Personal Weather Minimums

FryGuy wrote:

I just wanted to open a discussion regarding other's personal weather
minimums for VFR flights.

First off, there are several aspects of weather to consider, but I'll throw my
hat in the ring. I have between 850 and 900 hours, fly a taildragger Maule, and
have a bit over 500 hours in the plane. About 1/3 of my time is cross-country.

As far as wind goes, I will not go if the crosswind component at one of my
destinations is over 20 knots, unless I have an alternate for that destination.
Crosswinds over 15 knots will have me asking the old WWII question "Is this trip
really necessary?". This is especially true if conditions are getting worse;
weather has been known to move faster than forecast.

I will not fly into potential icing conditions. I cancelled one trip because the
freezing level was 0' AGL at my planned overnight stop and rain was forecast for
sometime that afternoon or evening.

If conditions are stable, I will fly in ceilings as low as 1,500', especially
if conditions are expected to improve along my route.

If conditions are stable, I will fly in visibility of 3 miles in haze. If the
ceiling is low, I want better visibility.

The worst I've been in was a lowering ceiling of about 1,000' in rain. I could
see out of the left side of the windshield about as far as you can normally see
things at 600' AGL. I put down at the first airport I came to. If there had not
been one fairly close, I would have returned to the one I had just left (which
was in better weather).

I'm also very leery of fog. I will set down if the dew point/temperature spread
is getting close.

Another "soft" rule I have is to not fly long distances when the weather turns
out different from yesterday's forecast. If it was supposed to be lousy weather
and turns out to be CAVU, I stay close to home. The weather people obviously
don't have clue today.

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".