A very good friend who happens to work as a tower controller at a busy Bravo airport told me that today...a Level 5 weather arrived overhead the airport (strange for this time of year ) complete with hail, microburst warnings and windshear warnings. All these conditions were broadcast on the ATIS. But...this controller told me that departures and arrivals were never stopped. Departures seemed to turn right into the cell, and one airplane took a lightning strike on departure. I would think hail and a microburst warning would be show stoppers but they are not. So what gives?
At what point do 121 crews delay arrival/ dept due to WX?
- Thread starter Louie1975
- Start date
TUCKnTRUCK
That guy
they stop when they don't feel safe... or on the go home leg when the wife has discovered the girlfriend.
frog_flyer
FredFlyer
Denzel takes off straight in to a thunderstorm. He then pushes up the power to "punch through it." Once he clears, he goes to the galley, gives a rockin' PA while simultaneously slamming 3 shots of vodka. 'Mericuh!
Alchemy
Well-Known Member
From memory, the rule of thumb at brand x was windshear less than 20 knots requires a 20 minute takeoff delay while windshear greater than 20 knots requires a 1 hour delay. No one I know of would takeoff into a hailstorm, usually the aircraft will need be visually inspected before it takes off if hail has been encountered on the ground. I've waited at the end of a ruwnay due to windshear several times during my career.
Tommay85
Well-Known Member
I've seen the same thing happen in Minneapolis a couple times. No clue man. Complacency? Laziness? Don't care?
Tommay85
Well-Known Member
You may be onto something with this...
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Captains discretion based on experience and company policies.
TUCKnTRUCK
That guy
Honestly, this, plus a bit of complacency. Do you know how many times i've gotten windshear warnings from tower etc. on short final.. and had nothing? sometimes i think it's a bit of the boy who cried wolf... with daily windshear warnings in Newark, when there really was an event.. i most likely didn't listen.
Was it a 1900..
I'd say my discretion with the working of company policy ..
PeanuckleCRJ
Poodle Wrangler
Once the windshear warnings start- particularly microbust, we typically stop the bus. Let southwest be the test pilots that they usually are!
To where? The scene of the crash?
gotWXdagain
Polished Member
There never seems to be a marshaller waiting... that always bugs me.
Autothrust Blue
“If you jump on my shift, that’s just rude, man.”
What I think you're trying to say is, "Southwest is going."
Skåning
Well-Known Member
Yea because their 3 day trips are pretty darn productive!
Tommay85
Well-Known Member
Was it a 1900..
Nah, mostly Delta, a few Pinnacle/Mesaba, and one DHL is who I'd usually hear. One particular night I listened to 16 guys coming up on departure, pooping their pants, demanding an immediate turn. It's red and purple, dumbasses!
Boris Badenov
Fortis Leader
Did you say 121? Were there clouds???
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
Captain OR dispatcher can delay the flight. Dispatch can only cancel.
I have never had a dispatcher delay a flight due to thunderstorms.
I have delayed a flight numerous times due to thunderstorms.
Most airports at least on the east coast automatically cancel departures/arrivals if there are storms because they can't have guys deviating left/right into each other. Sometimes they will ask if you can take it or not if there are less folks as the herd starts diverting or going back to the gate or weather moves away.
I have never had a dispatcher delay a flight due to thunderstorms.
I have delayed a flight numerous times due to thunderstorms.
Most airports at least on the east coast automatically cancel departures/arrivals if there are storms because they can't have guys deviating left/right into each other. Sometimes they will ask if you can take it or not if there are less folks as the herd starts diverting or going back to the gate or weather moves away.