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:

Pilots must understand the limitations of weather detection systems and prioritize avoiding all stages of thunderstorms, which are primary sources of dangerous windshear, especially microbursts.
Early recognition of windshear, particularly near the ground, relies on precise flying and detecting sudden, significant changes (e.g., 10+ knots) in airspeed or required power.
Upon encountering windshear, an immediate emergency escape maneuver requires applying maximum power, pitching up to the edge of a stall to maximize lift, and maintaining the current aircraft configuration (no gear or flap changes).
Proactive safety includes thorough weather planning, learning equipment limitations, avoiding high-risk conditions, and regularly practicing the windshear escape maneuver.

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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”).