Handling Windshear

Really big winds and airplanes are not compatible. Of course, our first desire is to avoid those big winds. But, occasionally they sneak up on us even when were diligent about avoiding them. Then what should you do?

IFR Staff

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Effective detection of severe winds from storm cells requires understanding the capabilities and limitations of available weather systems like radar or broadcast weather.
Windshear, particularly microbursts near the ground, is a critical hazard caused by thunderstorms at any stage, necessitating strict avoidance strategies.
Recognize windshear close to the ground by sudden, significant changes in airspeed (10+ knots), vertical speed, or required power.
To escape windshear, immediately apply maximum power, pitch up to the edge of a stall (using stall warning if no AoA), and maintain the aircraft's current gear and flap configuration.

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Really big winds and airplanes are not compatible. Of course, our first desire is to avoid those big winds. But, occasionally they sneak up on us even when we’re diligent about avoiding them. Then what should you do?

Detection

The kinds of winds we’re talking about typically come from storm cells and those are easy to detect with the right equipment. Radar is the most common, but it’s often not fiscally or physically practical in a typical general-aviation aircraft. That leaves two other choices: broadcast weather (a satellite service or FIS-B) and lightning detectors, also known as ‘spherics (for “atmospherics”).