U.S. meteorologists deploy an array of tools to warn pilots about thunderstorms and other severe weather.
Convection, which produces a multitude of dangerous elements, including lightning, heavy rain, icing, hail and — especially — severe turbulence, is a risk to all aircraft, including air carriers. Flight crews of even the largest commercial jets, for example, must be acutely aware of convective activity, and the resulting turbulence, to reduce the risk of injury to unsecured occupants. Convection is also the No. 1 reason for delays in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).
Accident/Incident Investigation, Aviation Weather, News
Actual weather was worse than forecast, and the F100 crew believed they had no options other than repeated attempts to land at their planned destination, the ATSB said.
Government weather agencies have high-tech tools for warning pilots about turbulence.
‘Non-extreme’ weather conditions are responsible for most U.S. flight delays, the FAA says.
