Comments on: Safe to fly over an area with storms? http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm Wed, 23 May 2012 23:37:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Techwing http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12424 Techwing Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:19:09 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm#comment-12424 Airplanes don't fly over thunderstorms, because the storms reach too high. They never fly through thunderstorms, either. Airplanes always, ALWAYS fly around thunderstorms, not through or above them. Fortunately, the dangerous part of a thunderstorm tends to be very localized, so it's easy to fly around. Pilots will give the storm a very wide berth (dozens of miles). You may be flying through clouds, and there may be turbulence, but rest assured, you're still far away from the dangerous part of the storm. In some cases, a whole line of thunderstorms may form, making it difficult to fly around them. In this case, the pilots and personnel on the ground will work together to find a safe opening between the storms. If none can be found, the airplane will divert to a different airport and land to wait out the storms. If a thunderstorm threatens an airport, departures will be halted until the storm passes. Incoming traffic will be directed to either hold at a safe distance from the storm, or divert to a different airport. Take a look at this interesting video showing aircraft movements around Memphis as a storm passes over the airport: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRcDvJE5HZ8 Notice that operations work around the storms until they actually cross the airport, at which point aircraft either hold (you can see them flying in circles in holding patterns) or divert to other airports. The traffic resumes as soon as the storm is safely past the airport. And notice that nobody ever actually flies through the storm, which would be suicidal. There aren't many things that can scare a steely-eyed airline pilot, but flying through a thunderstorm is one of them—and with good reason. And so it just isn't done. Airplanes don’t fly over thunderstorms, because the storms reach too high. They never fly through thunderstorms, either. Airplanes always, ALWAYS fly around thunderstorms, not through or above them.

Fortunately, the dangerous part of a thunderstorm tends to be very localized, so it’s easy to fly around. Pilots will give the storm a very wide berth (dozens of miles). You may be flying through clouds, and there may be turbulence, but rest assured, you’re still far away from the dangerous part of the storm.

In some cases, a whole line of thunderstorms may form, making it difficult to fly around them. In this case, the pilots and personnel on the ground will work together to find a safe opening between the storms. If none can be found, the airplane will divert to a different airport and land to wait out the storms.

If a thunderstorm threatens an airport, departures will be halted until the storm passes. Incoming traffic will be directed to either hold at a safe distance from the storm, or divert to a different airport.

Take a look at this interesting video showing aircraft movements around Memphis as a storm passes over the airport:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRcDvJE5HZ8

Notice that operations work around the storms until they actually cross the airport, at which point aircraft either hold (you can see them flying in circles in holding patterns) or divert to other airports. The traffic resumes as soon as the storm is safely past the airport. And notice that nobody ever actually flies through the storm, which would be suicidal.

There aren’t many things that can scare a steely-eyed airline pilot, but flying through a thunderstorm is one of them—and with good reason. And so it just isn’t done.

]]> By: The Great Brandini http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12425 The Great Brandini Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:19:09 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm#comment-12425 Planes shake all the time. It's called turbulence. Storms usually cause it and it's almost never bad enough to cause any damage. Airplane wings are designed to bend over 20 feet usually. Pilots know how maneuver through storms and turbulence. trust me you'll be fine. I was in a plane that landed during a storm and a plane that took off during a storm. Was it a little scary? Yes. Was there turbulence? Yes. But am i still alive? Certainly! The pilots are skilled and took off/landed safely. you'll be fine. Just sleep through the whole thing and you won't even notice. Planes shake all the time. It’s called turbulence. Storms usually cause it and it’s almost never bad enough to cause any damage. Airplane wings are designed to bend over 20 feet usually. Pilots know how maneuver through storms and turbulence. trust me you’ll be fine. I was in a plane that landed during a storm and a plane that took off during a storm. Was it a little scary? Yes. Was there turbulence? Yes. But am i still alive? Certainly! The pilots are skilled and took off/landed safely. you’ll be fine. Just sleep through the whole thing and you won’t even notice.

]]> By: Henry William http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12426 Henry William Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:19:09 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm#comment-12426 Even on the ground you'd stay home in storm days Even on the ground you’d stay home in storm days

]]> By: Question http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12427 Question Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:19:09 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/safe-to-fly-over-an-area-with-storms.htm#comment-12427 it happens almost all the time on planes turbelence!! it just goes put ur seatbelts on or sum and u'll b fine cuz think: how many ppl are on the plane WITH YOU??? they are prolly a little scared too but your with them dont worry it happens almost all the time on planes turbelence!! it just goes put ur seatbelts on or sum and u’ll b fine cuz think: how many ppl are on the plane WITH YOU??? they are prolly a little scared too but your with them dont worry

]]>