Aviation personal minimums

Pilot personal minimums should be based on a clear assessment of pilot certification, experience, proficiency, and currency

Each pilot should establish personal weather minimums which may be (and often are) above FAA legal minimums for a VFR or IFR flight

The goal is to certificate safe, capable, and knowledgeable pilots

So, in the private and commercial airman certification standards, setting personal minimums as a skill that must be tested

The Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards include personal minimums as a risk item that can be tested at the discretion of the examiner

Personal minimums provide the padding that accounts for our own level of proficiency, the specifics of our aircraft, flight environment, and external pressures that can make the flight more difficult

They should be assembled or updated when the pilot has time to honestly assess her abilities and never immediately preceding a flight