Do flights get canceled due to rain? Most aircrafts today are technologically advanced enough to carry on their routine flight operations in average rainy weather; however, flights are canceled if the weather conditions worsen like heavier rainfall that can make the runway flooded, and wet, and also limits the pilot’s visibility.
Splattering rain droplets slashing against the window glass leaves your heart with a sinking feeling as if you are about to take a flight. The sight of too much downpour triggers doubt; do flights get canceled due to rain? Rain is no longer considered a hazardous situation for a flight as most these days planes are pretty well-equipped to take off, fly, and even land in wet conditions quite efficiently.
Do Flights get Cancelled Due to Rain?
Rain is never going to stop a plane from producing lift and thrust; the two forces at work on a plane to soar in the sky, and finally, when the aircraft is in the sky, rain doesn’t matter anymore because the plane is at such a height around 30,000 feet where the clouds are far below. There is no danger of any encounter with rain.
On the contrary, we all have witnessed flight delays, cancellations, and reschedulings due to rainy weather. Although today’s commercial planes boast all the paraphernalia needed to endure wet weather, there are still some parameters on which the flights get canceled.
So if the planes are well equipped to sustain a flight in rainy weather, why do the flights get canceled at times during rain? Here is some deep digging into the matter:
Rain Effects on Flights
Light rain showers are never likely to hamper an airport’s flight schedule as it creates no problem in visibility for the pilot during takeoff and the landing procedure. The flights carry on their routine operations and fly smoothly through light rain, reaching out for their destinations.
Heavy rain is also not much of a nuisance as the pilot’s windshield gives him a full and clear view of visibility for a safe takeoff and landing. With low visibility, the task becomes more complex and riskier as the whole job is controlled by wild guesses and the aircraft’s guiding instruments.
Although instruments and a little visibility are most likely to work together, usually, such risks are never encouraged or ensued by the aviation decision-making bodies.
It’s a fact that most aircraft can quickly take off and fly in the rain with no severe weather conditions attached; however, mother nature is not that easy to conquer, and the phenomenon is not as simple as it sounds.
The rain is usually accompanied by thunderstorms, hurricanes, freezing temperatures, and snow, making it harder for the pilot to manage and maneuver the aircraft during landing and taking off. The severity of the condition makes it harder for the plane to take off, fly or even land during heavy rain.
Rain can affect the runway mostly if the temperatures are thawing, also if the rainwater has iced or super cool droplets, and also if the rain is augmented with gushing winds; whether to take off or not is something that is decided with much consideration and keeping in mind the security preferences.
Why it is and Isn’t Safe to Fly in Rain
It is mainly safe to fly in the rain with the high-tech instruments of today’s aircraft until or unless other severe weather factors are attached. Security of passengers is always a top priority, and any ambiguity or threat is well weighed before giving a final go-ahead to takeoff in wet conditions.
Heavy rain amplified with lower temperatures makes a small icy film on the runway, which reduces the force of friction between the runway and the aircraft’s landing gears. This condition creates difficulty for the plane to take off and during landing.
Rain with thunderstorms and heavy gushing winds is another impeding factor in standard flight procedures, as these weather conditions affect the aircraft during takeoff and landing. Every airplane has a limit of headwind, tailwind, and crosswinds; if winds exceed the limit, the plane will most likely be prohibited from takeoff and landing. If the crosswind is more than 40mph, the aircraft are not allowed to take off.
Another harsh condition is rain with icy or freezing droplets that can make the engine come to a halt with the pressure of these icy droplets; However, the machine can be reignited to continue the flight. Still, these conditions are a precursor of danger that can even lead to more significant issues.
Several accounts add to the testimony of weather being the reason for some terrible aircraft mishaps; however, rain alone has no such incident to its credit. Rain has sometimes caused trouble in flights but never ended in any lethal disaster. The only one to quote is the incident of the Garuda Indonesia flight whose engines flamed out and couldn’t be reignited, which led to a crash landing in the river.
Conclusion
Flight operations during rain can usually be conducted without much ado as the aircraft are fully laced with capabilities to cope with rainy weather. However, the accompanying weather conditions can make it severe and result in the cancelation of a flight. These extreme weather conditions accompanying rain can be the freezing temperatures, high-speed winds, lightning, and thunderstorm, which hamper flight operations due to the high level of risk involved.
FAQ
Do flights get canceled for thunderstorms?
Yes, flights get canceled in case of an imminent thunderstorm because it poses a severe threat to the aircraft with its harsh weather conditions. Special weather radars in the aircraft also guide them to avoid the thunderstorm paths on their way if there is any possibility of an approaching thunderstorm.
When are flights canceled due to wind?
Flights are canceled during high-speed winds that exceed the limit of the aircraft’s sustainable crosswind, headwind, and tailwind. These values vary with every plane. The airlines’ decision-making bodies make appropriate decisions according to the sustainability level of total wind of a particular aircraft and whether it can take off in gushing winds.
Do flights get canceled for tropical storms?
Flights are most likely to be carried on, usually in mild tropical storms, but at times they are also canceled depending on the condition of the tropical storm and its accompanying winds, hail, and rain. The decision relies heavily on the aircraft’s capability and endurance level at maximum headwind, tailwind limit, and the visibility levels the pilot provides for takeoff and landings.
Will the rain affect my flight?
Flights are likely to pursue their routine flights in the rain, and aircraft are well-equipped to fly in rainy weather. Light rain and low showers never impede any flight schedule; however, a heavy downpour with thunderstorms and lightning is more likely to cause a delay or even cancellation of a flight.
What weather conditions cause flight cancellations?
Extreme weather conditions like thunderstorms, heavy rain with freezing temperatures, and snow blizzards are most likely to cause flight cancellations. These weather conditions trigger high wind pressures and unfavorable conditions on the runway, which are unsuitable for an aircraft to take off or land.
Why my mom’s flight was delayed because of rain?
A unique aviation department probes deep into the intensity of rain and its different powers in different zones that the aircraft might face during its flight. They keep these unforeseeable conditions in mind; sometimes, flights are canceled to maintain a safe and secure flight.
