O P E R A T I O N S
providing near
real-time turbulence
reports, which are being
used today by pilots to
make better decisions for
avoiding rough air in their
flight paths.”
Aircraft operators are tasked with
delivering a high quality, personal
service to demanding clients. Whatever
a client's demands, safety will always
prevail, particularly where the weather is
concerned. Patrick Margetson-Rushmore,
CEO, Luxaviation UK says, “Safety is
always the primary driver for whether a
flight should depart or not. Our operations
team liaise closely with the crews, so that
we can keep our clients informed. As
technology improves, the ability to make informed decisions
also improves. Operations staff undergo annual recurrent
training in weather report analysis to ensure everyone
understands the information provided and the most
appropriate routing is selected.
“In some situations, our clients will make a decision to
delay for their own inflight comfort or in conjunction with
the crew a flight may have to be delayed anyway, due to
strong wind speeds or cross winds at an angle outside
the aircraft’s operating limits. In some cases, flights are
rescheduled to alternative nearby airports where runway
direction for example, is better in relation to the wind
direction and speed.”
Often, the best tactic for operators is only to travel
when the weather is of no concern. Weather-related
Above: Improvements in the
quality and representation
of data has made planning
flights a more efficient and
intuitive process
Right: With better information
about the duration and severity
of storms, more informed
decision-making can be made
by flight crews
“Social media can be
a blessing or a curse
but is a great place to
crowdsource and share
experiences on everything
from weather to NOTAMS.”
Jason Plowman, senior manager,
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operational constraints can be accounted
for in flight planning, removing the need
to descend into storms. Fisch says,
“As a pilot, if you find a thunderstorm
sitting on top of your destination airport,
you need to apply lessons learnt when
training and consider the options –
from flying to an alternative location
to just waiting. After all, most summer
thunderstorms are only intense for a short
time. The weather moves from one extreme to
the other in minutes.”
Improvements in weather forecasting technology
and connectivity are also helping the aviation workforce
develop skills and experience in dealing with challenging
weather conditions. The latest generation of systems and
tools can help less-experienced pilots learn faster and
benefit from transfer of knowledge. Cetinich says, “Better
training is becoming available through webinars, podcasts
and social media mechanisms.”
Moreover, with the advancements in weather forecasting
technology in all its forms, there will be new career
opportunities in aviation and meteorology.
Plowman says, “I would very much like to see the
younger generation get more involved in both aviation
and meteorology. We need more people interested in the
subject. The opportunities are out there and should be taken
advantage of because it is a win for all of us in aviation.”
meteorology, Universal
Weather and Aviation
Universal Weather’s trip
support department
aims to anticipate and
adapt to changes in
conditions to enable
successful business
aviation flights