fbpx search success chat linkedin google-plus telephone multimedia youtube linkedin instagram right-arrow mobile-phone
Support
Download Brochures
Power by the Hour
preloader

November 14, 2017

Listening to Your Instinct and the Radar

A synopsis of Business Aviation Insiders article, “Mitigating Weather Risks”

Our friends at Business Aviation Insider are well versed on everything aeronautics. Whether it’s big-brand jet operations or privately-owned plane activities, Insider has the low-down on essential information and trends. Recently, they covered the dangers of weather in their article “Mitigating Weather Risks. Single pilots need to use a variety of tools to minimize weather hazards.” The crux of the matter is weather should never be underestimated. The best recipe for safety is to predict and protect. Listen to your gut and the radar.

Mother Nature is no force with which to gamble. According to statistics given in the article, 35% of aviation accidents are caused by severe weather. Moreover, 75% of those accidents are fatal. This is no horseplay. The key to bolstering any risk is to understand the steps essential to mitigating mishaps during harsh weather.

“You have to look at aircraft capability and your skill, especially for lower-performance aircraft,” Mike Graham, director of flight operations, safety, security and standardization at Textron Aviation said in the Insider article. “You look at the accident data, and [it’s clear that] items are being overlooked. There’s a lack of recurrent training, higher risk tolerance or a disregard for precautions.”

In order to safeguard every pilot’s time in the sky, security protocols require fliers to familiarize themselves with relevant flight information and ensure conditions give the green light for take off.

To understand the conditions, pilots should understand meteorology. Recognize forceful weather, turbulence, icing and thunderstorms and learn it for all types of seasons.

The best advice to take, however, is to simply plan ahead and have a contingency strategy in case weather appears during flight. Check weather apps, review forecasts, look for trends and don’t let your guard down.

“Risk assessment must continue all the way up to departure time and throughout the flight because weather can quickly change,” the Insider article stated. “Pilots [should] consult with flight service station briefers because they often can provide insights not possible to obtain simply by reading published weather reports or using on board avionics.”

Sometimes, the safest thing to do is just decide it’s not a good day to glide. It’s especially important to adhere to personal minimums. Know your level. Know what you can handle.

There are numerous weather resources available to pilots. However, Business Aviation Insider suggests using PIREP’s, which gives accounts of actual conditions aloft and three-dimensional looks at the atmosphere.

More news

Aug 24, 2023, posted in News

The DHL Relay Race 2023!

Once again we took off for a run or powerwalk and enjoyed each others’ company.  One of our annual sporty and social team events...

Aug 15, 2023, posted in News

What is the TEN-T guidelines?

Well, they’re the Trans-European Transport Network by the European Parliament. Included in these guidelines are airport energy and operational efficiency. We find the TEN-T...

Jun 01, 2023, posted in News

11 Gates… 1 Terminal

Big project at JFK’s Terminal 4! The project included the installation of passenger boarding bridges with new 400 Hz/28 VDC Combination GPUs and 45-ton...

May 17, 2023, posted in News

ITW GSE 3500 PCA awarded the 2023 Ground Support Worldwide Product Leader of the Year

With features designed to reduce infrastructure costs and lower energy consumption, the ITW GSE 3500 PCA has been named the 2023 Ground Support Worldwide...