Thunderbumbers

As a committed subscriber I believe you have the best "bible" of information anywhere. Anyone who doesnt take advantage of Aviation Safety is cheating themselves. I have saved every issue for years. Regarding Aprils article on convective weather (On A Mission: Thunderstorms) I acknowledge the 20-mile principle in avoiding thunderstorms. However, after 35 years of Florida summers, flying in both VFR and IFR conditions, it is seldom that thunderstorms allow 20-mile avoidance, especially in the afternoon and evening. In non-turbo light twins and singles that cant climb high enough to "see" whats ahead, getting under the bases and using cockpit Nexrad provides a better choice of airports to run to when things look grim and a better visual picture to dodge mature cell activity.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The ideal 20-mile thunderstorm avoidance is often impractical; cockpit Nexrad, strategic low-level flight (when safe), and knowing when to cancel are practical alternatives for navigating convective weather.
Demonstrating low-altitude turnback maneuvers after power loss on takeoff is a dangerous and inappropriate practice for flight examiners, reinforcing the "land straight ahead" principle.
Using aluminum rivets on carbon fiber structures causes galvanic corrosion and fiber fracture; proper fasteners like titanium or A286 stainless steel, along with electrical isolation, are crucial.

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As a committed subscriber I believe you have the best “bible” of information anywhere. Anyone who doesnt take advantage of

Aviation Safety is cheating themselves. I have saved every issue for years.

Regarding Aprils article on convective weather (On A Mission: Thunderstorms) I acknowledge the 20-mile principle in avoiding thunderstorms. However, after 35 years of Florida summers, flying in both VFR and IFR conditions, it is seldom that thunderstorms allow 20-mile avoidance, especially in the afternoon and evening. In non-turbo light twins and singles that cant climb high enough to “see” whats ahead, getting under the bases and using cockpit Nexrad provides a better choice of airports to run to when things look grim and a better visual picture to dodge mature cell activity.