50% of the participants in our poll found density altitude as their chief concern during the summer months, so let’s break it down. A Case Study: A Commercial Pilot and the Unsuspecting Danger of Density Altitude [The following are excerpts from the NTSB Final Report for accident number WPR17FA171.] On July 29, 2017, about...Read More
On 8 Dec 2014, a corporate jet carrying one pilot and two passengers crashed into a house in Montgomery County, Maryland, tragically killing all three occupants and a mother and two children on the ground. The NTSB reported that the aircraft encountered clouds and was exposed to structural icing conditions while descending to their destination....Read More
There are four basic types of fronts, each with its own distinct weather characteristics. Understanding the differences can help pilots gauge how soon weather changes will occur and when inclement weather may arrive, dissipate, or increase in severity. This blog explains the four basic fronts that exist within our atmosphere. Warm Front Warm fronts are...Read More
Hazards Associated with Hydroplaning Wet weather season is upon us, and it is wise to review how to safely navigate inclement weather conditions. Wet weather can make air travel precarious both in the air and on the ground—during takeoffs and landings. In this article, we will address the types of hydroplanes, their causes, and how...Read More
Summer is here, and although there will be plenty of perfect flying days, pilots should be prepared for volatile weather, such as thunderstorms, which can pop up quickly and unexpectedly. While there are many hazards associated with thunderstorms, this article specifically addresses microbursts. Formation When a thunderstorm develops, the updraft can be so strong that...Read More
The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the primary sources for weather information used by pilots and dispatchers to plan and monitor flights. Weather information is a fundamental element in the lives of aviators, and has been since the first aviators took to the skies. The NWS we know today was originally called the...Read More
