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For all who fret over the weather -- Trip Report

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UndueBurden	For all who fret over the weather -- Trip Report	Lead	[-]
Posts: 72 (07/22/09 14:12:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None This trip report is for everyone who worries about thunderstorms at take off, landing or anywhere in between: Like many of you, I obsess over the weather on days I am flying. Yesterday, there were strong thunderstorms predicted in Houston (my departure city) and sunny skies in Albuquerque (my arrival city). My worry did nothing other than to waste my time; and, it most certainly did not prepare me for the thunderstorms we encountered in Albuquerque. Despite my obsessive radar checking all morning long, there were no thunderstorms at Houston Hobby Airport at 5:00 yesterday afternoon. Takeoff was smooth, and we were above the thick clouds in no time. The initial descent into ABQ begins about 95 miles east of the airport, just over the mountains. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the mountains out my window because they were covered in deep black clouds. The pilot came on and said the decent would be turbulent, and we would be on the ground in the next 15 minutes. Well, fifteen minutes later, we were still flying far into the western desert (way past ABQ) to get around that darn storm. I could see lightning strikes out my window, and was feeling very afraid. But, I kept reminding myself that the pilots were not putting us in danger. We got under the clouds to 10,000 feet (the FA's informed us of that fact), and it was raining really hard. We dashed through the rain and on the other side landed quite smoothly at ABQ under cloudy (but not raining) skies. Listen to Capt. Tom when he says the weather is not a problem for the plane or the pilots. It's the truth! I had more trouble driving home from the airport safely (a car hydroplaned right in front of me and hit the median on the interstate than those pilots did getting us to our destination.
OneAnt		#1	[-]
Posts: 865 (07/22/09 23:31:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	UndueBurden- I've had a lot of flights into DFW just like that. One of them had us an hour late arriving from Jackson, MS, just to fly out into West Texas over the storm, so that we could come back toward DFW to the East and get under the clouds to land. Looked like it was going to be rough, even told so by the flight crew, but wound up being pretty smooth. You're 100% right when you say "Listen to Capt. Tom when he says the weather is not a problem for the plane or the pilots." It's no big deal. We fearful fliers watch the weather so that we know what to expect. But it means nothing to our safety.
Portastorm		#2	[-]
Posts: 88 (07/25/09 06:10:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Admittedly I am dealing with this issue now. We leave CLE today at 5:30 pm with thunderstorms, some severe, in the forecast for departure time. I am letting my anxiety get the best of me at the moment and am trying to remind myself of Capt. Tom's sage-like wisdom. I did pretty well coming up here from AUS but the weather really wasn't much of an issue ... not like it is projected today.
OneAnt		#3	[-]
Posts: 867 (07/25/09 09:54:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remember, that may be forecast for your area, but you won't take off unless it's safe. Once you DO take off, you'll be subject to local weather for all of about 5 minutes. After that, you'll be above it all and cruising all the way to Austin, which has clear skies and warm temps.

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Note from Capt. Tom

I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport.

The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits.

If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time.

For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set.

Using Weather Information

If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.

Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder-
storms. Keep in mind, however, that we can either fly above the storms when cruising or fly through gaps between storms. During landing, we cannot fly above them, but fly through gaps, or through the area of the storms where the turbulence is least.

Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out.

Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are.

You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store.

For questions on aviation or the psychology of aerophobia, click here to e-mail Capt. Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW.

To contact the SOAR business office (media contacts, brochures, replacement tapes, billing, shipping), click here to e-mail Lisa Hauptner, MS.