Weather Hazards

 Microburst

Every pilot that goes through their flight training has struggled with strong wind conditions. These wind conditions usually get tougher as the pilot gets to the approach and landing phase, and it is where the practice will help them master the skill.

When really strong weather conditions exist, we may find a wind shear. Wind shear is a sudden and drastic change in wind direction and/or speed that can happen at any altitude. Of course, wind shears that occur at low altitudes are really dangerous because they happen close to the ground, also called low-level wind shears, because they leave small to no margin to the pilot for corrections as the performance is drastically affected. 

The most dangerous type of wind shear is a microburst. According to the National Weather Service, a microburst is "a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter". These microbursts can create a sinking rate of up to 6,000 feet per minute and last around 15 minutes. 

This is the reason why pilots should avoid being within 20 nautical miles of a thunderstorm, as microbursts don't only appear below the cell itself but also around it. It is vital for pilots that are starting flight training to become familiar with the conditions that can lead to a microburst so they can remain away from it.

References

Federal Aviation Administration. (2016). Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Flight Standards Service.

US Department of Commerce, N. O. A. A. (2016, September 21). What is a microburst? National Weather Service. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.weather.gov/bmx/outreach_microbursts