CAVU

CAVU is a Department of Defense acronym for "ceiling and visibility unlimited." When you are flying a small airplane, CAVU is usually a good thing. No clouds or fog to get in your way.

CAVU can be a problem on certain occasions. One example is during Santa Ana winds in the Los Angeles basin. From September to March, these winds blow the skies clear and bring warm temperatures. Unfortunately for aircraft, they also bring turbulence, and I HATE a bumpy ride. So we took off early in the morning and were rewarded with a rare clear view with Brackett Airport and the Los Angeles Fairgrounds in the foreground and the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Our flight up the Pacific coast remained clear for the two days of our trip. September is usually a good flying month, but this time it was pretty hot due to a high pressure system blocking cooler temperatures.

Here's the mouth of the mighty Columbia River with a hint of haze and clouds on the horizon. Our CAVU window is closing. It's time to get home before the storm. I hope you enjoyed these additional shots from our CAVU flight from Los Angeles to Bellingham, Washington. You can read more about our trip by scrolling down to my September 26 and 27 posts. -- Margy