liveitup
22nd Jun 2022, 15:40
Very good day all,
I am a Pilot on the A320, with roughly 2500 hours.
I have been exposed to weather naturally, but nothing drastic where it lead to a diversion from destination, or something that was entirely unavoidable.
I've read alot of material online, the material on our company manuals with lateral separation, vertical separation, use of weather radar, etc.
Are there any rule of thumbs that the more experienced can contribute with when total avoidance is absolutely not possible or means a turn back, and penetration from the least "reflective" or greener parts of the thunderstorm is the only option.
Generally at high altitudes I have seen most captains wary more of large thunderstorms than at lower altitudes closer to aerodrome. Flying through a yellow cell at high altitude vs at lower for example.
I have also seen that sometimes the weather radar at 4000 feet shows large areas of red reflections, but it had only been rain.
Id really appreciate any helpful guidelines that other colleagues find helpful with regards to weather avoidance, when it would be a good idea to take up a hold and wait for the storm to pass, etc.
Any rule of thumb with temperature in the area of the thunderstorm as an indication, etc.
Also flew with a colleague that said that if the base of the CB was low he would be more wary penetrating through it during approach.
Please bare with me on what seems like a silly question, but having not been exposed to much, i'd love some feedback from other colleagues.
I am a Pilot on the A320, with roughly 2500 hours.
I have been exposed to weather naturally, but nothing drastic where it lead to a diversion from destination, or something that was entirely unavoidable.
I've read alot of material online, the material on our company manuals with lateral separation, vertical separation, use of weather radar, etc.
Are there any rule of thumbs that the more experienced can contribute with when total avoidance is absolutely not possible or means a turn back, and penetration from the least "reflective" or greener parts of the thunderstorm is the only option.
Generally at high altitudes I have seen most captains wary more of large thunderstorms than at lower altitudes closer to aerodrome. Flying through a yellow cell at high altitude vs at lower for example.
I have also seen that sometimes the weather radar at 4000 feet shows large areas of red reflections, but it had only been rain.
Id really appreciate any helpful guidelines that other colleagues find helpful with regards to weather avoidance, when it would be a good idea to take up a hold and wait for the storm to pass, etc.
Any rule of thumb with temperature in the area of the thunderstorm as an indication, etc.
Also flew with a colleague that said that if the base of the CB was low he would be more wary penetrating through it during approach.
Please bare with me on what seems like a silly question, but having not been exposed to much, i'd love some feedback from other colleagues.