Procedures for recognizing, avoiding, and escaping severe weather: low-altitude wind shear, thunderstorms, icing, hail, and others

Question 1

Describe the procedure for escaping an encounter with low-level wind shear in the King Air.

Answer 1

1. max power
2. pitch up
3. no change to configuration
4. clear of obstacles? clean up

Question 2

What are the options for exiting icing conditions?

Answer 2

1. climb to warmer or clear (melt of sublimate)
2. turn to non-precip / cloud conditions (i.e. obtain alternate route outside of ice accretion zone)
3. descend (last resort) to better conditions (note: check terrain, legality, etc.)

Question 3

How would you recognize the presence of thunderstorms that may affect your flight?

Answer 3

1. Convective SIGMETs:
2. Radar Summary Charts
3. TAFs and METARs
4. ForeFlight Radar Overlay
5. Onboard Weather Radar: Watch for strong returns (reds and magentas) that suggest intense rain or hail.
6. **Lightning Detection Equipment **(Stormscope® / Strike Finder®) Detects electrical discharges (lightning) and gives a graphical display of storm cells around the aircraft.
7. ATC and Flight Watch: Enroute Flight Advisory Service (EFAS, or “Flight Watch,” in some areas) can also give real-time weather information. Pilot Reports (PIREPs)
8. Visual Cues
   Classic vertical development, etc.

Question 4

If an inadvertent encounter with thunderstorms has occurred… how would you escape?

Answer 4

1. maintain control
2. reduce to Va
3. initiate a turn (180°) / or find clear gap “out”