Web Analytics

Weather and Airplanes – How Big of a Threat is Weather ?

Wing of an airplane flying above the clouds

As the world waits on bated breath for information regarding AirAsia Flight QZ8501, questions are once again being asked. One of the big concerns for this incident centers around ice, which makes one wonder about weather and airplanes. How big of a threat is weather?

Snow and ice can be responsible for delays and cancellations, but flight safety is the main issue. Experts insist commercial aircraft are designed to fly through bad weather including rain, ice, and lightning. However, most of the design ideas that improve flight safety come from examining plane crashes.

PlaneCrashInfo.org reports that since they began monitoring causes of fatal accidents in the 1950’s, weather alone accounts for an average of 12% of fatal crashes. Total pilot error accounts for an average of 53%. In the 2000’s, weather only accounted for 6%.

Takeoff and landing are the biggest problem when it comes to severe weather according to the only FAA-licensed aircraft mechanic who served as a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board, John Goglia. Wind shear and ice are two big contenders for flight safety. Most theories on the disappearance of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 center on airborne icing. The National Transportation Safety Bureau’s study found that icing has caused dozens of accidents every year with smaller craft. Larger, commercial aircraft aren’t immune to the issue, but it is a bigger hazard for commuter aircraft and other small planes.

As for lightning, the University of Florida found that commercial airplanes are being struck about once a year and, “Most occur during the climb to cruising altitude or descent and when the plane is in a cloud.” Typically, lights may flicker, but the energy returns to the sky.

Turbulence is often associated with severe weather, but it is actually a change in air movement that can occur at any time. Often, passengers feel the bumps thanks to jet streams, cold or warm fronts, and even clear skies.

The odds of being involved in a fatal crash are slim. According to the OAG Aviation & PlaneCrashInfo.com accident database, covering data from 1993 – 2012, the odds of being on an airline flight which results in at least one fatality are 1 in 3.4 million.

Overall, teams of meteorologists, forecasters, and air traffic controllers work together to ensure safest routes and provide minute-by-minute weather updates to the pilots. They plan out paths to avoid the inclement weather and actively try to reroute when issues do arise.