Inflight Pilot Training

MARCH 30, 2025

An instrument rating unlocks access to: Airports with IFR approaches (ILS, RNAV, VOR, etc.) An Instrument Rating is an FAA certification that allows you to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Access More Airports and Airspace Want to fly into a destination with unpredictable weather? A busy Class B airport?

Pilot

Flying Magazine

MAY 12, 2025

Performance may be degraded when placed on the cockpit dashboard or under the aircrafts canopy/ceiling window due to window material, deicing technology, and glass angle. Vertical placement against a cabin window typically leads to poor connectivity.

Weather

Flight Training Central

MARCH 10, 2025

What is the minimum ceiling and visibility for takeoff, landing, or entering the traffic pattern of an airport in Class E airspace under visual flight rules? A ceiling of 1,000 feet and have visibility of at least 3 statute miles. VOR/DME must complete an online course covering flight operations in the D.C. Both are correct.

Visual Flight Rules

Flying Magazine

JUNE 24, 2025

Low ceilings and poor visibility often add stress on the system for departing or arriving aircraft. For example, “Jax center, Cessna 34B needs 10 degrees left for weather until passing the Chesterfield VOR in 15 miles.” Out of all of the curveballs that controllers deal with every day, weather has the most significant impact.

Air Traffic Control

Air Facts

JULY 23, 2025

Ceilings were 400 to 700 feet, with visibilities from one to four miles in rain and fog. Eight of these would be non-precision VOR and fixed-card NDB approaches flown to minimums in a non-radar environment. It was raining moderately in the murk as Jerry intercepted the VOR radial toward Lake of the Ozarks.

NDB

Flight Training Central

OCTOBER 14, 2024

If either the ceiling or visibility is forecast to be less than 2,000 feet or 3 statute miles during that arrival window, you are required to file an alternate. Many pilots refer to this as the 1-2-3 rule: Plus or minus 1 hour from arrival, ceilings at least 2 ,000 feet and visibility at least 3 statute miles.

Ceiling

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

VFR to MVFR…then 2 miles visibility and a ceiling of 1,200 feet agl. Next, introduce the VOR. Have them use the VOR to determine what radial they are on, and if the unit has DME, show you where they are on a sectional. These flights work best if they are limited to an airport 10 to 15 miles away. What could go wrong?

Crosswind

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

IFR exists when the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet above the ground and/or the visibility is less than three statute miles. Practice your scan along with GPS or VOR tracking while flying in actual. That’s correct, you can earn your instrument rating with flight time only in simulated conditions.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

Moments after climbing through the ceiling over Beverly, MA. We made an IFR departure that morning on runway 16 and climbed above the ceiling in short order. We were assigned a slightly ridiculous alteration to the route I filed: MANCH T316 LAMMS T608 ROC that had us flying past Sodus to the Rochester VOR before setting up for Sodus.

Ceiling

Pilot Institute

APRIL 24, 2024

This central core extends up to around 10,000 feet MSL, the airspace’s ceiling. However, the ceiling for each shelf is the same as the core. Although Class B airspace has a typical ceiling of 10,000 feet MSL, exceptions exist. New York’s Class B airspace has a 7,000-foot ceiling, allowing more room for overflying aircraft.

Clearance

Air Facts

OCTOBER 30, 2024

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. One foggy morning out at Dulles, Charlie and I were waiting for the ceiling to improve so we could launch on an IFR training flight. Then came the long taxi to the runway.

NDB

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. The reroute was minimal, an insertion of Yardley VOR (ARD) into my flight plan. On Wednesday, April 17, I broke ground exactly at 11:00 am as planned. Famous last words.)

Approach

Gary's Flight Journal

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

The ceiling was sitting at 900 feet when I launched, turning to a 270 degree heading as instructed upon entering controlled airspace. 7 IMC, finally breaking out into VFR as we approached the CVI VOR. Hovering over the CCV Cape Charles VOR was a line of building clouds. I asked to deviate east to do an end around and it worked.

Clearance

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 11, 2024

West of the Geneseo VOR, I passed high above Silver Lake and the gorge in Letchworth State Park. Though I am no geologist, I found myself biting my tongue whenever the tour guide -- who otherwise did a fine job -- referred to the ceiling-bound mineral formations as "stalagtites".

Runway

Photographic Logbook

OCTOBER 28, 2023

Despite those ground clearances, we found that the ceiling above our home airport was high enough to accommodate VFR departures with airborne clearances. Tom and I filed via the Rockdale VOR, which was a starting point on the Nobbi Five arrival procedure used in the greater New York area. Better safe than sorry. That was a good plan.

Clearance