Personal Limits

Every pilot should maintain a list of "Personal Minimums" or "Personal Limits".  These are defined circumstances that indicate when and when not a pilot will fly.

Many accidents can be and could have been avoided by wise choices and strict adherence.

These conditions/circumstances have to do primarily with:

Condition of Aircraft
Personal Health
Weather
Control Input

Here are my Personal Minimums:

Never fly with any known mechanical defect--even if minor.
Never take off with less than 1/2 tank full of fuel.
Always plan to have at least 1/4 tank of fuel in reserve. (approx 1 hour flying)

Never fly unless I am enthusiastic about the flight.
Never fly when angry, frustrated, in pain, nervous, or in emotional distress.
Avoid alcoholic beverages within 12 hours of flight.
Severely limit alcoholic beverage intake 48 hours before flight.
Be sure to have consumed some food (slice of bread) within 4 hours of flight.
Avoid all medicine that could affect flight proficiency.
Dress appropriately for weather and guard against dehydration.

Maximum cross wind landing component 8 mph (static and/or gusts)
Maximum cross wind take off component 10 mph (static and/or gusts)
Maximum wind gusts of 20 mph in any direction.
No landings with tail wind component over 3 mph. (Picky about runway choice)
Clouds no lower than 2000 feet AGL and/or 2000 feet above highest point of expected flight
Avoid flight when OAT/Dew Point Spread is less than 15 degrees F (8 deg C) METAR
No flight during any precipitation.

Minimum speed when not over runway 1.3 Vs (42 full; 52 mph no flaps)
Climb at Vy unless Vx is required to avoid obstacle. (to improve visibility)


These can and should be updated from time to time---for example--I will increase my cross wind component and be more tolerant of adverse weather when I gain more time/experience in the Sport Cub.

The weather minimums" can and do limit flying-especially in winter. Seems like humidity or winds are often outside of limits.