Utility of GA

I could fly above the worst of that, but headed west wed need a fuel stop. Now, I trust the near-all-weather capability of my airplane, perhaps more than I should, but descending through freezing rain and snow, and then climbing back through it were activities Id rather avoid. A new route was needed.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A general aviation flight to the Southeast U.S. showcased GA's efficiency, with a 1240-nautical-mile outbound trip completed in 4:30 hours aided by strong tailwinds.
Despite encountering an "arctic superstorm" on the return flight, careful weather analysis and strategic rerouting allowed the pilot to safely avoid hazardous conditions and complete the journey.
The author concludes that general aviation, with diligent planning, provides a safe, efficient, and more enjoyable travel experience compared to commercial airlines, even when faced with challenging weather.

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Once again it was time to visit the Southeast U.S. I’m preaching to the choir here, but I’m repeatedly struck by the usefulness and capability of flying general aviation, and this trip was another prime example.

I’d watched the developing December weather patterns and expected poor weather. But, the forecast for departure was clear skies. As a bonus, our flight out at FL210 experienced up to 100 knots of tailwind. Wahoooo! We made the 1240 nautical-mile trip nonstop in about 4:30 hours. What a rush!