Personal limits

[UngaWunga]

As a still new pilot, I'm constantly checking and modifying my personal limits as I gain experience, both good and bad, from my decisions.
I'm curious what others here have for their own personal limits in regards to weather. When looking at a report, what are the winds and clouds that'll make you think it'll be better to be on the ground? What are other factors (runway length, altitude, DA) that you consider?

I'm a VFR pilot, and since all of my flying is for fun, winds above 20 at the ground at destination or departure airports mean I don't go. I haven't flown with clouds under 4000' yet when actually going anywhere other than the pattern or another local airport. Those will change, I'm sure, as I build time.

 

[eman1200]

'winds at 20'....so last weekend winds were forecasted at 20, direct xwind at North Myrtle. at MYR tho, they were pretty much right down the rwy, so we went there instead, non issue. clouds were heavier than normal for me, I felt like it was stretching it a tiny bit. each time I stretch it, I get more comfortable. it's good to stretch. pull in an experienced cfi that you trust, if you have concerns. if they don't go, you def shouldn't go lol.

 

[frfly172]

If your worried about winds ,always have an alternate that is more aligned with the winds. Try increasing the winds in small increments. If your not comfortable ,flying isn't fun.

 

[Cpt_Kirk]

"Hold my beer and watch this.."

 

[Stewartb]

Conditions are a balancing act. Weather, airplane, pilot currency, pilot health.... they all matter. The weaker one category is the stronger another needs to be. Every flight has a different sum of factors.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

I am not too worried about wind unless it is insane. I am confident I can handle most wind situations here but if it is so windy the flying won't be fun, I skip it.

Same with the heat. If I am going to be sweating like a pig, I will only fly if it is long trip where I can get up high.

I prefer to avoid flights where departing or arriving is in MVFR because it means I can get stuck on top or get stuck scud running

Since I am also VFR and fly for fun, I tend to plan 2 trips
Now we have kids so when grandparents offer to watch them over night you want to make sure you can fly out.
Example a year or so ago, we planned a flight to Austin and one to Oklahoma (opposite directions)

Austin was IFR when we woke up so we went to Tulsa.

My minimums are more centered around if the flight is going to be enjoyable or not.
I pushed my limits a lot early on because I wanted to fly so bad I would push the boundries. I still want to fly all the time but being up there getting the crap kicked out of you is not fun flying anymore.

I won't fly at night if I can avoid it (except in the Cirrus)

 

[JasonM]

When I was VFR only and had about 150 hours, I would not fly if the ceilings were below 2500' and winds were above 15Knots in any direction.

Now I am Instrument rated, 400+ hours and have 2 sets of minimums.

1. I am going up for the hell of it or to practice?
- Winds <= 15Knots (any direction)
- ceilings >= 500'

2. I am going somewhere planned
- Winds <= 40Knots total with Crosswind <= 30Knots
- ceilings >= minimums at the runway I am departing. (200'-300' typically)
* I kinda want to try a real 0/0 takeoff thing, so I may be willing to do that under the right circumstances. I doubt I would do a real 0/0 though. Maybe a 0' ceiling with 1/4 mile viability.

 

[cowman]

Wind > 20kts or crosswind components >10kts will give me pause. Exactly how much pause depends on where I'm going. I'm a lot more willing to push my crosswind skills on a 150'x8000' runway than a 50'x2500'.

For a long trip I prefer to be at altitudes >3000AGL so altitude for direction of flight rules apply but it's not a deal breaker just a factor.

Possibility of light rain for a portion of a flight will not necessarily stop me either, but it's a factor(what if it's more than light, what are the clouds coming with that rain?).

I will fly X/C at night but not to an unfamiliar field and weather conditions need to be nearly perfect.

Basically you consider everything. Your skills/currency, knowledge of the area, knowledge of the field, current weather conditions, conditions forecast during the flight, conditions forecast after, etc.