From trees, towers, and terrain, lots of obstacles can interrupt your arrival or departure. That’s why we prefer flying IFR with all those nifty procedures. But full awareness of the hazards lurking around involves a bit more than just sliding down your favorite glidepath. And autopilots can only do so much, especially if you don’t have one. On a muggy summer day in a light airplane with convective weather waiting to pounce, you just might want some extra situational awareness.
Long, Hot Climb
Hot is the norm this time of year in Batesville, Arkansas. Temperatures will climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit today, so to make life worth living you think only in Celsius. A high of 36? Much better. Still, there’s no getting around sticky, and it’s only 8 a.m. That’s mid-afternoon in Zulu time, so better get going. You look forward to reaching McCook, Nebraska, where it’s more than ten degrees cooler and a family reunion barbecue awaits.
