Readback: June 2019

The nit is with one of the parts of the answer to Question 11. As the answer to question 3 says, our minimum descent altitude for this approach is 1100 feet, but thats MSL. (Basic minimum for the LOC-7 approach is 1000 MSL, to which we added the required 100 feet for remote altimeter.) As the chart says, that 1000 MSL translates into 611 feet above the touchdown zone elevation of 389 feet, so 1100 MSL is 711 feet above TDZE (and 703 feet above airport elevation).

Editorial Staff

Monday, June 03, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article clarifies critical aviation terminology distinctions, specifically between AGL (Above Ground Level) and MSL (Mean Sea Level) for weather and altitude minimums, correcting an error in a previous quiz and an aircraft identification error.
It addresses and dispels persistent rumors regarding changes to IFR currency rules, confirming that the six-month grace period for regaining currency with a safety pilot remains unchanged.
A pilot shares a strategy for efficiently maintaining IFR currency by designing a concentrated flight route to complete multiple instrument approaches in a single, busy flight.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Is that AGL or MSL?

OK, I’m going to pick one tiny nit about the April 2019, Killer Quiz. Anywho … good quiz, and—oh boy, what a Charlie-Foxtrot this pilot has gotten him/herself into.

The nit is with one of the parts of the answer to Question 11. As the answer to question 3 says, our minimum descent altitude for this approach is 1100 feet, but that’s MSL. (Basic minimum for the LOC-7 approach is 1000 MSL, to which we added the required 100 feet for remote altimeter.) As the chart says, that 1000 MSL translates into 611 feet above the touchdown zone elevation of 389 feet, so 1100 MSL is 711 feet above TDZE (and 703 feet above airport elevation).