The Art of a Good Decision Making: Weather Challenges

Weather is a critical factor for any pilot, and today we were planning ILS and VOR approaches in controlled airspace. The forecast was initially good and even improving, with almost no wind, a ceiling of 4300, and visibility of 10 miles or more. After all preparations and a preflight check, however, the wind shifted to 190 with 4 knots, which meant we would have a tailwind if we used runway 36, the only runway with ILS in that airport. As a result, it was more likely that all other traffic would use runway 18, and ILS would not be an option.

The only option for an approach with glideslope available, was a GPS approach with LPV . However, the airplane we planned to use did not have WAAS, which meant that we couldn’t fly this type of approach. Fortunately, another airplane with WAAS was available, so we decided to prepare for a GPS approach. Instrument-wise, there is almost no difference between ILS and GPS with a glideslope.

Unfortunately, the weather turned against us again, and the ceiling dropped to 800. These were not proper conditions for a training flight, especially for my first-ever precision approach. So we decided to wait for appropriate conditions. Sometimes weather doesn’t cooperate, and making a proper decision is part of a good aeronautical decision making.


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Milestones

04/09/2017: My First Flight
04/25/2017: EASA PPL written exam (6 exams passed)
05/21/2017: Radio Operator Certificate (Europe VFR)
05/22/2017: EASA PPL written exam (all passed)
05/26/2017: The First Solo!
05/28/2017: Solo cross-country >270 km
05/31/2017: EASA PPL check-ride
07/22/2017: EASA IFR English
08/03/2017: 100 hours TT
12/04/2017: The first IFR flight
12/28/2017: FAA IR written
02/16/2018: FAA IR check-ride
05/28/2018: FAA Tailwheel endorsement
06/04/2018: FAA CPL long cross-country
06/07/2018: FAA CPL written
07/16/2018: FAA CPL check-ride
07/28/2018: FAA CPL ME rating
08/03/2018: FAA HP endorsement
06/03/2019: EASA ATPL theory (6/14)
07/03/2019: EASA ATPL theory (11/14)
07/15/2019: FAA IR IPC
07/18/2019: FAA CPL SES rating
08/07/2019: EASA ATPL theory (done)
10/10/2019: EASA NVFR
10/13/2019: EASA IR/PBN SE
11/19/2019: Solo XC > 540 km
12/06/2019: EASA CPL
12/10/2019: EASA AMEL
02/20/2020: Cessna 210 endorsement
08/30/2021: FAVT validation
05/27/2022: TCCA CPL/IR written
05/31/2022: Radio Operator Certificate Canada