weather hazards
For this assignment, I chose to research the effects of Dust storms. In one article I came across discussed just how susceptible Airplanes are to the forces of nature. From Shaikh (2023) spoke about how Dust Storms are particularly common in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Dust storms can cause an array of challenges for the overall operation of aircraft and support services.
One such difficulty is decreased visibility. While pilots are able to use IFR over VFR, dust storms can still make it dangerous during takeoff, landing, and taxiing when it is necessary to know if the path is clear. Last thing a pilot needs is to collide with another aircraft while taxiing on a parking apron or to collide with other support equipment. Additionally, the decreased visibility can hinder air traffic control to ensure the safe operation and planning of routes to assist in avoiding collisions. Luckily, in extreme cases aircraft are delayed or rerouted to reduce such risk.
Another good point discussed was how the dust affects mechanical systems. We have seen through the course just how all the aircraft systems work together and just how easily they can be damaged. The massive amounts of sand can cause blockages in the pitot-static system, which is essential to tell the pilot the speed and altitude. In addition, you have the engines that are capable of ingesting large amounts of air and with extreme dust continuously exposing the internal components could lead to erosion and other internal component damage which if not routinely inspected and maintained could lead to catastrophic failure.
While many airlines and even the military utilize Risk Management to avoid operating in conditions that could lead to unnecessary risk or mishaps, smaller private pilots, helicopter tours and soon the increase in drone traffic like drone taxis could make airspace more challenging. While the FAA has regulations put into place not all parties might see dust storms in the extreme as others. Overall, i think Shaikh (2023 said it best, “Airlines and other aircraft operators would do well to identify and invest in solutions that protect their aircraft from the adverse effects of dust storms going forward”.
Shaikh N. (May 26, 2023) How Can Dust Storms Affect Aircraft Operations? -Simple Flying https://simpleflying.com/
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