OVERTHEAIRWAVES.COM
The Bi-Weekly Journal for the Proficient Pilot
Anatomy of a Thunderstorm:
Hands down, there is no greater weather risk to aircraft (ALL aircraft) than thunderstorms. Inside these beasts is enough energy to dismantle even the largest aircraft aloft. Thunderstorms combine columns of lifting air with down-drafts, all caused by a combination of heat, moisture, and an unstable atmosphere. When caught in the middle of this boiling cauldron of atmospheric turmoil, airplanes of any size have little or no chance of survival.
So what should we do?: There is only one defensive strategy when it comes to thunderstorms. That strategy is to avoid them at all costs. Either remain on the ground or circumnavigate them by at least 25 miles. Failure to do this is nothing less than playing Russian roulette with more than one bullet in the chamber.
A word about Uplink NEXRAD weather: Uplink NEXRAD weather offers a wonderful technological advantage to pilots. But it only shows precipitation. It does NOT reveal the location of thunderstorms. Adding to this risk is the fact that uplink weather is several minutes old before it arrives on our cockpit displays. Several minutes is a lifetime when it comes to the formation of thunderstorms. In short, we should not use Uplink weather to navigate through a field or line of active thunderstorms. Only “live” weather weather radar combined with a stormscope is effective when operating near thunderstorms. In summary, thunderstorms kill. Stay far away from them!
Crosswind landings. Separating the men from the Boys!
Nothing strikes fear in the heart of the non-proficient pilot quite like the prospect of landing in a 30 knot direct crosswind. It makes little difference whether you are piloting a Cessna 152 or an Airbus 320, the results are still the same. Apply the wrong control inputs and you could be taxiing through the grass!
Leaning into the wind: The first thing we should be doing when landing into a crosswind is leaning into the wind just as we pass over the runway threshold. This simply means banking into the direction of the crosswind while simultaneously applying opposite rudder to keep the nose aligned with the runway. The second thing is the “follow-through”: Remember, the crosswind influences our directional control on the landing roll-out as well as in the air. Therefore it is important that we continue to “lean” into the direction of the wind by keeping the yoke or stick turned into the wind while, again, maintaining directional control with rudder pedals.
Lastly . . . remember!: More accidents occur during the landing and roll-out than in any other phase of flight. Crosswinds play a major role in these nasty events. Those of us who are not genuinely crosswind proficient should get out and practice them. Finally . . . flight students: If your instructor will not provide you with crosswind training and experience in crosswinds approaching the demonstrated crosswind capability of your airplane, find another instructor.