Documentation Directory

This directory contains comprehensive documentation of all operational restrictions, limits, and thresholds used in the Saint Louis University Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science Dashboard.

Purpose

This documentation serves to:

  1. Maintain Records: Keep authoritative records of all restriction thresholds
  2. Support Training: Provide reference material for instructors and students
  3. Ensure Consistency: Document the exact values used across all dashboard implementations
  4. Enable Updates: Facilitate informed decisions when modifying restriction criteria
  5. Regulatory Compliance: Document safety criteria and operational limits

Document Structure

Index

Quick navigation to all documentation files with overview of the concentric restriction model and data sources.

Flight Restrictions Overview

Key Topics:

Use This When: Understanding the overall restriction framework and how different factors interact.

Wind Restrictions

Key Topics:

Threshold Tables: | Threshold | Value | Effect | |———–|——-|——–| | Student Wind Limit | 20 knots | Private+ Only | | Private Wind Limit | 25 knots | Commercial Only | | All Pilots Wind Limit | 30 knots | All Restricted | | Student Crosswind | 10 knots | Private+ Only | | Private Crosswind | 15 knots | Commercial Only | | All Pilots Crosswind | 20 knots | All Restricted | | Wind Gust Limit | 30 knots | All Restricted |

Use This When: Setting up or modifying wind-based restrictions, calculating crosswind components, or understanding pilot-specific wind limits.

Visibility and Ceiling Restrictions

Key Topics:

Threshold Tables: | Threshold | Value | Effect | |———–|——-|——–| | Minimum Visibility | 3 SM | All Restricted if below | | Minimum Ceiling | 1,500 ft AGL | All Restricted if below | | KCPS Elevation | 413 ft MSL | For AGL calculation | | KSTL Elevation | 605 ft MSL | For AGL calculation |

Use This When: Understanding ceiling/visibility restrictions, converting MSL to AGL, or troubleshooting ceiling calculation issues.

Temperature Restrictions

Key Topics:

Threshold Tables - Heat: | Heat Index | Effect | |————|——–| | < 95°F | Normal operations | | ≥ 95°F | Diamond solo restricted | | ≥ 100°F | Diamond dual/Piper solo restricted | | ≥ 105°F | All Flights Restricted |

Threshold Tables - Cold: | Temperature | Effect | |————-|——–| | > 32°F | Normal operations | | < 32°F | Avoid extended power-off ops | | ≤ 23°F | Preheat or recent flight required | | ≤ 14°F | No solos or cross-countries | | ≤ 5°F | All Flights Restricted |

Use This When: Evaluating heat index or cold weather restrictions, understanding Diamond aircraft limitations, or calculating relative humidity from dewpoint.

Runway Information

Key Topics:

Key Data: | Item | Value | |——|——-| | Primary Airport | KCPS (St. Louis Downtown) | | KCPS Elevation | 413 feet MSL | | Runway | 12/30 | | Runway 12 Heading | 122° magnetic | | Runway 30 Heading | 302° magnetic | | Backup Airport | KSTL (Lambert Intl) | | KSTL Elevation | 605 feet MSL |

Use This When: Calculating crosswind components, converting cloud heights to AGL, or understanding runway-specific data.

Demo Page

Key Topics:

Scenario Coverage:

  1. Perfect flying conditions (All Clear)
  2. Moderate winds (Private+ Only)
  3. High crosswind (Commercial Only)
  4. Very high winds (All Restricted)
  5. Low ceiling (All Restricted)
  6. Poor visibility (All Restricted)
  7. Multiple factors (Commercial Only)
  8. Marginal conditions (Private+ Only)
  9. Extreme heat (All Restricted)
  10. Cold weather with winds (Private+ Only)
  11. Extreme cold (All Restricted)

Use This When: Training pilots, explaining the restriction model, demonstrating system capabilities, or understanding how different weather conditions affect flight status.

Quick Reference: All Thresholds

Wind Thresholds

Crosswind Thresholds

Visibility & Ceiling Thresholds

Temperature Thresholds

Operational Data

Modification Guidelines

When Updating Thresholds

  1. Review Documentation: Read the relevant document thoroughly
  2. Document Rationale: Add explanation for why threshold is changing
  3. Update All References: Search for the old value across all files
  4. Update Code: Modify implementation in dashboard files and shared-weather.js
  5. Update Documentation: Revise markdown files with new values
  6. Test Thoroughly: Verify new thresholds work as expected in demo.html
  7. Update Version Info: Note changes in index.md
  8. Communicate Changes: Inform aviation department of modifications

Files to Check When Changing Thresholds

Wind Restrictions:

Temperature Restrictions:

Visibility/Ceiling Restrictions:

Regulatory References

Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)

14 CFR Part 91 (General Operating Rules):

VFR Minimums (Class E airspace below 10,000 ft):

Training Operations: Many training operations use more conservative limits than regulatory minimums for safety.

Practical Test Standards (PTS) / Airman Certification Standards (ACS)

Private Pilot ACS:

Commercial Pilot ACS:

Data Sources & Methodology

Weather Data

Calculation Methods

Version History

Version 1.0 (October 2025)

Contact Information

For questions about these restrictions or to propose changes:

Saint Louis University
Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science

Restrictions should be reviewed periodically and updated based on:

Additional Resources

Project Files

External References

This documentation was created on October 9, 2025, and should be updated whenever operational thresholds are modified.