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Those Grey Areas

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot planned an LPV approach to KMRN, but faced challenges due to deteriorating weather, requiring departure with a minimal safety cushion.
  • During the first approach, despite reported visibility, the pilot executed a missed approach at DA+300 because required visual cues for landing were insufficient.
  • Holding after the missed approach allowed time for weather conditions to improve, leading to a successful second approach and landing, highlighting potential discrepancies between reported and actual in-flight visibility.
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Most instrument trips end with one approach and one landing, after which you go about your day. For those times when one approach doesn’t result in a touchdown, the choices are: A second approach, or a diversion, hopefully somewhere with coffee and cookies. The common protocol is to decide that ahead of time, based on conditions and your own policies. But when the weather’s in that grey zone between IFR and VFR, there’ll be some choices that aren’t always clear-cut.

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