Sidestepping Storms

Its a staple of instrument flying: the need to alter your route to avoid weather hazards. Often the obstacle in your path is a building cumulus cloud-a thunderstorm. The good news is that ATC is almost always willing and able to let you maneuver around clouds with extensive vertical development. All you have to do is ask (although sometimes weve seen ATC offer a different route in advance). Before you make the request, however, there are several things you need to consider to safely and successfully maneuver around the threat.

Tom Turner

Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must initiate ATC requests for weather deviations, preferably asking for a specific amended route rather than a general direction to ensure clarity and improve safety.
Always maintain at least a 20-mile buffer from any part of a thunderstorm complex (even light precipitation returns) due to hidden hazards like extreme turbulence and hail, and account for in-cockpit Nexrad data latency.
Thorough pre-flight planning is crucial for deviations, including mapping your avoidance route and altitude; continuously re-evaluate your plan, maintain an open escape path, and slow to turbulent air penetration speed (TAPS) *before* encountering turbulence.

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It’s a staple of instrument flying: the need to alter your route to avoid weather hazards. Often the obstacle in your path is a building cumulus cloud—a thunderstorm. The good news is that ATC is almost always willing and able to let you maneuver around clouds with extensive vertical development. All you have to do is ask (although sometimes we’ve seen ATC offer a different route in advance). Before you make the request, however, there are several things you need to consider to safely and successfully maneuver around the threat.