The Dangers of Fog
Weather plays a huge role for pilots and the safety of others. Additionally, weather can also be a challenging factor for pilots to maneuver through. However, fog poses a huge threat to not only inexperienced pilots but for experienced pilots as well. When a pilot can’t see the runway, it becomes dangerous for a safe departure and landing. Also, “fog the second-most fatal factor, was associated with 40% of all accidents, fatal accidents, and fatalities within the ceiling, visibility, or precipitation-related category” (Flutz 2016). Furthermore, it’s the pilot and air traffic controller’s job to ensure every flight is safe. “Having weather information available to pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorologist is crucial, improper understanding and misutilization of this information can prove just as dangerous (if not more dangerous) as not having that information at all” (NTSB 2014).
“Fog is a cloud that is on the surface. It typically occurs when the temperature of the air near the ground is cooled to the air's dew point. At this point, water vapor in the air condenses and becomes visible in the form of fog” (PHAK 12). Look at it this way, it’s hard to drive in fog no matter what he or she is operating. Whether the operator knows the roads very well or not, the bottom line is, when operating a vehicle and unable to see it becomes dangerous. The same concept applies to a pilot flying an aircraft. It’s harder for them to effectively fly an aircraft when relying on the instruments. Although pilots are trained to fly in adverse weather conditions, landing can still be a challenging task when the pilot is unable to see the runway. This is why the FAA has certain reports to help pilots make a safe assessment. Additionally, the most commonly used reports are, aviation routine weather report (METAR), pilot weather reports (PIREPs), and runway visual range (RVR) (PHAK 13). Also, “the FAA and the industry are working together to identify risk, pinpoint trends through root cause analysis, and develop safety strategies” (FAA 2018).
In conclusion, there can be unwanted weather conditions that pose a threat, but there are several approaches the pilot can take to safeguard everyone on the aircraft. Whether it's delaying or canceling the flight, the pilot and tower need to make a proper assessment of the conditions to ensure the safety of everyone. "Aviation weather reports are designed to give accurate depictions of current weather conditions. Each report provides current information that is updated at different times" (PHAK 13). The reports are implemented to ensure pilots make a safety assessment before operating the aircraft. At the end of the day, life is not worth making a simple mistake to ensure the aircraft takes off. So be smart and always take precaution when operating an aircraft.
References
Flutz, A. & Ashley, W. (2016). Fatal weather-related general aviation accidents in the United States. Physical Geography. Retrieved from http://chubasco.niu.edu/pubs/Fultz%20and%20Ashley%202016.pdf
National Transportation Safety Board. (2014). General Aviation: Identify and Communicate Hazardous Weather. Retrieved from https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl7_2014.aspx
Federal Aviation Administration. (2016). Weather Theory. Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-H-8083-25B chapter 12 14-15. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/14_phak_ch12.pdf
Federal Aviation Administration. (2016). Aviation Weather Services. Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-H-8083-25B chapter 13 5-6. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/15_phak_ch13.pdf
Federal Aviation Administration. (2018). Fact Sheet-General Aviation Safety. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=21274
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