Flying IMC without a weather radar
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Join Date: Aug 2011
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Flying IMC without a weather radar
hi,
I actually fly a corporate PA-31 and the weather radar (RF-131A) have some defects. Cost around 5000$ bucks to repair it.
Is it worth the hassle to repair it??? With a private aircraft here you don't need a radar by the law to fly IMC, so my rule is to not fly when there's TCU's above 25 000ft (I fly in the north so it's rarely common).
If we repair it a lot of people told me that those radar needs repairs quite often.
From which altitude a cloud is considered ``dangerous to enter``?? Most of people I spoke with told me 27 000ft.
What's your opinion???
I actually fly a corporate PA-31 and the weather radar (RF-131A) have some defects. Cost around 5000$ bucks to repair it.
Is it worth the hassle to repair it??? With a private aircraft here you don't need a radar by the law to fly IMC, so my rule is to not fly when there's TCU's above 25 000ft (I fly in the north so it's rarely common).
If we repair it a lot of people told me that those radar needs repairs quite often.
From which altitude a cloud is considered ``dangerous to enter``?? Most of people I spoke with told me 27 000ft.
What's your opinion???
In northern latitudes, the tropopause is lower, so a storm rising to 25,000 might be the equal of one topping 45,000' in Florida. It's hard to make hard and fast rules like you're trying to do. I've seen some big storms in Ontario.
GF
GF
And having once gotten a nasty lightning strike and small hail from a storm that didn't top FL120 near Ramstein, Germany, I know whereof he speaks.
GF
GF
Join Date: Oct 2007
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wow...learn the appearance of clouds and avoid the ones conducive to thunderstorms...I think you should invest in a small book called: the field guide to weather.
check wx forecasts and if there are t storms forecast, you better stay out of the clouds of signifcant vertical development.
its all about money...get the thing fixed or limit your flying accordingly.
check wx forecasts and if there are t storms forecast, you better stay out of the clouds of signifcant vertical development.
its all about money...get the thing fixed or limit your flying accordingly.
I fly a lot with non-radar aircraft.
I try to remain VMC at all times. I only go IMC if I ams sure there are no TCs about. At all costs, avoid going IMC into an area where the forecasts show isolated embedded cunims.
I try to remain VMC at all times. I only go IMC if I ams sure there are no TCs about. At all costs, avoid going IMC into an area where the forecasts show isolated embedded cunims.
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Radar or no radar you should interpret what you see with your eyes examine the cloud structures ahead, try to avoid the tall bits and choose the valleys. Look beyond etc
Its a blend of radar and using your eyes and experience.
No radar its all eyes and experience.
Pace
Its a blend of radar and using your eyes and experience.
No radar its all eyes and experience.
Pace
Last edited by Pace; 1st Mar 2013 at 11:30.
Join Date: Aug 2000
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No radar its all eyes and experience.
Scott Crossfield Crash: NTSB Early Report
