When you're preparing for a flight, you'll have a lot of factors to consider, and the weather is critical among them. How the atmosphere behaves and the patterns it follows will make the difference between a safe and smooth flight and a far more risky passage. To be the best pilot you can be, consider these three weather factors before takeoff.

1. Wind

Aircraft don't rely on the wind in the way that balloons or gliders do, but it still plays a substantial role. The wings of your craft tilt and adjust to create the angles required to get off the ground in the first place, and they'll continue to make incremental changes to keep you aloft.

Takeoff and landing both require calculating the wind's direction and how fast it's blowing through. Once you have the wind metrics, you can determine how rapidly you'll need to travel and how much runway you'll need to get off the ground or back onto it safely. If the winds are extremely high, you might have to delay your flight until the speed decreases.

2. Rain and Storms

Rain itself isn't usually too much of a problem for flying; after all, aircraft are made of metal that tends to withstand water well. If it's only raining, the most problematic aspect would be low visibility, which is easy to work around with the sensors and gauges you'll be familiar with as a pilot. But if you're experiencing a downpour, you may find it prudent to stay on land until it lets up.

Storms are another matter, as they combine rain with strong winds, unpredictable drafts, and sometimes hail or freezing rain. Pilots should try to avoid flying through a thunderstorm if at all possible, as the forces at work are enough to destroy an aircraft.

The good news is that you can often avoid flying directly through a thunderstorm. If your plane is strong enough to climb above the clouds, you can have a smooth flight above the storm, or you may be able to go around it. Today, weather forecasting capabilities and advanced radar can give you time to determine the best course of action and successfully survive a storm.

3. Temperature

You might not think of temperature as a factor in safe flying, but it makes a difference worth noting. Both cold and heat affect your flight plans, so keep an eye on the weather forecast and give yourself the time and conditions you need to succeed.

While aircraft do well in cold temperatures, the chills often come with fog, snow, and ice. If you've ever been a passenger on an early morning winter flight, you might notice that it takes longer to get ready while the airport personnel de-ices it, prepare the runway, and warm up the engine so you can fly safely. As a pilot, you'll need to consider these efforts as well.

Heat, on the other hand, causes the air itself to expand, which can make it difficult to get enough lift for takeoff. When you account for how much heat the engines generate and how much lift it takes to get off the ground, it's no surprise that the high temperature takes a toll on the craft. In extreme cases, the heat may overwhelm your engines, so keep a careful eye on your temperature gauges as you fly. 



If you want to be a pilot, whether for your own enjoyment or as a career, you'll need to know far more than just weather patterns. At Unlimited Possibilities Aviation, we provide everything you need for a quality aviator's education. We'll walk you through taking your FAA exam and help you prepare to fly successfully, wherever you may choose to use it. Click here to learn more about our flight school, and prepare to spread your wings.