Other Hazardous Met Conditions

Question 1

Explain methods by which pilots are advised of volcanic eruptions in NZFIR

Answer 1

Volcanic Ash Advisory, Metservice, Wellington
SIGMET and SIGWX
NOTAMS
Volcanic ash advisory group

Question 2

Explain hazards of volcanic ash to planes in flight

Answer 2

•Onboard weather radar can’t see volcanic ash so cannot detect when entering. Engine flame out, reduced visibility, scoring of windscreens, pitot blockage, ‘Sandblast’ effect on the airframe and antennae, oil contamination, smoke smell

To restart flamed out engines descend into colder air

Question 3

Explain hazards to aviation of volcanic ash during takeoff and landing phases on an ash contaminated runway

Answer 3

•Volcanic ash is a mixture of rock, mineral, and glass particles and Wet ash is more slippery than dry ash on the ground so dangerous surface, taxi and accelerate slow if possible.

Avoid ingesting stirred up ash form the runway and Avoid using reverse thrust

Question 4

Explain development and hazards associated with flight in dust storms

Answer 4

•Occur in hot dry environments during the day where air needs to be unstable to lift dust off the ground and is typically associated with gust fronts in a thunderstorm during the mature stage

•Reduce visibility to less than 1,000m and strong winds and engine damage due to ingesting dust

Question 5

Explain hazards and development of blowing surface snow and (blizzards)

Answer 5

•Blizzards are violent storms combining below-freezing temperatures with strong winds and blowing snow that has already fallen

•Blowing snow: An ensemble of snow particles raised by the wind to moderate or great heights above the ground. Vertical visibility diminished, horizontal visibility very poor

Question 6

Explain development and hazard of whiteout

Answer 6

• Occurs in overcast conditions over snow
  •No shadows or visible objects resulting in spatial disorientation
  •Can make it impossible to navigate visually even though visibility is high