midway through the ride, sitting on Runway 1R at Washington Dulles International Airport (KIAD), storm clouds rolled in. The others were an abort, a V1 cut, or wind shear. The words of a prior instructor bounced inside my brain: “Here we are, ready to go. Great job, guys.”

Wind Shear

One Mile at a Time

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

Reader Will asked me the following question, regarding a go around (often referred to as an aborted landing, missed approach, or rejected landing) that he experienced on a flight today: Today, I had an interesting experience on flight SK502 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Copenhagen (CPH), and I wanted to reach out with a question.

Airplanes

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

I was listening intently to the ASOS for wind or gusts, letting it repeat 5 or 6 times with the exact same report: 9 kts straight down the runway; no gusts. That was the runway we would use to land. It’s worth noting that Shmulik had a close call in the past: a jet pulled onto the runway in front of him with no radio call.

Pilot

Ask Captain Lim

APRIL 12, 2024

One critical scenario is during low visibility operations, particularly when a plane on auto-land, approaching a decision height close to the runway. During final approach at Orly Airport, the crew received a wind-shear warning, prompting them to go around and discontinue with the landing.

Wind Shear