New IFR Mastery Scenario: Turkey Day Turbulence

What would you do if severe turbulence, low ceilings, and shifting winds forced a missed approach on a short holiday flight?

That’s the dilemma in this month’s IFR Mastery scenario from PilotWorkshops. You’re flying your V35 Bonanza across Florida from Cross City to Cecil Field near Jacksonville for Thanksgiving weekend. A quick 38-minute hop turns into a demanding workout when a bumpy descent through shifting shear sends your autopilot into catch-up mode, triggering a low-altitude alert and an immediate go-around.

Now you’re climbing out into smoother air, facing a tough set of options. Do you try the ILS into Cecil again? Do you divert, trading your original arrival for gusty winds and a different set of approach challenges? Or do you climb back up, head all the way home to Cross City?

Each choice carries its own operational risks, workload considerations, and holiday trade-offs. Which option would you choose?

Watch the scenario below and make your decision.

It’s more than handling the bumps

A safe instrument flight often hinges on recognizing when conditions exceed comfortable margins and knowing what to do next. Wind shear, turbulence, automation limits, and holiday get-there-itis can quickly push workload past capacity, making the second attempt far more critical than the first.

That’s the real-world decision-making that IFR Mastery is designed to develop. Each month, PilotWorkshops presents an authentic IFR scenario that puts you in the left seat. You’ll evaluate the situation, make your call, and then compare your thought process with experienced instructors as they break down the hazards, aerodynamics, and human factors behind every option.

Think you’ve made the right call?

Watch the free scenario briefing above, then sign in or start a free 30-day trial to access the complete scenario, instructor analysis, and the full library of nearly 200 IFR scenarios.

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Pilot Workshops

Our award-winning instructors help pilots reach higher standards of safety & excellence. Learn to fly with PilotWorkshops' pilot-friendly manuals and online courses. Since 2005.

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