Can aircrafts fly above cloud ceiling?

You can fly on top of Few and Scattered Clouds and you are still legally maintaining VFR. Just maintain legal cloud separation when transitioning above the clouds. Anything under 5 Okta’s of coverage is fair game. Anything 5 or above (Broken or more) constitutes a ceiling and you will require VFR OTT or be flying IFR.

How far away from the airport can you accept a visual approach?

A vector for a visual approach may be initiated if the reported ceiling at the airport of intended landing is at least 500 feet above the MVA/MIA and the visibility is 3 miles or greater. At airports without weather reporting service there must be reasonable assurance (e.g. area weather reports, PIREPs, etc.)

Do planes fly below the clouds?

Planes can fly below clouds and they can fly through clouds and they can fly above clouds. The higher you fly, the more efficient your aircraft can be in terms of ground speed. The air is thinner up there. At 36,000 feet in a jet you can cruise along at 600 miles an hour.

How close is lightning to airport?

To be clear, a safe distance from lightning is at least 10 miles.

What determines cloud ceiling?

When Federal Air Regulations refer to “ceilings” for weather minimums, the FAA defines a ceiling as: “The height of the lowest layer of clouds above the surface that are either broken or overcast, but not thin.” But since METAR and SPECI observations don’t include the term “thin,” anything reported as broken or …

Can private pilots fly above clouds?

“The short answer is yes. You may legally fly on top as long as you can maintain the appropriate VFR cloud clearances. VFR-on-top is conducted by an instrument-rated pilot on an IFR flight plan. It allows the pilot to change altitudes, provided VFR cloud clearances are maintained.

Do flights Get Cancelled for lightning?

Airport operations and ground-flight procedures get put on hold when lightning is close by. Thunderstorms can delay flights and the need to to abide by a tight schedule is important. Outdoor activities may have to stop during thunderstorms and this can cause a lot of issues with flights. …