Tag: weather
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CPL Long Cross-Country
Solo cross-country flight of more than 300 nautical miles (it is about 540 km) with at least two full stop landings in different airports other than a departure airport is a requirement for any Commercial Pilot. This is correct both for the EASA and FAA, but FAA also requires that one of the airport should…
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Lake-City
At the weekends I used to fly from the early morning, but this Saturday I decided to sleep some more: it is not a good idea to fly if you’re tired. Today the weather was good, so it was possible to fly to Lake-City. So, why that place? First of all, the weather is much…
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Navigating around Thunderstorms on the Way to Gainesville
As I already mentioned, I encountered an issue preventing an IFR flight with the school’s black N4642J due to an oil temperature problem. However, the weather conditions were still suitable for flying, and another aircraft became available. By 2:30 pm, there was still an opportunity to make a flight to Gainesville and back. The weather…
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Waiting Reward: Perfecting Landings
Thunderstorms and heavy rain dominated the morning, prompting me to seize the opportunity for some much-needed rest. However, Florida’s weather is famously unpredictable. By early afternoon, the rain subsided, clouds dispersed, and the skies turned favorable for flying. Upon reaching the airport, I discovered new puddles resembling lakes. Despite this, the runway and taxiways were…
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Practicing Crosswind Landings: Gainesville
Flight time building is a fantastic period, especially the cross-country segment: you simply enjoy flying and have fun. Of course, it involves a significant amount of planning, preparation, and studying, but it provides a wonderful opportunity to explore new places while gaining more experience. Summer in Florida is challenging. It’s not just sun and clear…
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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…
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Understanding Weather Radar for Pilots: Why Red is a Warning Sign
Today, flying is not possible due to the weather conditions. The weather radar displays dense clouds, indicating that I should wait for better weather to fly. In essence, the weather radar shows the concentration of water droplets. Red areas indicate large droplets, typically indicating the presence of a thunderstorm in that area, and as you…
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Flying in Hot Windy Weather: A Pilot’s Experience
I was supposed to fly early in the morning, but it didn’t happen. The airplane didn’t have enough fuel, and the fuel service is usually only available in the afternoon. Anyway, I needed some more sleep. I took off in the afternoon and during the flight, I noticed that my ground speed was way less…
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I’m A Little Black Rain Cloud, of Course
I’m just a little white rain cloudHovering under the honey treeI’m only a little black rain cloudPay no attention to me… Sometimes the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate. Today, one of these rain clouds demanded my attention. Although the clouds look gorgeous, they are also scary. This one in particular may not seem dangerous,…