Thunderstorms are one of nature’s most powerful forces—and one of the weather phenomena most dangerous to pilots. Flying too close to a thunderstorm’s lightning, hail, heavy rain, and powerful lifting forces and downdrafts can be uncomfortable, expensive, or both. Flying into them can end in disaster.
Storms are a part of summer flying, however, and canceling a flight at the first sign of convection could keep a pilot grounded for weeks. Although reports of supercells and squall lines will lead to a ground lesson or the simulator, a convective outlook or a few isolated storms may still indicate flyable weather. The key to safely making the most out of a stormy day is flexibility.
Consider the time of day you fly. Hot, humid afternoons are a prime time for pop-up thunderstorms. Planning to fly in the relatively cooler, less humid morning air may be a better choice.
In flight, if a storm is small and isolated enough and you know what weather is on the other side, you may be able to safely fly around it. Keep in mind that even a short departure from your planned route can eat up an hour or more of fuel. Prepare on the ground for the possibility of an extra fuel stop. If you’re flying around a storm, always keep your eyes on it, and divert if conditions change.
When diverting because of thunderstorms, consider the storm’s velocity. In some cases, the nearest airport may be toward the rapidly approaching weather and, therefore, not the best choice. Also, consider the headwinds from fast-moving weather; your new groundspeed might be much slower than the groundspeed you’re used to.
No one can control the weather, but with a little preparation and planning you can still make the most of stormy days. Test your thunderstorm decision-making skills with the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Weather or Not—Thunderstorm Challenge course, sponsored by SiriusXM Aviation, the first in a new branching, video-based format.
airsafetyinstitute.org/thunderstormchallenge
A good landing is…
On a hot Sunday afternoon in Alabama, 25-year GA pilot Jim Johnson set out in his Cessna 177RG to practice approaches. Just after takeoff he experienced an engine failure. Listen to his story in the latest episode of the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s podcast There I Was… available online and through Spotify. (airsafetyinstitute.org/thereiwas_jimjohnson)
Alicia Herron is a CFII and an aviation writer for the AOPA Air Safety Institute.
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