I had been flying back and forth from Buffalo to New York City for some time. One weekend I decided to give my father his first airplane ride. He had never been off the ground, even in an airliner. On a nice calm weekend, I decided to fly him from his home in New York City to where I lived in Buffalo. The weather was good except for some solid, low stratus clouds in mid-trip. I had to decide whether to fly over the top for part of the trip or duck under the clouds. 288
Ground Reference
I had been flying back and forth from Buffalo to New York City for some time. One weekend I decided to give my father his first airplane ride. He had never been off the ground, even in an airliner. On a nice calm weekend, I decided to fly him from his home in New York City to where I lived in Buffalo.
Key Takeaways:
- A relatively new pilot, flying under low stratus clouds, experienced unsettling instrument fluctuations (RPM, airspeed, altimeter surges) while giving his father his first airplane ride.
- The pilot realized these fluctuations were caused by unconsciously trying to fly parallel to rolling terrain due to a lost horizon in haze, which was resolved by trusting his instruments and maintaining steady flight.
- The experience taught him the critical importance of cross-referencing all instruments and the deceptive nature of visual references, emphasizing the need for pilots to be conscious of both internal aircraft conditions and external views.
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