Aviation - Atmospheric Science (Microburst)
1304BPS: Atmospheric Science
Assessment Item: | Report | Due Date: | 5pm, 23-9-2011 | Student: | | Student No. : | | Course Convenor: | |
Contents 1.0 Introduction | 2 | 2.0 Microburst | 2 | - 2.1 Crash Analysis (Microburst) | 4 | 3.0 Aircraft Icing | 5 | * 3.1 Crash Analysis (Aircraft Icing) | 8 | 4.0 Conclusion | 9 | 5.0 References | 9 |
Executive Summary
Many Meteorological phenomena have been identified as being directly hazardous to aircraft in flight. This report focuses on two of these: Microbursts and Aircraft Icing. The first being a localised wind shear event caused by rapid cooling and descent of a column of air, the second being the build-up of ice on an aircraft as it flies through certain conditions.
Each weather condition is explained in detail, with emphasis on how and why it is dangerous in the context of aviation. Two aircraft crashes, each relating to one of the weather conditions, are analysed and the meteorological factors that led to the crash examined. The official National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) documents are used as a reference.
1.0 Introduction
Meteorological conditions have an obvious influence on aviation and can be extremely hazardous in certain situations. The experience or ability of a pilot can often become irrelevant if the aircraft gets caught in a one of the many dangerous weather phenomena known to cause aviation accidents. Thunderstorms, lightning, wind shear and icing were deemed responsible for downing 4927 general aviation aircraft between 1994-2003 in the USA alone (National Transportation Safety Board, 2004). This report will focus primarily on two weather phenomena; Microbursts (Wet/Dry) and Aircraft Icing. Each meteorological condition will be explained in detail and an example of an aviation accident relating to the two types of weather condition will be analysed.
2.0 Microburst
A microburst is a rapidly descending column of air generally caused by a
Assessment Item: | Report | Due Date: | 5pm, 23-9-2011 | Student: | | Student No. : | | Course Convenor: | |
Contents 1.0 Introduction | 2 | 2.0 Microburst | 2 | - 2.1 Crash Analysis (Microburst) | 4 | 3.0 Aircraft Icing | 5 | * 3.1 Crash Analysis (Aircraft Icing) | 8 | 4.0 Conclusion | 9 | 5.0 References | 9 |
Executive Summary
Many Meteorological phenomena have been identified as being directly hazardous to aircraft in flight. This report focuses on two of these: Microbursts and Aircraft Icing. The first being a localised wind shear event caused by rapid cooling and descent of a column of air, the second being the build-up of ice on an aircraft as it flies through certain conditions.
Each weather condition is explained in detail, with emphasis on how and why it is dangerous in the context of aviation. Two aircraft crashes, each relating to one of the weather conditions, are analysed and the meteorological factors that led to the crash examined. The official National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) documents are used as a reference.
1.0 Introduction
Meteorological conditions have an obvious influence on aviation and can be extremely hazardous in certain situations. The experience or ability of a pilot can often become irrelevant if the aircraft gets caught in a one of the many dangerous weather phenomena known to cause aviation accidents. Thunderstorms, lightning, wind shear and icing were deemed responsible for downing 4927 general aviation aircraft between 1994-2003 in the USA alone (National Transportation Safety Board, 2004). This report will focus primarily on two weather phenomena; Microbursts (Wet/Dry) and Aircraft Icing. Each meteorological condition will be explained in detail and an example of an aviation accident relating to the two types of weather condition will be analysed.
2.0 Microburst
A microburst is a rapidly descending column of air generally caused by a
References: Online - Probable Cause Report: DEN05FA114 (2006), PDF retrieved from http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20050727X01106&key=1 NTSB Incident Report: DEN05FA114 (2005), PDF retrieved from http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20050727X01106&ntsbno=DEN05FA114&akey=1 Probable Cause Report: CHI07FA073 (2008), PDF retrieved from http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20070222X00212&key=1 NTSB Incident Report: CHI07FA073 2008), PDF retrieved from http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20070222X00212&ntsbno=CHI07FA073&akey=1 Review of NTSB Weather-Related Accidents (2004), retrieved from http://www.asias.faa.gov/aviation_studies/weather_study/studyindex.html Print - Cotton, William R. (2010) ‘Storm and Cloud Dynamics’, Academic Press, New York. Fujita, Tetsuya (1985). ‘DFW Microburst’ (Research Paper), University of Chicago. Lankford, Terry T. (1999) ‘Aircraft icing: A Pilot’s Guide’, McGraw-Hill proffesional, New York.