Tropical Storm Beryl

[DanBloemer]

I'm in Jacksonville, Florida, and we're just about to have the center of rotation for Tropical Storm Beryl arrive. US Airways, American, and Southwest arrivals have been canceled. Delta and JetBlue have flights en route, due to arrive in the next hour or two, in the middle of the storm. The forecast is for steady winds of 35 kts., with gusts to 50 or so (although some of the TV talking heads are discussing gusts to 70). On the other hand, maybe they'll land while the eye is over the airport.

I question the judgement of those choosing to depart into the eye of a tropical storm on a commercial airline flight. Just seems a bit risky for the few cents of profit accruing to executives and shareholders for these flights. If you manage to make it through the storm to attempt a landing and have to reject the landing, requiring a diversion, you would then need to go back through the storm to reach the alternate. Any pilot should be well aware of the weather in the area in this day and age, so ignorance is no excuse. What are your thoughts?

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

It's all about managing risk. The PIC should manage that risk if the dispatchers do not. The margin of error is dramatically reduced in weather like that. As you said, if there were a mechanical failure, a return to the field could be deadly (especially with an engine out).