Navigating Smoke

Smoke can present a hazard to all pilots, but especially those flying under visual flight rules.

Thursday, June 08, 2023 at 11:09 AM ET

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Smoke from Canadian wildfires brought in by wind created a hazy New York city skyline June 7, 2023. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Wildfire smoke presents significant aviation hazards by severely reducing visibility for both VFR and IFR flights and posing health risks from harmful airborne chemicals.
Pilots are advised to avoid flying in smoky conditions; if flights are essential, it's recommended to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and consider using supplemental oxygen.
Reliable smoke forecasts can be found in Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) using the "FU" indicator, and through the experimental HRRR-Smoke model, with pilot reports offering crucial real-time altitude information.
The widespread dispersion and persistence of smoke depend heavily on the containment of fires (requiring ample rainfall) and the breakdown of stagnant weather patterns.

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Given the dozens of forest fires burning out of control in southeastern Canada, mainly in Quebec and Nova Scotia, I have received many inquiries from my followers about how to deal with smoke from an aviation perspective. First and foremost, smoke can present a hazard to all pilots, but especially those flying under VFR.

Fires in Canada as of June 7, 2023. Red means the fires are out of control, yellow, being held, and blue, under control. Source: https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-map.

Smoke lowers visibility, not only at the surface, but aloft as well. It is not unusual for smoke to lower flight and surface visibility to less than 1 statute mile, making flying VFR impossible and dangerous, especially at night and in mountainous terrain. Even under IFR, visibility may be in the low IFR flight category and below published minimums for some airports. In fact, the FAA implemented a ground stop for flights bound for New York’s LaGuardia airport because of smoke and reduced visibility on Wednesday.