Weather Hazards in Aviation

 Weather Hazards in Aviation

        As I sit here writing this blog, with the sounds of howling winds and the drumbeat of raindrops on my roof, I couldn't help but think that thunderstorms would be the greatest hazard in Aviation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are four classifications of thunderstorms (FAA, 2013). A Single-cell is considered to be the most common and develops on warm and humid days, similar to the Florida environment I'm currently in. A thunderstorm cluster or a Multi-cell is a cluster of single cells over a large area moving in the same direction. A line of thunderstorms that develop ahead of a cold front in moist, unstable air is referred to as a Squall line. Lastly, a Supercell is a thunderstorm that is large in nature and lasts an exceptional amount of time. 

        One of the reasons why I think that thunderstorms are the greatest weather threat in aviation is because of the diverse conditions that they pose on an aircraft, and can potentially present multiple hazards at the same time (National Weather Service, n.d.). These hazards include turbulence, up/downdrafts, lighting, hail, icing, wind shear, microburst, and tornados (Kulesa, n.d.). Quite literally almost all of the hazards possible in this weather condition can occur during a thunderstorm. In addition, each one of the hazards listed above has a different effect on an aircraft, that each pilot should be aware of and how to recognize them when they do occur. 

Federal Aviation Administration (2013) Thunderstorms. Advisory Circular 00-24C. Retrieved from: https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac%2000-24c.pdf

Kulesa, G. (n.d.) Weather and Aviation: How Does Weather Affect the Safety and Operations of Airports and Aviation, and How Does FAA Work to Manage Weather-related Effects?. Retrieved from: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/kulesa_Weather_Aviation.pdf#:~:text=Turbulence.%20Non-convective%20turbulence%20is%20a%20major%20aviation%20hazard.,intensity%20than%20are%20large%20aircraft.%20See%20Figure%203.

National Weather Service (n.d.) Thunderstorms. Retrieved from: https://www.weather.gov/zme/safety_ts