Presentation by:
Itoro Inyang
Introduction
Meteorology has been described as the science of the atmosphere, a sea of air that is in a constant state of flux (Vickers et. al., 2001). Within this science exist a wide array of weather / climatic conditions arising from natural interactions with other factors, products and byproducts, but which triggers a set of hazards that may prove disastrous to the aviator who must operate within the precinct of the atmosphere (Simpson et, al., 2002).
What Are Meteorological Hazards In Aviation?
Generally, meteorological hazards are extreme weather events caused by changes in the atmosphere. Therefore, meteorological hazards in aviation are the phenomena that can affect the safe operations of flights.
Types Of Meteorological Hazards
Available literature demonstrate that, there exist a multiplicity of weather conditions that qualify as hazards in aviation due to the scope and context of the dangers that they present to the industry (Broc, et, al. 2005). Some of these meteorological hazards that poses a danger to safe flight operations are:
- Wind Shear Witiw et, al., (2003) describes Wind Shear as ‘a sudden shift in wind direction, velocity or both’. The authors also report that the most aggressive expression of the conditions occurs in a micro burst, which is an intense downburst of cold air generated by a release from large convective clouds.
- Thunderstorm According to Harding (2011), thunderstorm ‘consist of thunders and lightening produced by cumulonimbus clouds, usually accompanied by rain or hail and could produce severe turbulence’.
- Reduced Visibility Visibility is the measure of the horizontal transparency of the atmosphere at the point of observation, and is expressed in terms of the horizontal distance at which a person shall be able to see and identify objects both during the day and night. Reduced visibility is caused by a multiplicity of factors, including lithometers (dry particles suspended in the atmosphere such as haze, smoke, sand and dust, precipitation, fog, etc.)
- Low Ceiling Low Ceiling means low hanging continuous clouds, clouds descending to the ground, or cloud on the ground.
- Heavy Rain Heavy showers which are often associated with thunderstorm qualify to be seen in the context of a meteorological hazard to aircraft due to their capacity to not only reduce visibility, but also to permit water ingestion into the cabin/cockpit of aircraft, thereby endangering effective and efficient aircraft/flight operations.
- Turbulence Turbulence are irregular atmospheric motions, especially when characterized by up and down currents mostly associated with cumulonimbus infested clouds cover.
Impacts Of Meteorological Hazards In Aviation
➡️ Flights delays and Cancellations;
➡️ Accidents – mid air collision, crash;
➡️ Thunderstorm and lightening strike can puncture the body (fuselage) of an aircraft and can damage communication, electronic and navigational equipment in the aircraft;
➡️ Lightening can ignite fuel fire, causing explosion;
➡️ Fuel wastages as aircraft is unable to land at a designated destination;
➡️ Deaths and loss of lives resulting from aircraft accidents;
➡️ Intense rainfall affects aircraft braking mechanism and may cause the aircraft to skid off the runway during take-off or landing.
➡️ Lightening strike can temporarily blind the Pilot, rendering him momentarily unable to navigate either by instruments or by visual reference.
Conclusion
Indeed, weather is the single largest contributor to delays, and a foremost factor in aircraft disasters and accidents. This implies that real time weather information is substantially critical for hazardous weather avoidance in aviation (Witiw, Lanier, and Crooks, 2003).
References
- Broc, A., Delannoy, A., Lalande, P., and Laroch, P., (2005) : Lightening strike to Helicopters during Winter Thunderstorm over North Sea
- Harding, K. (2011): Thunderstorm
- Formation and Aviation Hazards . National Weather Service. Web
- Ivy Panda. (2002): Meteorological Hazards in Aviation
- Witiw , M. R., Lanier, R. C., and Crooks , C. A., (2003): Integrating human factors into the human – Computer interface: How best to display Meteorological Formation for Critical Aviation Decision Making and Performance
- Watson, A., Ramirez , C. V. And Salud , E. (2009): Predicting Visibility for Aircraft
- World Meteorological Organization (2007): Aviation Hazard
