Tag Archives: airline pilot

What You Need to Know About Flying in Extreme Weather

11 January 2022   Learn to Fly

If you’ve ever experienced flying in extreme weather then you know how frightening it can be. A little bit of turbulence every now and then is completely normal, but when you’re on a flight and the weather conditions include heavy rain, thunder, lightning, strong winds, snow, severe fog, or extreme heat, it can affect the aircraft and the quality of your trip. 

It’s important to remember that pilots are trained to fly in extreme weather, so while it’s a scary experience as a passenger, pilots have the necessary training to keep the situation under control. There may be times where the weather conditions are so severe that the pilots deem it unsafe to fly, or they may make an emergency landing. Here’s how the pilots, and other team members at Monmouth Jet Center make that judgment call: 

How do pilots and airlines prepare for bad weather conditions?

Airlines constantly monitor weather conditions to ensure the safety of everyone on board, and modern commercial aircraft are built to accommodate extreme weather. For example, in heavy fog when there’s no visibility, many aircraft have an autopilot feature so the plane can land even when there’s low visibility. 

Strong winds can cause turbulence, but this is common in the air. Pilots will maneuver the aircraft as steadily as possible when strong winds occur. When it comes to flying in snow or ice however, pilots must be more aware of the condition of the runway. This is because ice can quickly build up and cause dangerous landing conditions. 

What weather conditions are considered too extreme for any aircraft to fly?

There are times when airlines and pilots will deem it unsafe to fly. Heavy snow or blizzards can make landing and taking off too dangerous, while lightning storms can be very hazardous to any aircraft. Extreme heat can also interfere with an aircraft’s performance, so in hotter parts of the world, extreme temperatures can cause significant delays. 

We would all like to take flights with zero interference from the weather conditions, but chances are you’ve experienced turbulence, heavy fog, rain, or snow while on an airplane at least once before. Rest assured that commercial aircraft are built to withstand extreme weather conditions, and pilots are trained to safely navigate through adverse weather. 

For more information about how we navigate extreme weather conditions at Monmouth Jet Center, please give us a call today or visit our website.

The uncomplicated and complicated parts of flying

3 May 2021   Learn to Fly

Flying has long captured the interest of people around the world. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to fly, now is an excellent time to pursue a new hobby and maybe turn it into a future career. But do you know what learning to fly includes? Many people aren’t aware of the complicated and uncomplicated parts of flying, so in this article we’ll go through them in detail. 

The less complicated aspects of flying

  • Getting familiar with radio communications and terminology. Pilots use radios as their main form of communication and they also have their own lingo, including specialized terms and abbreviations for various things. If you’re unfamiliar with pilot lingo and you listen to pilots speaking via radio, it may sound like a different language, but you’ll quickly catch on with a little bit of practice.
  • Using the controls in the cockpit. At first glance, it looks confusing when you see all the buttons, switches, panels, and levers. However, mastering the controls will soon feel second nature after completing several flight simulations with a certified instructor. 
  • Confidence and a positive attitude. It sounds obvious, but having confidence and a positive attitude goes a long way for pilots, especially when they need to make quick decisions on their feet. 

The more complicated aspects of flying

  • Dealing with severe or unpredictable weather. From strong winds to heavy rains and whatever else mother nature throws their way, pilots are required to learn aviation meteorology. This is so they’re well-prepared to navigate as safely as possible through difficult weather conditions. 
  • Becoming accustomed to living in a three-dimensional environment. When you drive a car you look left, right, straight ahead, and behind you to check for traffic and obstacles, and to make sure your path is clear. When flying a plane you have to add two more dimensions: up and down. It definitely takes some getting used to checking all directions while flying.
  • Multitasking like a master. Many of us think we’re good at multitasking, but pilots frequently have to engage in five or six tasks at the same time – each one requiring precision. Of course, practice makes perfect, and experienced pilots are often multitasking masters. 

Start your aviation career in NJ today 

Whether you want to become an airline pilot or you’d simply like to take some recreational flying lessons, Monmouth Executive Airport’s flight school has everything you need to get started. Now that spring is here and we’re enjoying warmer weather and sunnier skies, it’s the ideal time to learn how to fly! 

For more information about our New Jersey flight school at Monmouth Executive Airport, or if you have any other questions, please contact our team today. Discover why so many people choose to start their aviation career with us.