What are the characteristics of cold wave weather? How does it affect civil aviation safety?
The weather phenomenon that has the greatest impact on aircraft operations in winter is rain and snow. Mainly because before and after it rains and snows in northern winter, aircraft will encounter icing during operation. Speaking of ice accumulation, people will definitely think of freezing rain. In fact, alumni are only the final result. The "originator" is the "supercooled water droplet". One characteristic of supercooled water droplets is that they are very unstable. Its temperature has reached freezing, but it has not yet frozen. Just give it a little disturbance or shock and it will freeze quickly. When aircraft fly at high altitudes, they not only encounter direct cooling water droplets, but there are also mechanisms that accumulate ice that require special attention. In other words, an aircraft flying at high speed may experience a power increase caused by friction. Therefore, solid ice crystals easily turn into liquid when the gas friction heats up and freeze again in the gas, causing serious safety risks.
The impact of weather phenomena on flight safety can be divided into several stages. One is about the aircraft itself, one is about the drawings, and three is about the pilot. After encountering freezing rain first, ice will definitely accumulate on the aircraft fuselage, and ice accumulation can change the aircraft's dynamic performance. The second is the impact on the road surface. After the rain and snow freeze, the runway is prone to ice, which affects the normal landing of the aircraft. For example, the aircraft's road surface becomes icy and the aircraft leaves the runway. Third, the impact on the pilot himself, such as rain, snow, weather, reduced vision, or accumulation of windshield ice, makes the pilot unable to see the descent signal light clearly, which also affects normal landing. If your plane is scheduled to hit the sky during a blizzard, hurricane, or even heavy rain, you can question the preparedness of your airline and the pilots on your plane.
Fortunately, on most commercial flights, many people track and plan for weather conditions, which is the decision to chart an alternative route or postpone a flight. Here's how airlines and pilots can prepare for extreme weather. Weather forecasts are a key factor in pilots' pre-flight checks, and the crew will be constantly updating weather information throughout the flight. There are various types of weather to consider. Why does fog affect airplanes? How could snow cause problems on the track? Will strong winds affect my aircraft? Ground crew are also important to a safe flight.
The most terrifying conditions for flying are snow and mud. Because it affects takeoff and landing, it affects the way the aircraft flies. In the book "Cockpit Confidential," pilot and blogger Patrick Smith explains that even a quarter-inch of ice on a plane can disrupt "the beautifully sculpted contours of the wings, surrounding airflow and climb/descent altitude." . Therefore, aircraft are cleaned very carefully before flying. Because even the smallest amount of ice can affect the effectiveness of the wings.