Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Understanding what you’re flying into will only prepare you for smooth flights ahead. Identifying occluded fronts on charts is important for flight planning and safety. For example, as a cold front passes, surface winds may shift from southwesterly to northwesterly, while winds above may continue from the west.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

JULY 4, 2025

Moisture, instability, lift, and wind shear are needed to form and sustain a squall line. Weather radars and reports can help you plan ahead to avoid squall lines. Lifting Mechanism Squall lines tend to develop along cold fronts, warm fronts, or dry lines. It’s these areas that act as natural lifting zones.

Weather

Air

MAY 21, 2025

Wind Shear: The Abrupt Shift Wind shear refers to any abrupt divergence in wind characteristics be it speed, direction, or both that unfolds over a minimal distance. Can cause sudden losses or gains in indicated airspeed (IAS), directly affecting lift. And it’s unique in Europe!

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

This allows you to make quick adjustments to your flight plan. Thunderstorms can also bring wind shear and lightning. If severe weather is reported, do you have a plan B? You should always stay ahead of the weather, so plan for potential delays or alternate routes.

Altimeter

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 15, 2024

You must know how these systems work for flight planning. We’ll also show you how to flight plan around them. Thunderstorms create turbulence, wind shear, and icing risks for aircraft. Pilots should use weather forecasts and SIGMETs for safe flight planning. Lifting movement of moist air.

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

JULY 2, 2024

And the finest example of a Cirrus SR22 is not going to want to lift a full load out of a backcountry strip on a warm afternoon with a density altitude reading five digits. Too many pilots have believed the brochure brag of a 700-mile range and have flight planned accordingly, to their eventual regret.

Density Altitude