DALLAS — The short answer is yes; it is feasible for a commercial aircraft to fly over a hurricane while remaining out of the storm's path.
The hurricane season officially begins in June and ends in November, usually peaking in the month of August. When warm, moist air rises from the ocean and collides with cooler air in the atmosphere, water vapor condenses and forms storm clouds.
Year-round, airlines and air traffic controllers must reroute planes around thunderstorms, but hurricanes, tropical storms, and even tropical depressions represent a significantly greater threat. Hurricanes, unlike regular summer showers, are bigger and take much longer to pass through, depending on your location and the storm system's trajectory. Even a category 1 storm can travel 300 miles and have sustained winds of up to 95 miles per hour.
When hurricanes and tropical storms form, airline operation centers must make numerous judgments in order to save passengers, employees, and aircraft. These considerations include how long they will continue to fly into and out of airports in the line of a storm. Aircraft planned to spend the night at a threatened airport will be diverted to airports outside of the storm's path. But what about during a flight?
During a flight, commercial pilots carefully check for reports or forecasts of turbulence, collaborating with flight dispatchers to choose a route.
If a route takes a flight above storm clouds, this is shown on the radar screen in a “hatched” format to remind pilots that they will be passing over a convective cloud, for example, and may therefore encounter some light chop.
If the pilot can navigate a route around the Green, Amber, and definitely the Red, passengers won’t spill their drinks and will arrive calm and relaxed at their destinations.
To find out more about the technical aspects of dealing with turbulence and storm dodging, be sure to read Capt. Chris' article on the subject from our Pilot's Corner series.
Preparing for Severe Weather
We know that many airlines use hub airports in major cities to connect passengers to smaller, regional airports. On a daily basis, a large number of flights arrive and depart from them. If one of these hubs is damaged by a storm, it may take many days to get back to normal. The loss of a hub can have a significant impact on passengers and freight operators.
We must keep in mind that severe weather affects not only passengers but also airline staff at all levels. Flight dispatchers, crew schedulers, and maintenance planners collaborate to swiftly restore the flight schedule, as flight crews must be adaptable during these erratic operations as their schedule is likely to be altered.
Severe weather can happen at any time and may affect travel conditions for pilots and passengers. If a storm is approaching, pay attention to airline announcements and be prepared to adjust your plans.
During a natural disaster, pilots are aware of activeTemporary Flight Restrictions(TFRs) and updates toNotices to Air Missions(NOTAMs). These can change rapidly during emergency response efforts. Pilots also receive real-time flight updates through the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) electronic flight planning tools (EFP) or useVFRFlight Following.
Severe weather is the largest cause of flight delays in the U.S. As hurricane season is upon us, we can count on a vast team of highly trained specialists who strive to deliver us to our destinations as quickly and safely as possible.
Featured image: Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com
DALLAS — The short answer is yes; it is feasible for a commercial aircraft to fly over a hurricane while remaining out of the storm's path. The hurricane season officially begins in June and ends in November, usually peaking in the month of August.
And those winds are no greater than found in the jet stream. However, like the jet stream there can be turbulence. So while an airliner should have no problem flying directly over a hurricane, it's not something that happens if it can be avoided.
Modern aircraft are designed to fly through storms and other adverse weather. Strong winds will not cause aircraft to fall from the sky, and heavy rain is not going to damage the fuselage. Lightning is not a serious problem either.
Most pilots try to avoid flying an airplane into severe weather, but not the NOAA Hurricane Hunters. Their job is to fly specially equipped aircraft directly into the eye of the storm to collect crucial data that helps protects lives and property.
While aircrafts are capable of flying over hurricanes, safety risks are still existent and companies usually prefer to cancel their operations in affected airports. However airlines have protocols in place, when severe weather happens, they will issue travel waivers to let passengers rebook or cancel flights.
There is no single maximum wind limit as it depends on the direction of wind and phase of flight. A crosswind above about 40mph and tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets taking off and landing. It can sometimes be too windy to take-off or land.
The NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft - like the Air Force's WC-130J planes - are used to fly directly into the center of a storm. This provides information on where the center is located, as well as data regarding the strength of the storm's eyewall.
Weather that delays and cancels flights is called inclement weather. Inclement weather is categorized as thunderstorms, snowstorms, wind shear, icing, and fog. Any inclement weather is by far the most hazardous. This is the type of weather that causes the most cancellations and delays, not just rain.
Reduced visibility, associated with cloud, mist, fog, or sand storms, can make safe flight difficult or even impossible, even with the help of technology (Instrument Landing System (ILS), weather radar, synthetic vision systems, etc)
Some weather conditions will be too dangerous for a pilot to attempt to fly through. For example, if visibility has significantly diminished due to fog, heavy rain or snow, your pilot will likely decide it's unsafe to take off or continue the flight.
While it is possible for planes to fly through the eye of a hurricane, this is only ever done for scientific research. In this case, the flight will be carried out by specialist bodies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and never by commercial aircraft.
While getting struck by lightning is often considered the greatest threat to aircraft in a thunderstorm, modern aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes. The real danger lies in the severe turbulence, hail, and potential for rapid icing that can occur within a thunderstorm.
The average Hurricane Tracker in the US makes $89,296. Hurricane Trackers make the most in San Jose, CA at $176,305 averaging total compensation 97% greater than US average.
If a tropical cyclone is approaching an airport an airline serves, the airline will typically issue travel waivers, cancel flights, and evacuate most or all of its aircraft before the storm hits.
I fly through some of the strongest storms in the Atlantic and Pacific, and even the most violent turbulence is now tolerable. Most pilots avoid the worst weather, but we fly directly towards it. Flying these planes can feel like being on a rollercoaster going through a car wash.
Heavy wind or severe flooding can cause stationary objects without these securities to become free moving without control which can cause damage to infrastructure and aircraft. During severe weather, the airport's top priority should be to secure the airfield and surrounding areas.
In most cases, planes can fly in thunderstorms, but they typically avoid them for your comfort and safety. In the event of a thunderstorm at your departure airport, you might experience some delays as the airport management and airlines take necessary precautions.
Airlines typically cancel all flights out of airports expected to be hit by the tropical cyclone and will often announce the cancellations multiple days in advance. Airlines with hub operations at an affected airport are often the first to announce cancellations.
Moreover, the systems and structures of commercial airplanes are not designed to withstand the aerodynamic forces experienced during inverted flight. Attempting to fly a large commercial plane upside down would place tremendous stress on the airframe, potentially leading to structural failure.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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