Eviromental Factors in Aviation


               There are many environmental factors that can affect an aircraft’s performance. Wind is a major determination whether there are suitable flight conditions. I’ve had several instances were rotary aircraft could not depart or had to deviate to an abnormal entry to the landing surface due to high winds. Wind is usually not the cause of most accidents but can have an extreme impact, such as; wind shears, turbulence, and tailwinds. Wind shears are one of the most dangerous wind phenomena, and even the most experienced pilots can have trouble controlling an aircraft through the dangerous winds.
            The number of wind-related accidents has also declined over the years (How do wind conditions affect flight?, 2017, Para. 8). Wind related accidents have decreased due to better weather reporting instruments and safer flight procedures. My mitigation would be to put restrictions depending on the size, weight, and any other large determining factors that wind could affect the aircraft. Restrictions as in an Cessna 172 could not depart an airfield if the winds are over forty knots, unless a pilot accepts the high winds. This would discourage many pilots to avoid departing and taking risks when knowing the airport has put a weather restriction on the pilot’s aircraft. To avoid aircraft from entering a wind shear or tail wind the airport transmits a warning for wind shears and advisories for possible tailwinds. All these factors will mitigate and provide safer environmental factors.

References:
            How do wind conditions affect flight? (2017, April 5). Retrieved from https://www.finavia.fi/en/newsroom/2017/how-do-wind-conditions-affect-flight

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