scared of weather

[Wolffman]

You are not in the "business" if you don't know what I am talking about nolife. You continue looking at the radar for weather, while us freight dogs get the job done.

 

[Nolife]

Good Assumption

Dearest Chief Pilot,

Actually I am in the business. I fly C210's for FLX, in all of the weather, all of the time. I hope to meet you someday. Maybe then you could answer my question. Hugs and kisses, Nolife.

 

[Desiday]

When I first started with my Caravan job a few years back, I was in the process of doing my IOE. I was flying with my chief pilot on a stormy night. I went to check the radar before our flight, and I remember him saying to me, "Don't worry about the radar, we're going anyway." I grew BIG ba##s fast!

 

[wingnutt]

well, as much as id like to condone flying blind...i cant. and those of you that do it only to gain "pilot points" with your stories of bravery at the local FBO are simply not using your head.

go ahead and do it your way, fly into a hail storm, cause in excess of $10,000 in damage to the aircraft, let your boss chew your rear extremeties off, THEN come tell me you wont look at the radar.

go ahead and be the big bad pilot, and when you descended to 3000 feet in order to get under that weird green cloud ahead of you, get caught in a 1200fpm downdraft in the process, THEN come tell me you wont look at the radar after you need a prybar to remove the seat cover from you rear extremeties.

after a few years of fling into wx in a ratted out (insert company aircraft here) you will appreciate at least knowing whats ahead, and the general direction to take that will keep you out of the worst of it...or at the very least, give you the most direct route thru.

c'mon guys, a little common sense here is all thats needed. its fine to say your gonna go regardless, but a little preperation may save more than just your life.

 

[210FR8DOG]

well said

You're right 'nutt. I haven't missed a flight yet in 18 months with Fright Express. But I have always had some kind of plan to go under, around, through it if I have to and not shy about keeping it below Va in the worst of it. 95 percent of the time it's nothing, but always know where the VMC is.

Also, I know you guys will cringe at this, I actually landed for the first time last week because of weather. I never heard a stall horn go off @ 140 KIAS and the climb rate was over 1000 FPM with the engines at idle!! Throw in about 40 or 50 ground strikes within about a 10 mile radius and I threw in the towel. The blood and poopy got there 2 hours late but it did get there. I am covinced this was a very wise decision even though it did hurt my 'dog pride a little!!

fly safe,

Jeff

 

[Future SNA]

I think the big thing *old pro's* need to remember is there was a time and a place, that many of you we're doing the very same things many of us talk about on here. My favorite saying is, "I would never fly a single-engine aircraft in IMC." Just remember this is all a learning experience, and we are *attempting* to move up in the world, as did you one day. If you can honestly say you've NEVER flown into a *possible* line of rain/storms/whatever not knowing 100% you'd come out just fine, no dents, etc., I'd have to say you were lying. A 17,000 hour pilot got struck by lightening last week near my home base and did 5X the 10K number you posted, but do you think anyone criticized him?

 

[Webslinger]

Ego's

Speaking as a former frieght pilot, I will state an old paraphrase that still holds true today and is healthy to remember regardless of "how much time" or "type ratings" or "moon landings" anyone has- and that is "THERE ARE OLD PILOTS, AND BOLD PILOTS, BUT THERE ARE NO - OLD AND BOLD PILOTS". Corny I know but just my .02 cents worth. Fly safe Gents.

 

[Kingairrick]

I'm gettin' real

When I worked for flight express, I would lie awake at night wondering if I would live through the next day. Scared of weather???You Bet.

All it takes is the one storm/line that you know you came out the other side because of pure luck. It happened to me, and I will NEVER do it again.

Bravado will get you killed in this business.

 

[CU@OSHKOSH]

-assuming that you actually have a radar in your plane!

Many of us did not.

 

[uscpilot]

"assuming that you actually have a radar in your plane!

Many of us did not. "

You still have radar on the ground though a weather terminal, or the internet.
If a company will fire you for not flying into dangerous weather they are not worth working for. I realize that is easy for me to say since my company wouldn t do that. Nevertheless i think your family and loved ones would agree.
Also pilots that do fly though any thing without giving it a thought give this busisness a bad name and also cause the non flying emoloyees, like dispatchers, to expect the same recless judgement all in the name of being on time.
I sure would nt want "His plane did not have radar" on my tombstone.
Bobby
PS braging about all the level 5's that you flew through does not impress anyone. Brag it to the wrong person it could cost you a potential job.