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Persistent? Or Foolhardy?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author recounted a challenging General Aviation flight in December 2022, navigating severe headwinds and extreme weather that required extensive diversions and reliance on various tools.
  • Despite an airliner turning back, the pilot persisted by remaining flexible, using onboard radar and ATC guidance to weave through difficult weather, always avoiding the most hazardous areas.
  • Key lessons included the importance of adaptability and, for suitably equipped pilots, confidently exploring "green" and "yellow" radar returns (while always avoiding "red") to maximize GA utility.
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Yesterday, I had what’s probably my most “interesting” GA experience. It’s mid-December 2022 as I write this. Recall a nasty storm hit the middle of the U.S. with a north-south line of extreme weather that spawned tornadoes down south and blizzards up north? It even killed some folks. If I’d been bolder (more foolish) and less experienced, we could well have been among the fatalities.

We were returning to Santa Fe from a family gathering on Hilton Head Island. Winds were absurd. I normally fly my Cessna 340 in the low 20s, but the up-to 60-knot headwinds at 6000 feet and stronger up high dissuaded me from that. I’d planned two legs, with a stop at about five hours just west of the unpleasantness.

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