Introduction
This paper will concentrate on aerodynamics and the way weather affects pilots flying and causes major weather-related accidents. This research paper will focus on the impact of each type of weather, such as hurricanes, storms, icing, and turbulence zones. It is also necessary to consider the weather conditions, the reasons for them, and the steps that pilots, crew, and controllers must take to land or take off successfully. It affects the aircraft and the psychology of the crew which is working on it. This aspect influences not only the flight but also necessary key decisions that can work upon the outcome in critical situations and, therefore, may cause danger to the lives of those involved in the flight.
Factors Impacting Aviation
There are a lot of nuances in the world when people are flying a plane. These can include the pilots’ professionalism, the dispatcher’s competence, and the aircraft’s condition. The weather conditions should also be added to this list, as they greatly impact the flying process. The most important thing is that they are unpredictable, as even with today’s technology, the weather is impossible to predict (Kulesa, 2018). It is also necessary to understand that preparation for any flight will take considerable time, especially in bad weather, which requires careful planning (Federal Aviation Administration, 2018). This paper will discuss the main types of weather conditions and how they affect flight, especially the pilots flying.
To begin with, it is necessary to be understood what weather conditions are and how they are shaped. The atmosphere plays the most fundamental role in weather, as it is the place where conditions are created. Under the influence of pressure and winds, the weather is formulated that is independent of human error and completely unpredictable. Since this chemical process is beyond human control, they cannot create favorable weather for one purpose or another and are forced to adapt to existing conditions (King, Blickensderfer, Guinn, & Kleber, 2021). The atmosphere has a vertical structure, and as one moves upwards, the temperature in each layer decreases, which affects the overall process of creating weather conditions.
For example, the first layer is called the Troposphere, about seven miles above the Earth’s surface. The figures are approximate as the data may vary depending on the surface over which it is located. The temperature in this layer is drastically lower than what humans are used to, and this location is the first step in creating weather conditions. The second equally important step is Tropopause. This is a small layer in the transition to a new one and is distinguished by the fact that here the weather conditions take shape and are almost complete. The last layer, the final point for creating weather conditions, is the Stratosphere. Although the temperature here is not much different from the previous layer, the whole point is the pressure there. The compression of some atoms forms the appearance and mass of the weather phenomenon, which sinks to the Earth’s surface and is already a phenomenon familiar to humans.
Unfortunately, the world does not have enough advanced technology to predict weather conditions for the near future accurately. So there is always the risk that a flight could go off script or that it could be postponed or canceled altogether. Studies show that about 70 percent of flight postponements are due to deteriorating weather conditions or if there are preconditions for it (Kulesa, 2018). This is done primarily for the safety of those taking part in the flight.
The most common version of adverse weather conditions is a thunderstorm or storm. During the flight, uncontrollable turbulence occurs, which makes it impossible to control the aircraft fully, and, as a consequence, the risk of disaster is many times greater. In addition, during thunderstorms, the instrument panel often malfunctions due to pressure and magnetic storms (Kulesa, 2018). Visibility is also affected as pilots flying through storm clouds are guided by their instruments, not by the windscreen and communication with a control tower. There is also a risk of lightning striking the aircraft and setting one of the engines on fire, making it uncontrollable for the pilots. This is the worst possible scenario, as it means the doom of all passengers and crew.
On the other hand, although not associated with the occurrence of fire on board an aircraft, icing also has its consequences. This effect occurs if the temperature outside is significantly below freezing, so the higher the airplane flies up, the colder it gets around it. Covering the aircraft with ice at very high altitudes at low temperatures limits the pilot’s visibility (Kulesa, 2018). In such cases, it is much more challenging to land the plane without critical consequences, and it also affects the aerodynamics during the flight itself. The aircraft becomes less maneuverable due to the ice, which is firmly fixed to the steering gear and prevents complete control of the plane. At the same time, the icing on the engines can lead to engine failure and, consequently, to equally unfortunate consequences, as in the case of a thunderstorm. As a result, the pilots may lose control of the plane, which is highly dangerous.
No less critical aspect when flying is also considered to make changes in the turbulence zone into account. It appears together with any climate change outside the plane and has a physical and moral impact. An experienced pilot will be able to deal with this problem and steer the airplane despite its steering change. Much of the effect of turbulence affects the passengers, who begin to panic and sow doubt about the safety of the flight. Being in an enclosed space at enormous heights, people often lose self-control and begin to think only about the impending doom awaiting them. This affects both the pilots and the crew, who must be professional enough to convince passengers that the flight is safe. Since the safety of the flight participants comes first, to prevent terrible consequences, the pilot must be incredibly patient with the speed limit and control the air transport as carefully as possible. Of course, this affects the speed of arrival at the destination, but it is the safest method of dealing with the problem.
Conclusion
All of the above reasons affect and deter the flight of air transport in one way or another. In spite of the fact that it is impossible to predict the weather, all participants in the flight process should be prepared for any circumstances, even if nothing foretells trouble. Professions dealing with the flight are incredibly demanding and require a high degree of concentration and resistance to stress. This is the ultimate weapon when dealing with bad weather during a flight.
References
Federal Aviation Administration. (2018). Federal aviation administration general aviation pilot’s guide to preflight weather planning, weather self-briefings, and weather decision-making general aviation pilot’s guide.
King, J. M., Blickensderfer, B., Guinn, T., & Kleber, J. L. (2021). The effects of display type, weather type, and pilot experience on the pilot interpretation of weather products. Atmosphere, 12(2), 143.