Part 4: Autonomous activities

Things to think about, research and discuss:

What are the most challenging weather conditions you have ever flown in?
What were the circumstances? What did you do?
Have you ever flown in very cold conditions? If so, what problems did this cause?
Similarly, have you ever flown in very hot conditions? Where was this?
What are the effects of very hot weather on aircraft performance?
What are the effects of high pressure on aircraft performance?
Have you ever been affected by volcanic ash either as a pilot or an airline passenger? What were the circumstances? Where were you? How were you affected?
Have you ever landed in a crosswind? If so, how did you react? What did you do? If not, what does your training tell you should do?
What is windshear? Have you ever experienced this phenomenon?
Have you ever (either as a pilot or a passenger) experienced delays or diversions as a result of bad weather? Explain the circumstances and the consequences.
Why is the dew point important for small aircraft?
What is wake turbulence? How can it be affected by weather? Have you ever experienced wake turbulence?
What are the dangers of landing with a tailwind?
What precautions might you take when landing at a coastal airport?
What are your personal weather minima?
In what circumstances might you experience convection turbulence? Have you ever experienced it as a pilot?

Extra reading and viewing:

This video contains a lot of weather vocabulary in an aviation context. It is also quite clear and not too difficult to follow, although it is quite long (30 mins): Video 1
Unsurprisingly, there are quite a lot of videos online related to extreme weather and its effects on aircraft and aviation. This one is quite good: Video 2.
Try describing what is happening in the videos and photographs. The texts will help you with vocabulary.
This link takes you to the UK Met Office’s specialist services for aviation: Video 3 which again has useful texts and videos for you to read and watch

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