Author: pilotweatherwisdom
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A little weather Quiz
I found this weather quiz I wrote about a year ago. Advanced Meteorology Quiz Global Weather: The area ten to fifteen degrees north and south of the equator associated with rising air, convection, and low pressure systems is: Horse latitudes Bermuda high pressure ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone) Tropic of Cancer 2. Jet Streams: […]
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Europe’s Volcanic Ash Fiasco
Studying at Purdue University for a Masters. Lots of papers. Here is one on the eruption of Iceland’s volcano in 2010 that brought European airspace to its knees. Abstract Iceland’s eruption of Eyjafjallajökull (pronounced “A-ya-fyat-la-yœk-utl”) in April and May of 2010 spewed volcanic ash high into an eastward-moving jet stream, paralyzing Europe’s airspace located […]
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Canadian/American METARs vis-à-vis
Nearly 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the American border so there is a good chance a pilot will head south of the border or visit Alaska. We know weather has no political boundaries, but you’ll find METARs have inherent differences when comparing observations vis-à-vis (face to face). ***Sadly, NAV CANADA’s archaic website […]
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Website for Pilot Weather gets a facelift
Everything succumbs to the test of time and that includes websites. The creator of the original website did an okay job. Rumour has it, he flies airplanes for a living. Come over for a visit and enjoy the nips and tucks. Our new site! Still the same address just a new facade.
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Every Wind has its Weather
17th century English philosopher, Sir Francis Bacon wrote, “Every wind has its weather,” but singer Bob Dylan averred, “You don’t need a weatherman to know where the wind blows.” Fair enough. Contiguous USA and the southern portion of Canada sit in latitudes where the winds prevail from the west. That’s at the surface and aloft. […]
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Dew points and pilots
Dew point is the temperature at which condensation starts at a constant pressure. (Make sure you include “at a constant pressure” when answering your exam question on dew point). Dew point is found on METARs immediately after the ambient temperature. Pilots should always be looking at temperature/dew point spreads. Knowing the temperature and dew point […]
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Podcast with Ryan at Cardinal Aviation
Did a 30 minute podcast interview with Ryan Van Haren co-founder/owner of Cardinal Aviation located on Canada’s West coast.
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Dubious, devious, deluding highs
Pilots learn to watch out for ominous low pressure systems and troughs and generally welcome highs and ridges. Highs and ridges induce pleasantness, sunny outlooks, fair weather, harmony, a sense of well-being. “Feel high in a high and low in a low.” (Just made that up). But high pressure systems can be massive in area, […]
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Have you hugged your weatherman?
We are taught to be skeptical of the weatherman. After all, you received 10 inches of snow instead of the 8 inches they promised. They predicted cloud bases to be 3,000 feet, but they started at 2,500 feet. Maybe unlimited visibility was assured, but haze reduced visibility to six miles. How could they be so […]
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Are you on your weather game?
When flying in a two-pilot flight deck you can tell whether your partner is on their game. No, I am not referring to competence – that’s another story, but whether they are having a good day. You see it with the best of pilots. But this downfall occurs in most facets of life. I also […]
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Pilot Weather Wisdom book
While sitting home under the siege of COVID-19, it was time to finish book#5, PILOT WEATHER WISDOM. By posting excerpts of the book for feedback, I hope to enhance things from your suggestions and experiences. Do you know your scales? Nope, not talking about music. Weather is categorized based on scales. Some refer to it […]
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First of many…I hope.
Hello and welcome to Pilot Weather Wisdom. There are tons of aviation weather books but they dwell in theory, including my two. Not many take you to another realm of pondering weather and imparting wisdom. There exists one iconic book, Weather Flying by Robert Buck. I am presently writing a sequel to his. This will […]
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May 2020 Debut
In the midst of COVID-19 there emerged a blog, Pilot Weather Wisdom. Follow me and I’ll follow you…
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Hello and welcome to Pilot Weather Wisdom
Captain D is a bi-aviator. Yup, I talk both Boeing and Airbus. I know both Canadian and American weather and its infrastructure. Yes, there is a difference. I parley in English and pilot french. Do you see the cumulus granite?
Pilot Weather Wisdom 