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Did you know that your flight may be delayed due to thunderstorms over the airport?? I'll tell you the reasons for this., which is mainly because security of all the actors.
Maybe it never happened to you or even, You have never heard that flights can be delayed or even canceled due to thunderstorms, but why is this? Let's review the reasons and I'll tell you my recent experience., where in total my flights were delayed 6 hours for this reason.
Thunderstorms and delayed flights
thunderstorms, with its imposing rays and torrential rains, They represent a natural phenomenon that requires caution in all areas, including aviation. Passenger safety, crew and aircraft is the absolute priority, Therefore, airports are forced to temporarily suspend their operations when these adverse weather conditions occur..
It sounds very logical, imagine the amount of good heavens that occur and these can impact land, affecting equipment, but above all, putting at risk the integrity and safety of ground personnel who work outdoors.
Now I tell you my experience, I arrived on a flight from United from Quito to Houston and just, yes fair, a huge electrical storm started over the airport. The result: the first 3 hours of delay that I had to wait for sitting inside the plane all that time.
After, my journey continued in connection towards The Angels, for the delay in my arrival due to the fact that everything was suspended at the airport, affecting hundreds of flights, I lost that connection and had to wait several hours in Houston for my new flight, but the adventure would not end there. Boarding my rescheduled flight, yes you will guess what happened, another thunderstorm was positioned over the airport and other 3 hours I had to wait inside the plane, adding the 6 exact hours, If we add up all the hours on the plane I should have arrived in Europe hahaha.
Okay, The adventure left many teachings and learnings about flying, It had never happened to me that my flights were delayed due to storms and I took the opportunity to generate the content that you are reading and this video, which can be found on my YouTube channel. (it's very entertaining :D)
The risks of thunderstorms in aviation
Now yes, with that introduction of my story with storms, We are going to detail in depth the risks caused by operations being suspended at airports, I know it is very annoying to lose connections and wait so many hours, but in aviation safety will always come first.
- Lightning strikes: The airplanes, despite being built to minimize its effect, They are not immune to lightning strikes. Lightning can cause damage to electrical systems, navigation instruments and aircraft structures, putting flight safety at risk. This also adds to the great risk faced by ground personnel who handle metal equipment outdoors and their safety comes before the schedule of our flight..
- turbulent wind: Thunderstorms generate strong updrafts and downdrafts, known as wind shear. These sudden and unpredictable turbulence can make the plane difficult to control., especially during takeoff and landing maneuvers.
- Reduced visibility: Heavy rain and cloud cover associated with thunderstorms can significantly reduce visibility for pilots., making visual navigation difficult and increasing the risk of collisions.
Parameters for suspension of flights
Maybe you could tell me: But Nicolás, I have seen thunderstorms at the airport and no flights have been suspended.. Well, I tell you that there are parameters that determine when and how long operations are suspended., in aviation, nothing is random.
The decision to suspend operations is not made lightly. Airports and airlines rely on strict protocols and weather parameters to determine when flights need to be stopped.. These parameters include:
- Distance to storm: Usually, Operations are suspended when the thunderstorm is within a radius of 5 nautical miles (about 8 kilometres) From the airport.
- Lightning strike time: There is a very interesting parameter that determines that if lightning strikes within the radius of 5 miles, a timer is activated 10 minutes, within which no lightning should strike to reactivate operations. If lightning strikes, the stopwatch is reactivated and the count starts from zero.
- Intensity of electrical activity: The frequency of lightning and the severity of the storm are taken into account.. A storm with greater electrical activity represents a greater risk and therefore, a higher probability of flight suspension.
- Weather forecasts: Forecasts are monitored to determine if the storm is approaching the airport or if it will change in intensity in the short term..
It is important to note that the suspension of flights during thunderstorms is not an arbitrary decision., but a necessary measure to guarantee the safety of all those involved in aviation. Airports and airlines have contingency plans to minimize inconvenience to passengers and resume operations as soon as possible., once weather conditions allow.
If one day this happens to you, I recommend that you stay informed about the status of your flight and follow the instructions of the airport or airline staff who will always help you.. Download the airline app, where you can reschedule the flight yourself or even, change the date according to your needs.
In summary, thunderstorms, although they are an impressive natural spectacle, represent a significant risk to aviation safety. The temporary suspension of airport operations during these adverse weather conditions is a crucial measure to protect passengers., crew and aircraft.
Has it ever happened to you? tell me in the comments.
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