@UAL747400 your favorite topic!
Don't deviate, penetrate!
Don't be late either. Also be safe, but don't be a *other name for cat*.
You are such an ass for tagging me during my most vocal hour
@z987k!!!
To preface, I didn't read the thread AT ALL!
In my experience, piston line flying is WAY more difficult with weather in general than a turbo-prop. I can only correlate that it would be even easier in a jet. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we'll probably disagree...
No, you're NOT going to run out of gas, with up to 45 degree deviations in something that can get into the flight levels. Go around that shiz! You'll add MAYBE 3 minutes to your flight in a turbo-prop. Maybe what, 40 seconds in a jet?
In a piston/ sub 10k turbo-prop, you have to be MUCH more vigilant. You're WAY too slow to go after a gap in a squall line more than 50 miles out. You're far to slow to deviate around large areas of weather and you have far less fuel to play with to wait for something to move out of the way. I would even drop down to a known cell tower location to get an updated "big picture" if I could if it was a really nasty night. 1500 AGL should do it. 1 year piston/sub 10k piston and turbine freight. I had no radar at Flight Express, but was *approved to navigate convective weather visually*. You can, but you have to be psychotically more vigilant. Sub 10k turbine flying doesn't typically have the best on-board radar in the world though. The big picture is more important than ever. Don't forget, FSS/ATC and other pilots are your best friend.
General radar usage, paint the 10k level to gauge the overall intensity. Paint the ground to check for attenuation. Turning the gain down can accomplish the same thing over water/high altitude when the ground isn't available. The tops are frozen (You probably won't paint the tops). Nothing on the radar doesn't mean there isn't anything there. Wet hail will appear as a small, high intensity shaft. Dry hail aloft probably won't appear at all (paint 10k to see if there is a storm there). Every 2 degrees down from your pitch attitude (if your radar doesn't account for this) is about 1000 feet every 10 miles with most dishes. KingAirs/99s/other small dishes is about 3-4 degrees.
@seagull has a great article on this and applies directly to your specific airplane when you find out the width of your radar dish.
General decision making. More than 10k thick, you're going to get Moderate turbulence. I don't care how macho and tough or how much of a SUPER FREIGHT HOUND F YEAH FREIGHT ASS CLOWN/LCC airline HELL YEAH ON TIME BISHES you are, that is moderate turbulence, in ANY airplane. More than 20k thick, you're probably going to damage your airplane. By damage, I mean that you might die, or only pop a rivet or two. Grounded/carpet dancing with your CP either-way. I'm lowly freight and HIGHLY recommend people get VERY disciplined for lightning/hail strikes/more than moderate turbulence encounters associated with convective activity. The ONLY reason those happen is because the crew is Fing STUPID. FACT. Happens every damn day, unchecked, sadly. Anyways, if you're anywhere south of Mexico, avoid EVERYTHING that's green on your radar. I don't give a rats butthole what you think you've seen. Green south of there might kill you. Read up tropical storms and the ICTZ if you don't believe be. Your best bet in a slow airplane is to change your departure time. Early is usually not an option. Late might mean you'll miss a connection. As PIC, it's up to you to make that call, and consult with your ACP/CP/DO if you're unsure. Ultimately, you're the PIC and you're immediate supervisor should be backing you up.
Long story short, be a bish, avoid everything. Those walking around and those belted in will thank you.
