General:
- Weather: A ceiling and visibility well above the legal minimums (e.g., 2,000 ft ceiling and 5 miles visibility for a cross-country flight).
Freezing Temperatures & Icing:
- Freezing Level: Do not fly in clouds or precipitation at or below the freezing level.
- Freezing Rain/Drizzle: No-go. Avoid flight in any area where freezing rain is reported or forecast.
Turbulence:
- Severity: Avoid flying in conditions with forecast or reported moderate or greater turbulence.
- Winds: Be cautious of strong, gusty winds, especially over hilly or mountainous terrain.
Rain & Thunderstorms:
- Rain: Use a higher personal minimum for visibility and ceiling when rain is present.
- Thunderstorms: No-go. Maintain at least a 20-nautical-mile buffer from any thunderstorm. Use weather radar to predict the direction and expansion of weather to avoid entering its path.
Fog & Dew Point:
- Temperature-Dew Point Spread: If the spread is less than 5∘F (3∘C) and decreasing, especially near sunrise or sunset, be prepared for rapidly forming fog and plan a diversion.
High Temperatures & Density Altitude:
- Performance: Increase safety margins for takeoff and climb performance on hot days, especially at high-altitude airports. Plan for a longer takeoff roll and a shallower climb rate.
Gust Magnitude & Crosswinds:
- Crosswind Component: Set personal limits for crosswinds and gusts that are below the aircraft’s demonstrated maximum:
- < 18 knot headwind and gusting < 2 knots due to ground handling
- < 12 knot headwind and < 8 knot gusting due to stall at minimum control airspeed
- < 12 knot crosswind component with < 2 knot gusting, due to proficiency
- < 10 knot highly variable wind direction, due to an unstable approach
- < 8 knot crosswind component with < 8 knot gusting, due to proficiency
- Gusts: On gusty days, consider adding half the gust factor to final approach speed for better control.