Final Blog 9.2: Weather Hazards

And The Thunder Rolls

While there are many environmental factors that play a role in the aviation industry, weather must be one of the most significant. Weather can reduce speed, lower visibility, damage equipment, and among other things, be a danger to personnel.

Out of the many forms of weather, I believe thunderstorms are one of the most dangerous obstacles in aviation. A thunderstorm will make its way through three stages before finally dissipating (PHAK, 2016). For a thunderstorm to form, the air must have sufficient water vapor, an unstable lapse rate, and an initial lifting action to start the storm process (PHAK, 2016). The fact that you do not even need to be in the middle of a thunderstorm for it to present a hazard to your aircraft, such a storm can be quite hazardous. The FAA recommends that pilots keep their distance, advising that personnel remain at least twenty miles away to avoid hail and severe turbulence from the outer layers (Cutler, 2020). It should also be known that thunderstorms produce more than just lightning strikes, creating extreme windshear and downdrafts such as microbursts, rapid rain fall, surrounding hail storms, and more (Cutler, 2020).

To overcome thunderstorms, the first step should of course be to avoid them. First, always check forecasts over the scheduled flight route. Second, ensure good visibility throughout the flight when possible, and never allow yourself to get within twenty miles of a hailstorm, altering the flight plan as you go if necessary. Third, never fly below thunderstorms as microburst potential is quite high (Cutler, 2020). Always fly above a thunderstorm for best avoidance measures when possible. Lastly, avoid flying through the thunderstorm anvil as hail will be present, often leaving the nose of the aircraft with severe damage (Bailey, 2020).

All in all, thunderstorms are often avoidable. However, in situations where that is not the case, one should be aware of the conditions they present. Hail, lightning strikes, severe turbulence, and many more hazards are present all within twenty miles of thunderstorms. Storm avoidance and navigation training should be emplaced and flight plans should be adjusted accordingly to avoid damage to the aircraft or worse, present a risk to the lives of those in flight.


Word Count:367


References

Bailey, J. (2020). Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 Diverts Following Nose Damage. Retrieved from https://simpleflying.com/delta-a319-nose-damage

Cutler, C. (2020). 8 Tips For Flying Around Thunderstorms. Retrieved from https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2020/06/8-tips-for-flying-and-navigating-around-thunderstorms-this-summer/

FAA. (2016). Weather Theory. Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/14_phak_ch12.pdf.

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