A Pilot

1
A Pilots Perspective of Weather
A Pilots Perspective of Weather

• Daniel Stewart

Daniel Stewart
2
Outline

• Personal History
• Weather at the Briefing
• Weather for Pre-Takeoff Climb
• Weather Enroute
• Weather for the Descent Approach
• Extreme Weather
• Q A

3
Personal History

• Name Daniel Stewart
• Company EVA AIR
• Job Description First Officer MD11 Fleet
• Licences Taiwan CAA ATPL
• USA FAA ATP
• Australian CASA ATPL
• Academic Qualification B.Com(HONS)

4
Flying History General Aviation

• PPL1990 1991
• A/C Types PA38
• C172
• CPL 1992 1996
• ATPL 1996 2000
• A/C Types AC50
• B58
• C310
• PA31

5
General Aviation - Aeroplanes
6
Flying History - Regional

• Hazelton Airlines
• 2000 2001
• FO SAAB 340
• Sydney International Airport
• QantasLink
• 2001 2004
• FO Dash 8-100/200/300
• Sydney International Airport

7
Flying History - Airlines

• EVA AIR
• 2004
• FO MD11 Fleet

8
Weather at the Briefing

• Significant Weather Chart
• SIGMET
• Wind/Temperature Chart
• Grid-point Wind/Temp Chart
• Route Wind/Temp Profile
• MSL Analysis Chart
• TAF/METAR

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Significant Weather Chart
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SIGMET

• RJJJ SIGMET 4 VALID 281250/281450 RJTD-RJJJ
  FUKUOKA FIR SEV TURB OBS AT 1235Z 50NM W OF VACKY
  FL330/350 BYB743 MOV ENE 15KT INTST UNKNOWN
• RJJJ SIGMET 3 VALID 281120/281320 RJTD-RJJJ
  FUKUOKA FIR SEV TURB OBS AT 1046Z 20NM W OF SAKIT
  FL330 BY B744MOV ENE 15KT INTST UNKNOWN
• RJJJ SIGMET 2 VALID 280720/281120 RJTD-RJJJ
  FUKUOKA FIR FRQ TS FCST IN AREA BOUNDED BY
  N21E135 N21E138N25E135 N25E132 N24E132 AND
  N21E135 MOV NE 15KT NC
• RJJJ SIGMET 1 VALID 280700/281300 RJTD-RJJJ
  FUKUOKA FIR VA ERUPTION MT SUWANOSEJIMA LOC N2938
  E12942 VA CLDOBS AT 0645Z FL050 EXTENDED E INTST
  UNKNOWN
• RJJJ SIGMET 1 VALID 280400/280800 RJTD-RJJJ
  FUKUOKA FIR FRQ TS FCST IN AREA BOUNDED BY
  N21E134 N21E138 N24E137 N23E133 AND N21E134 MOV
  ENE 20KT INTSF

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Wind / Temperature Chart
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Grid-Point Wind/Temperature Chart
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Route Wind/Temperature Profile

• Valid from 2158 UTC OCT 28, 2006 to 0900 UTC OCT
  29, 2006
• ROUTE WIND CROSS-SECTION (DERIVED FROM GRIB
  UPPER WINDS DATA)
• -------------------------------------------------
  ----------------------------------------
  
• TRK DIST ALT DIR
  SPD COMP XTRK OAT ISA
• RCTP - KADLO 230 195 445 245 045
  -042 -011 -67 -11
  
  
• 
  385 251 044 -040 -015 -52 03
  
• 
  340 266 042 -032 -024 -40 11
  
• 
  300 279 039 -025 -029 -31 13
  
• 
  265 279 025 -015 -018 -14 16
  
• 185 283 018 -010
  -013 -03 17
  
• 100 085 004 004
  002 10 15
  
• 050 057 019 019
  003 16 10
• KADLO ELATO 238 069 445 242 035 -034
  -002 -67 -10
  
• 
  385 246 033 -032 -004 -52 03
  
• 
  340 271 030 -024 -015 -40 11
  
• 
  300 284 032 -021 -022 -30 13
  
• 
  265 294 018 -009 -014 -14 17
  

• --------------------------------------------------
  ---------------------------------------
  
• TRK DIST ALT DIR
  SPD COMP XTRK OAT ISA
• ELATO MAGOG 269 093 445 247 034
  -031 013 -67 -10
  
• 
  385 248 031 -028 011 -52 03
  
• 
  340 274 028 -027 -002 -40 11
  
• 
  300 284 030 -028 -007 -30 13
  
• 
  265 296 018 -015 -007 -14 17
  
• 
  185 307 010 -007 -005 -03 18
  
• 
  100 046 011 008 -007 10 15
  
• 
  050 043 023 016 -015 17 12
• MAGOG VHHH 271 090 445 254 036
  -034 011 -67 -10
  
• 
  385 252 032 -030 011 -53 03
  
• 
  340 277 031 -030 -002 -40 11
  
• 
  300 281 031 -030 -004 -30 13
  

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MSL Analysis Chart
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TAF / METAR

• TAIPEI (RCTP)
• TAF RCTP 282000Z 282106 05010KT 8000 FEW016
  BKN060 BECMG 0002 06023KT
• METAR RCTP 282130Z 06017KT 9999 FEW013 24/21
  Q1015 NOSIG
• HONG KONG (VHHH)
• TAF VHHH 282000Z 282106 05005KT 6000 FEW035
  SCT080 TEMPO 2206 4000 HAZE
• METAR VHHH 282130Z 05010KT 6000 FEW035 SCT120
  25/19 Q1014 NOSIG
• MACAU (VMMC)
• TAF VMMC 282000Z 282106 01010KT 7000 FEW020 TEMPO
  2106 4000 HAZE
• METAR VMMC 282200Z 36009KT 5000 HAZE FEW020 24/20
  Q1014 NOSIG

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TAF / METAR

• KAOHSIUNG (RCKH)
• TAF RCKH 282000Z 282106 08003KT 4000 MIST FEW010
  SCT080 BECMG 0204 24010KT 9999
• METAR RCKH 282130Z 06003KT 4500 MIST FEW010
  SCT080 24/20 Q1012 NOSIG
• SUVARNABHUMI (VTBS)
• TAF VTBS 282000Z 282106 04005KT 8000 FEW025
  SCT300 BECMG 0103 06010KT 9999 FEW020 BKN300
  
• METAR VTBS 282130Z 03005KT 8000 FEW030 26/23
  Q1010

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Weather for Take-Off Climb

• Upon arrival at airport/during pre-flight
  inspection Observe the weather.
• Wind direction and speed,
• Cloud amount, base, type.
• Precipitation amount, type, location.
• Temperature humidity.
• RWY/TWY condition (wet/ice/snow)
• Other phenomena (dust devils/virga/etc).

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Weather For Take-Off Climb

• ATIS
• Taipei information ALPHA. Valid 0025UTC.
• Runway 05/06 in use.
• Wind 050/15 knots.
• Visibility 10kms.
• Cloud FEW010, SCT025, OVC050
• Temperature 27 dew point 25.
• QNH 1015.
• TWY SP not available due works in progress.
• On first contact with ground or approach notify
  receipt of ALPHA.

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Differences between personal observation ATIS

• Smell the weather.
• Observe what is happening.
• Anticipate probable changes
• Wind shifts.
• Commencement/cessation of precipitation.
• Temperature.
• RWY condition.
• ATIS is only an observation of what has happened,
  NOT a forecast. Therefore it can change prior to
  take-off.

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Things to consider for take-off

• RWY Condition Dry, Damp, Wet, Icy, Snow for
  aircraft performance.
• Wind Crosswind downwind limitations. Headwind
  or downwind component for aircraft performance.
• Visibility Low visibility procedures. Departure
  alternate requirements.

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Things to consider for take-off

• Cloud TCU/CB. Icing conditions.
• Temperature Icing conditions. Aircraft
  performance.
• Precipitation Rain, hail, snow, fog. Reduced
  visibility, damage to aircraft, icing conditions.
• Other phenomena Windshear, dust devils,
  tornadoes. Aircraft performance.

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Use of Weather Radar

• Conduct preflight test.
• Turn on prior to lineup.
• Adjust tilt to remove ground returns.
• Observe weather on take-off/climb path.
• Great for - Rain, wet hail, etc.
• NOT for Windshear, CAT, dry hail, etc.
• Dont forget to look out the window.

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Weather Enroute SIGWX Chart

• Accuracy of position, levels severity of
• CAT,
• Thunderstorms,
• Typhoons,
• Volcanic Ash,
• Cold/Warm Fronts,
• Jetstreams, and
• Level of Tropopause.

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Weather Enroute Wind/Temperature

• Accuracy of wind/temperature forecasts.
• Temperature affects TAS/MACH
• Wind affects ground speed drift angle.

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Weather Enroute Obtaining Updates Inflight

• VOLMET (Volume Meteorological) HF/VHF
• AERIS (Automatic En Route Information Service) -
  VHF
• ACARS (Aircraft Communication and Reporting
  System) VHF/Satellite

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Weather for Descent Approach

• Very similar considerations as take-off climb
• Obtain ATIS,
• Use of radar, and
• Own observation from cockpit.
• However, there is a heavier reliance on points a)
  b) particularly at night and/or when in
  Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).

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Extreme Weather - Tropical

• Typhoon/Cyclone/Hurricane Warnings
• Timely,
• Accurate in forecasting movements,
• Level of severity (Category 1 5), and
• Easy to understand.

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Typhoon Damery SE Hong Kong, September 2005
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Typhoon Damery Weather Radar Imagine
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Tropical Thunderstorms

• Very high vertical development
• Very heavy rain
• Reduced visibility
• Lots of thunder and lightning
• Low cloud base
• Not as serve turbulence as other mid high
  latitude thunderstorms. But still treat with
  plenty of respect!!

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Cumulonimbus (CB) over India
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Desert Regions

• Extreme heat, particularly on the tarmac
• Loss of aircraft performance,
• Ambient temperature may exceed limits for
  APU/engine start,
• Dust storms dust devils,
• High base thunderstorms,
• Windshear,
• Reduction in personal comfort and performance.

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Mid-Latitude Weather

• Cold fronts,
• Warm fronts,
• Fog,
• Powerful serve thunderstorms with hail, and
• Tornadoes (particularly in Southern USA),

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Artic Region Weather

• Icing conditions
• Slippery RWY/TWYs, dangerous difficult to
  control/stop aircraft.
• Snow/slush covered RWY/TWYs, reduced take-off
  performance and possible freezing of flight
  controls.
• De/Anti-Icing procedures

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Artic Region Weather

• d) De/Anti-Icing inflight
• i) Jet Aircraft Better systems,
• - Less exposure to icing conditions.
• ii) Prop Aircraft Limited systems,
• - Longer exposure to icing
  conditions. May not be able
  to climb/descend out of icing conditions.

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Thank-You