AV Web

MAY 6, 2025

At that point you have to see either the red terminating row of lights in the Approach Lighting System or any one of the other nine runway environment items if you want to continue the descent. Unless you are a glider tow pilot most folks would agree that a 2000 fpm descent is not normal for landing. But how about 1000? Is that normal?

Runway 93

Runway Approach Threshold True Airspeed 93

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

Perhaps just prior to the start of descent could be the optimum time–certainly completed no later than commencement of approach. If you depart MDA on the downwind or base leg, you’re on your own as far as obstacle clearance. What specific indicated airspeed will be flown/adhered to during the circling maneuver?

Approach 97

Approach AGL Descent Runway 97

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

This particular 172 normally cruised at 120 mph indicated airspeed, but with the ice it would barely do 90 mph and that required full throttle! I filed my IFR flight plan, received a clearance and took off into the gray winter sky. We finally broke out on top into dazzling sunlight carrying about one inch of rime ice.

VOR 52

VOR Weather Approach Runway 52

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The ATR’s airspeed was 191 knots. The CRUISE SPEED LOW is the first level of APM alert, and means that the indicated airspeed is at least ten knots slower than the predicted speed for their current configuration. The crew acknowledged and said that they were at the ideal point of descent and waiting for clearance.

Knot 104

Knot Approach Descent Weather 104

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

But I accepted the clearance knowing that I could change it with a local Approach control like Syracuse. Caught in series of up and down drafts, the autopilot pitched the Warrior aggressively to maintain altitude and the indicated airspeed trended too high in each updraft. I logged about 0.7 hours of IMC time on the flight.

Ceiling 52

Ceiling Approach Weather Runway 52