Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Fifty Miles Across
The Kansas pilot killer to the south is one of the biggest thunderstorms I have seen all summer; we are twenty miles north and upwind of it, yet it still looms ominously, and rises far above us. The hole we are flying through is about fifty miles across, between two large storms, over northern Kansas. As far as the eye can see, south and north, are storms... A mighty and impressive display of the atmosphere's power.
We are in the middle of a four day trip, flying coast to coast with a landings in Sin City to feed the casinos. This is the kind of trip that wears the crews to a frazzle with too little sleep and too many miles. If I think about Anchorage (ahhh!) or Cabo (double ahhh!) I get depressed, so I force myself to think only about the task at hand, flying this beautiful machine to the next stop and doing it with style.
My co-pilot, whom I have never seen before, is a young, single guy with one thing on his mind... Women. On his flight bag is a bumper sticker that reads "WWJBD". That is "What Would Jimmy Buffett Do?"
I don't have a clue...
Comments:
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OMFG - Dave - Thats by far the most amzing, non-terrestrial picture I've seen on your blog. Thanks a lot for the insight into some of the views that the ones on the ground never get to see. - How's the ride in a hole like that? I see you fly that huge beast at the bare minimum recommended distance (20NM). Are you required to slow her down to Vb or is that a judgement call depending on the actual conditions you encounter?
Thanks,
Diego.
Thanks,
Diego.
sky roamer, the ride was OK. This is a perfect example of the catch-22 scenario that I face daily in the skies. If the crew makes it through a line of storms without hurting anyone, then they're heroes and good company pilots; on the other hand, if someone gets banged up, "well, Captain, you should have known better to go through that hole."" But, sir, I didn't have the fuel to fly to Texas and around the end."" Well, Captain, that doesn't matter, you should have known better, oh, and by the way, the FAA is waiting to talk to you." It is a minefield out there for airline crews today.
Nice photo. What am I getting myself into?
It is worth dodging mines, right? I can't wait to have that kind of view.
It is worth dodging mines, right? I can't wait to have that kind of view.
Dave - I hear ya. Aviation is probably one of the most unforgiving professional fields out there, as far as enforcement and rules go. This reminds me of the crew of a US Air flight 1009 into LAX. Throughout approach they were told to expect ILS 24R, side step rwy 24L. 2 different controllers told them to expect 24R, side step 24L. When they were finally handed off to tower, they were given a huge landing clearance including traffic warnings,and wake turbulence cautions, and in between all that, their landing runway was changed at the last moment without them being warned about this. They overheard the runway change and ended up landing on the wrong runway. So, due to this miscomunication, both pilots got their licenses suspended. Geez!
Like everyone said, amazing photo!!
For us land lovers, can you explain the photo? Obviously, the left side and the top is a storm cloud, but what is the stuff in the middle which looks sort of green and some brown? Is there land in the photo at all?
Finally, and most important(!), can you make this available in a bigger size which would have more resolution, such that it could be used for a desktop?
== Ron
For us land lovers, can you explain the photo? Obviously, the left side and the top is a storm cloud, but what is the stuff in the middle which looks sort of green and some brown? Is there land in the photo at all?
Finally, and most important(!), can you make this available in a bigger size which would have more resolution, such that it could be used for a desktop?
== Ron
# posted by 
: 8:34 AM, August 04, 2006
: 8:34 AM, August 04, 2006
Hi,
Great blog, this post has led me to ask a question that I have often thought about whilst on a plane journey that is weaving in and out of storm clouds.
Does the flight crew need to get ATC clearance for these deviations from the flightpath?
Thanks
Great blog, this post has led me to ask a question that I have often thought about whilst on a plane journey that is weaving in and out of storm clouds.
Does the flight crew need to get ATC clearance for these deviations from the flightpath?
Thanks
# posted by : 9:20 AM, August 04, 2006
: 9:20 AM, August 04, 2006
ron, thanks for the compliment. The stuff in the middle is water, suspended by very strong updrafts and downdrafts. Meso-storms (a fancy word for Kansas pilot killers) typically are greenish because there is so much water in them. I usually shoot the lowest megapixel setting for quicker web publishing, so the photos are a little grainy blown up.
Hi Dave
Thanks for this nice picture. It really looks menacing. I would not want to fly through it.
Anyway, as junior air traffic controller in a dense central Europe airspace, I do not especially like when pilots ask for deviations. It makes everything so complex. So here is my question: Are there pilots who ask for deviation (especially when it is a shortcut) even if wheather situation would permit to proceed on flight plan route? I was just curious to get an answer of an airline pilot.
Thank you very much for your blog. I just discovered it and I am enjoying to read about the problems and needs of pilots.
Looking forward to reading more of your stories,
Manuel
Thanks for this nice picture. It really looks menacing. I would not want to fly through it.
Anyway, as junior air traffic controller in a dense central Europe airspace, I do not especially like when pilots ask for deviations. It makes everything so complex. So here is my question: Are there pilots who ask for deviation (especially when it is a shortcut) even if wheather situation would permit to proceed on flight plan route? I was just curious to get an answer of an airline pilot.
Thank you very much for your blog. I just discovered it and I am enjoying to read about the problems and needs of pilots.
Looking forward to reading more of your stories,
Manuel
# posted by : 3:12 PM, August 05, 2006
: 3:12 PM, August 05, 2006
mike yankee, I suppose there are a few pilots that would cheat, as in any walk of life, but they are few and far between. It would look strange for a crew to ask for a deviation right or left for non-existant weather when no one else asked. Roger that?
Hi Dave
Thank you. Happy to hear that. I hope anyway that CB season is over soon.
Many happy landings
Manuel
Thank you. Happy to hear that. I hope anyway that CB season is over soon.
Many happy landings
Manuel
# posted by : 3:06 AM, August 06, 2006
: 3:06 AM, August 06, 2006
Dave-
Awesome Picture, the soft appearance of a thunder cloud does not do justice to the amount of power it has. Do you remeber how high the tops of this particular storm are? Were there any warnings or reports of hail? On your June third post you said that the jet infront of you was an A320, but I thought A320's engines are underneath the wing. It looks more like a Challanger to me.
LCMusci
Awesome Picture, the soft appearance of a thunder cloud does not do justice to the amount of power it has. Do you remeber how high the tops of this particular storm are? Were there any warnings or reports of hail? On your June third post you said that the jet infront of you was an A320, but I thought A320's engines are underneath the wing. It looks more like a Challanger to me.
LCMusci
icmusci, you must have been speed reading the June 3rd post. The thunderstorm of the Aug 2 post was in excess of 50,000 feet; all meso-storms produce dangerous hail. The crew has to be very cautious. In fact, all thunderstorms produce hail, but not many hailstones are large enough to reach the surface before melting.
Dave, this is the most fascinating photo of the weather in the air, and all round artistically amazing photograph! I have not commented before now because I have been blown away by its magnificence and have been waiting for appropriately inspired comment. I can wait no longer!
Love your photos and writings!
Love your photos and writings!
As to the slings and arrows you share with fellow Captains, perhaps something like:
"Is Boeing still using your landings as spare parts depots?"
"Did Leonardo DiCaprio really come to you for faking-it tips when preping for 'Catch Me If You Can'?"
"So, one more landing and you could have all 12 stamps on your Goodyear 'Frequent Tire-Buyer' Card? That's earlier than normal this month."
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"Is Boeing still using your landings as spare parts depots?"
"Did Leonardo DiCaprio really come to you for faking-it tips when preping for 'Catch Me If You Can'?"
"So, one more landing and you could have all 12 stamps on your Goodyear 'Frequent Tire-Buyer' Card? That's earlier than normal this month."
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