Experience and “Comfort Level” Assessment  Combined VFR & IFR Weather Condition Ceiling Day Night Visibility Day Night VFR MVFR IFR LIFR 2,500 5,000 4 miles 8 miles 800 999 1 mile 3 miles Experience and “Comfort Level” Assessment  Performance Factors Shortest runway Highest terrain Highest density altitude Performance 4,500 3,000 3,000 2,500 6,000 3,000 SE ME Make/ Model Figure 8-7.  Experience and comfort level assessment for  performance factors. Figure 8-5.  Experience and comfort level assessment for combined  VFR and IFR.  Figure 8-8.  Baseline personal minimums. Figure 8-6.  Experience and comfort level assessment for wind and  turbulence. Baseline Personal Minimums Weather Condition Ceiling Day Night Visibility Day Night VFR MVFR IFR LIFR 2,500 5,000 4 miles 8 miles 800 999 1 mile 3 miles Surface wind speed Surface wind gusts Crosswind component Turbulence SE ME Make/ Model 15 knots 8 knots 7 10 knots 5 knots 7 Shortest runway Highest terrain Highest density altitude Performance SE ME Make/ Model 4,500 3,000 3,000 2,500 6,000 3,000 8-5 Experience and “Comfort Level” Assessment  Wind & Turbulence Surface wind speed Surface wind gusts Crosswind component Turbulence 15 knots 8 knots 7 10 knots 5 knots 7 SE ME Make/ Model Step 5—Adjust for Specific Conditions Step 4—Assemble and Evaluate experienced in the last 6–12 months—not necessarily the  most challenging wind conditions you have managed to  survive without bending an airplane. As shown in  Figure 8-6, you can record these values for category and class, for  specific make and model, or perhaps both.  equipment and performance; environmental conditions; and  external influences. Both individually and in combination,  these factors can compress the safety buffer provided by  your baseline personal minimums. Consequently, you need  a practical way to adjust your baseline personal minimums  to accommodate specific conditions. Note that the suggested adjustment factors are just that—a  suggestion. If your flying experience is limited or if you do  not fly very often, you might want to double these values.  In addition, if your situation involves more than one special  condition from the chart above, you will probably want to add  the adjustment factor for each one. For example, suppose you  are planning a night cross-country to an unfamiliar airport,  departing after a full workday. If you decide to make this  In addition to winds, your “comfort level” inventory should  also include factors related to aircraft performance. There  are many variables, but start by completing the chart with  reference to the aircraft and terrain most typical for the kind  of flying you do most.  [Figure 8-7]  Remember that you  want to establish a safety buffer, so be honest with yourself.  If you have never operated to/from a runway shorter than  5,000 feet, the “shortest runway” box should say 5,000  feet. We will talk more about safe ways to extend personal  minimums a bit later.  Now you have some useful numbers to use in establishing  baseline personal minimums. Combining these numbers, the  Baseline Personal Minimums chart in  Figure 8-8 shows how  the whole picture might look. Any flight you make involves almost infinite combinations  of pilot skill, experience, condition, and proficiency; aircraft 