Weather has an enormous impact on the aviation industry all around the world. Fog, heavy rainfall, low cloud all decrease visibility and make it difficult for aircraft to land on the runway.
While thunderstorms, strong cross winds and wind shear can generate serious disruptions to flight schedules or flight diversions.
The rising and falling air in thunderstorms can cause severe turbulence for passengers and make it exceedingly difficult for pilots to control the aircraft. Thunderstorms also halt ground operations at airports when lightning strikes near airports for safety of airport personnel.
Wind speed and direction is a major factor in determining which runway orientation is used at an airport.
Aircraft must take off and land into the wind. This means that the wind direction and speed dictates which runway is used at various times of the day. The wind direction and speed can change rapidly, affecting flight paths and runways used.
Wind blowing perpendicular or across the runway is called a crosswind. If the crosswind speed is greater than around 15 knots (28km/h) it may force aircraft to use another runway or divert. This can also affect scheduling when a crosswind is forecast for the day, as a reduced number of planes can come and go from the airport.
Accurate and detailed weather forecasting can help to minimise disruptions, flight delays and diversions and airport closures.
What can Weatherzone do for the aviation industry?
Weatherzone has worked in collaboration with aviation industry leaders to develop a ‘one stop shop’ platform for the aviation industry.
We have created an interface that encapsulates the entire weather picture, aviation specific information, your businesses operational information, alerting and forecasts.
Our aim is to improve your efficiency, situational awareness, enable quick decision making and greater intelligence, in one easy to use platform.
Weatherzone has developed several products which can be customised to your individual needs, listed below.
- A web-based interface or “Dashboard”
- Forecasts and Observations.
- Stormquery historical lightning and weather tools (domestic and global)
- Maps displaying relevant OPMET and other weather information
- Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models
- Pilot Support – briefing Apps
- Business support
For more detailed information on Weatherzone’s aviation products, please contact us at apac.sales@dtn.com.
