Dust Devils - What to do?

[alex79]

Hi

Just planning a trip from the cold south of the land up to the outback and had a look at some area forecasts and read dust devils for the first time.

I did a bit of googling and found comments ranging from extremely dangerous to just fly through them. To avoid getting similar responses, let me break down my question

(all in context of a single-engine Cessna at 5000-8000 feet)

1) anybody had actual encounters with a dust devil in the outback?
2) what does it really do to the AC? i.e. up/down draft on the entire plane or just parts of it
3) damage of the plane, especially prop?
4) is it difficult to see and avoid them? And what is the best strategy to do so?


Thanks

[fujii]

I saw plenty when I was working in Alice Springs. They are fairly narrow and usually only 500 to 1000 feet tall so most likely to be encountered in the circuit whereas you mentioned 5000 to 8000 feet cruise levels. At your levels you will get thermals which can be quite strong.

[compressor stall]

Try and plan your flights to arrive by lunchtime. The morning air is smoother, cooler, the light prettier and the beer colder in the afternoon at the pub. Your passengers will thank you for it. Get in the routine of early finish, early drinks, early dinner, early bed, early start.

As for dust devils, they are around, but usually visible and avoidable. If you fly early, you will reduce your chances of meeting them further.

[iPahlot]

Don't fly near them and most definitely hold a couple of minutes if one is near the runway, they pass very quickly. Some are benign and others can pack a fair wallop so best to just avoid.

compressor_stall is spot on with the thermals and turbulence, the dry is here and it's bumpy.

Most of all, enjoy!

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

As for dust devils, they are around, but usually visible and avoidable. Yup!

(all in context of a single-engine Cessna at 5000-8000 feet)In my experience, generally a low level problem, 0 - a few hundred feet
1) anybody had actual encounters with a dust devil in the outback?Yes
2) what does it really do to the AC? i.e. up/down draft on the entire plane or just parts of itChucks it around a bit - or a lot!
3) damage of the plane, especially prop?Not unless you hit the ground.
4) is it difficult to see and avoid them? Generally not.
And what is the best strategy to do so?Keep your eyes open and your wits about you.

In many years of bush flying I have only had one potentially serious encounter - with a dust devil (with not much dust).

On short final to Dunbar on Cape York, about 300' off the ground - just saw a wisp of swirling dust before I flew through it - rolled the V-tail through 90 degrees.

Got things sorted without too much drama but it sure got my pax attention!

The wisp of dust gave me just enough warning to expect something - but got way more than I was expecting!

Dr :8

[currawong]

Be alert, not alarmed.

Feels a lot like flying through someones slipstream

We blunder through them daily while spraying - just firm up on the controls and maybe hit the smoker to help keep track of it in the treatment area

As already pointed out, best to avoid in the landing or take - off sequence.

[Green gorilla]

Very dangerous if encountered at the wrong time VH-RIL south of Newman crashed because of the encounter.

[kaz3g]

We called them cock-eyed Bobs in WA when I was there and they sometimes had sufficient power to twist a windmill tower and remove the head.

Dangerous to aircraft on the ground with the danger diminishing with height.

Kaz

[maui]

A lot of outback flying a long time ago. Met WW's on several occasions but only one hurt.

Just south of SA/NT border out in the middle. Mid day'ish. Reasonably warm. Dry as.

On short final (50' or thereabouts) ran through a nearly invisible one. Lift dumped and screwed around about 30 degrees. Hit the ground before I could react. Ran off the edge of the strip pointing at a waiting land cruiser but managed to veer away. In the process with full back stick to protect the nosewheel, dragged the elevator horns through a windrow on strip edge.

So yes they can be dangerous, normally easily seen and avoided (but not always).

Flying early sounds like a good policy, but obviously not always possible.

Be careful, be vigilant.

Maui

[greybeard]

They even grab airliners.

Some rain overnight in ASP, ground surface "sealed" by that rain.

In the flare for landing, hit by a hidden "devil", put the F-28 over the T-Vasis, went around, tower considered hitting the crash alarm it looked so bad.
SOPS was the F/O under training, wondered how I did it to him.

Wind trace from the airport went from zero to 40 kts and back to zero in seconds, had I not seen the trace it would still be a mystery.

Have passed sheets of newspaper at flt levels ASP YLA, they need to be respected/avoided as best we can.

:ok::ok: