Mastery Flight Training, Inc.          

Categorical Outlook Flying™ Decision-Making Matrix

©2005-2006 Mastery Flight Training, Inc.

     
               
Suggestions for go/no-go decision-making using Categorical Outlook definitions     
               
Use your own best judgment to make your own go/no-go decisions, considering your own experience 
and currency, weather, and the capability and redundant systems of your airplane.  
               
               
If the outloook is… …and you're flying… over   during… then suggest:
  VFR VFR   flat land   day GO  
        flat land   night GO  
        unfamiliar area day GO  
        unfamiliar area night GO  
        mountains or water day GO  
        mountains or water night NO-GO  
    IFR   flat land   day GO  
        flat land   night GO  
        unfamiliar area day GO  
        unfamiliar area night GO  
        mountains or water day GO  
        mountains or water night GO  
               
If the outloook is… …and you're flying… over   during… then suggest:
  MVFR VFR   flat land   day GO*  
        flat land   night NO-GO  
        unfamiliar area day GO*  
        unfamiliar area night NO-GO  
        mountains or water day NO-GO  
        mountains or water night NO-GO  
    IFR   flat land   day GO*  
        flat land   night GO*  
        unfamiliar area day GO*  
        unfamiliar area night GO*  
        mountains or water day GO*  
        mountains or water night GO*  
               
*With precise preflight planning to include route, alternates, and minimum safe altitudes for each segment of the flight,
  positive en route navigation and improving weather condtions within easy range at all times    
               
Legend                
VFR:   More accurately, VMC (visual meteorological conditions): visibility > 5 miles AND ceiling > 3000 ft 
MVFR:  Marginal VFR: visibility 3-5 miles OR ceiling 1000 - 3000 feet      
IFR:   More accurately, IMC (instrument meteorological conditions): visibility 1-3 miles OR ceiling 500-1000 ft
LIF:   Low IFR: visibility < 1 mile OR ceiling <500 feet        
               
NOTE: Use extreme caution when thunderstorms or icing conditions exist or are forecast.  Consider
such conditions to have the same decision-making impact as a reduction in categorical outlook, i.e.
use "IFR" considerations when a forecast of thunderstorms or ice accompanies MVFR conditions. 
               
©2006 Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  All rights reserved.  For training purposes only      
If the outloook is… …and you're flying… over   during… then suggest:
  IFR VFR   flat land   day NO-GO  
        flat land   night NO-GO  
        unfamiliar area day NO-GO  
        unfamiliar area night NO-GO  
        mountains or water day NO-GO  
        mountains or water night NO-GO  
    IFR   flat land   day GO*  
        flat land   night GO*  
        unfamiliar area day GO*  
        unfamiliar area night GO*  
        mountains or water day GO*  
        mountains or water night NO-GO  
               
*With precise preflight planning to include route, alternates, and minimum safe altitudes for each segment of the flight,
  positive en route navigation and improving weather condtions within easy range at all times    
               
If the outloook is… …and you're flying… over   during… then suggest:
  LIFR VFR   flat land   day NO-GO  
        flat land   night NO-GO  
        unfamiliar area day NO-GO  
        unfamiliar area night NO-GO  
        mountains or water day NO-GO  
        mountains or water night NO-GO  
    IFR   flat land   day GO*  
        flat land   night NO-GO  
        unfamiliar area day GO*  
        unfamiliar area night NO-GO  
        mountains or water day NO-GO  
        mountains or water night NO-GO  
               
*With precise preflight planning to include route, alternates, and minimum safe altitudes for each segment of the flight,
  positive en route navigation and improving weather condtions within easy range at all times    
               
Legend                
VFR:   More accurately, VMC (visual meteorological conditions): visibility > 5 miles AND ceiling > 3000 ft 
MVFR:  Marginal VFR: visibility 3-5 miles OR ceiling 1000 - 3000 feet      
IFR:   More accurately, IMC (instrument meteorological conditions): visibility 1-3 miles OR ceiling 500-1000 ft
LIF:   Low IFR: visibility < 1 mile OR ceiling <500 feet        
               
NOTE: Use extreme caution when thunderstorms or icing conditions exist or are forecast.  Consider
such conditions to have the same decision-making impact as a reduction in categorical outlook, i.e.
use "IFR" considerations when a forecast of thunderstorms or ice accompanies MVFR conditions. 
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
©2006 Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  All rights reserved.  For training purposes only      

 

 

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