My flight is tomorow morning to florida, hurricane ernesto is in the path, do they fly around it?

Question

Im on flight 977 southwest airlines tomorow morning from long island ny (isp) to west palm beach (pbi), the hurricane is over southern georgia, can the plane fly over the storm or will it be delayed because it will go around?

Answer 1

Just flew in from PBI last night. We flew right over, through and into it. It's not for the faint of heart. It's a bit bumpy, don't forget your seat belt. Personally, I love turbulence, it makes me giggle.

Answer 2

Okay, time to clear this one up. First off I'm an enroute air traffic controller. Aircraft do NOT fly over the weather. Most major, well-developed storms systems usually have cloud tops that can exceed 50,000 to 60,000ft. There are currently NO commercial aircraft that can fly that high. And there are only 2-3 corporate aircraft that can even get to FL510, (that's 51,000ft).

Airlines file their flightplans based on fuel burn, winds aloft, preferential atc routing, and of course the weather. This is why you might see a flight coming from Phoenix going to New York, actually going over Wisconsin. It may be slightly longer in distance, but because of prevailing winds, the aircraft actually consumes less fuel.

When there are major storm systems, the fuel conservation issue just about goes out the door. Airline dispatchers will file the aircraft's route based upon weather information and projected path of the weather. If possible, aircraft will want to fly to the backside of a storm.

We'll even use your flight as an example. Your flight will be coming down the coast, obviously. Since everybody and their mam knows the storm is over Southeastern Georgia, your aircraft will be travelling a bit more inland today. So instead of maybe passing over Jacksonville or Carolina Beach, you might find yourself flying over West Virginia, Atlanta, and Tallahassee to circumvent Ernesto.

Don't worry, I talk with SWA pilots EVERYDAY at work as they fly eastbound out of Chicago MDW, they are very professional and I have never observed risque flying from them when bad weather was about. You'll be fine. You may encounter some light turbulence, but it's nothing to fret over.

Answer 3

Well that is entirely in the hands of Air traffic control or the pilots themselves. Sometimes they can climb over the storms if the cloud deck is low enough, otherwise , yes, most likely they could go arround the storm. By the way, its not a hurricane, its a very weak tropical storm. And just to put you at ease, a plane has never been brought down from a hurricane or tropical storm in recorded history of aviation.

Answer 4

As the airplane fly because is the air that needs, the wind would make the airplane harder to control. I doubt the airline would want to go around it because then it would mean more fuel to burn and when a airplane does that it burns 1/2 to 3/4 more. Most likely to delay it, in order they don't spent more money on fuel.

Answer 5

the pilot will be advised in the air as to what to do. it all depends on where it is in relation to the flightpath.

doubt they fly over it due to the nature of the winds it could be a bumpy ride, what i've learnt from light aircraft flying/navigation is that you can just make a giant triangle around it and bypass it, this may add half an hour at the most i'd say.

the airline will know what it is doing and things will be fine

Answer 6

For safety reason most of the time the choose to go around. But you can call the company to ask what they will do in this case.

Answer 7

I imagine they'll just fly straight throught it. A little bit of turbulence never hurt anyone!! Good Luck!! Make sure you listen to the safety instructions...

Answer 8

they will most likely fly around the hurricane for safety reasons

Answer 9

typically, airplanes fly above the weather

Answer 10

Of COURSE they'll fly around it. Worst case it will be delayed.

http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/