Personal VFR minimums
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 748
Likes: 9
From: LFMD
No GPS, no ADS-B. No ADS-B, no flying
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 1
From: Cambridge, England, EU
I've been involved with static devices that use sub-$1 GPS chips. However experience shows that if you're using one of these you're best off averaging its claimed position over about a week (of not moving, obviously) before taking it seriously. (We did code in another check after a month, but this turned out not to be necessary, the position was pretty good after a week.)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,831
Likes: 16
From: Moray,Scotland,U.K.
The OP is in Glasgow. If he is flying in Scotland, forget about using IFR altitudes for VFR. Stay in good VMC. Stay well below cloud, and be very cautious if you see any cloud at your level.
Avoid the downwind side of hills by a good margin.
If renting, your local instructors can give you advice before any flight.
It's good to rent for a while before buying your own aircraft, or a group share, for that reason.
And think a lot before flying over cloud which is hard centred in an SEP.
Avoid the downwind side of hills by a good margin.
If renting, your local instructors can give you advice before any flight.
It's good to rent for a while before buying your own aircraft, or a group share, for that reason.
And think a lot before flying over cloud which is hard centred in an SEP.
Joined: Oct 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 121
From: Wherever I go, there I am
Some good replies on this thread.
I would just add that have your personal minimums, be also be "generally comfortable" with the minimums that your license permits you to go to.
By "generally comfortable," I mean that if you do find yourself with 3-miles visibility during a flight, you're not getting into a panicked state. If you don't feel you can do this now, go up with an instructor or a suitably comfortable safety pilot.
As some have stated already, never fly when you are not comfortable, but don't ever be afraid to work towards lowering your personal minimums. This is especially true if you want to continue into the Commercial IFR world one day, where your personal minimums have to be at as low as the approved approach minimums for all approach types, at all times.
I would just add that have your personal minimums, be also be "generally comfortable" with the minimums that your license permits you to go to.
By "generally comfortable," I mean that if you do find yourself with 3-miles visibility during a flight, you're not getting into a panicked state. If you don't feel you can do this now, go up with an instructor or a suitably comfortable safety pilot.
As some have stated already, never fly when you are not comfortable, but don't ever be afraid to work towards lowering your personal minimums. This is especially true if you want to continue into the Commercial IFR world one day, where your personal minimums have to be at as low as the approved approach minimums for all approach types, at all times.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
Very early in the solo flights, you want to learn EVERYTHING.
In my days (LONG time ago) the first things I learned during those boring nav flights was the use of VOR and ADF. (there was no GPS back then at all)
Once VOR and ADF where mastered, and I was pretty confident using them, the problem of "getting lost" was over.
On every military NAV map you can find the minimum safe height for each sector.
So flying into things was no problem either.
Next came the basic Instrument flights, and when it came time to do the PPL, I passed.
2 weeks later I bought my Jodel.
A month later I was touring in the South of France. PS; I am from North Belgium.
THE trick is simple : Even when solo in the early hrs, don't fly to fly.
Set yourself a goal. LEARN each and every flight.
Do your homework, study. (I had to do it in books as there was no Internet back then either).
Study with a goal => Talk to your instructor, and go out to fly to learn.
Above all, have fun doing it.
In my days (LONG time ago) the first things I learned during those boring nav flights was the use of VOR and ADF. (there was no GPS back then at all)
Once VOR and ADF where mastered, and I was pretty confident using them, the problem of "getting lost" was over.
On every military NAV map you can find the minimum safe height for each sector.
So flying into things was no problem either.
Next came the basic Instrument flights, and when it came time to do the PPL, I passed.
2 weeks later I bought my Jodel.
A month later I was touring in the South of France. PS; I am from North Belgium.
THE trick is simple : Even when solo in the early hrs, don't fly to fly.
Set yourself a goal. LEARN each and every flight.
Do your homework, study. (I had to do it in books as there was no Internet back then either).
Study with a goal => Talk to your instructor, and go out to fly to learn.
Above all, have fun doing it.
