aviatrixsteff

I searched through old posts but could not find much information.

I've been offered a position in a 340 in Sacramento with WMI.
They need an answer quickly. Naturally, I'm a little concerned about flying into thunderstorms for a living.
Anyone have any experience doing it or knowledge of the company? Thanks!

USMCFLYR

Don't you fly into clouds in order to make it rain - not after a thunderstorm has developed?

Just wondering - - -I don't know anyhting about 'cloud seeding'.

Yoda2

Steff, You don't fly into thunderstoms, that is suicidal... Don't have any personal experience with this, though I believe most, if not all these companies have been doing this for a long time. They should not send you out alone to do this. This would obviously be a co pilot type gig for you, and you would get some good Wx experience it seems. Northern CA has very bad drought conditions, though that is a whole nuther story... What you would probably be doing is "procuring" water for NoCal before the Wx system moved to an adjacent state and rained naturally...

undflyboy06

I never did the Sacramento cloud seeding during the winter season, but did do the project in Western North Dakota in the summer.

When I was in the 340 during the summer project, we only penetrated the towering cumulus that was going through the -10 C range. At no time did we fly directly into the center of a thunderstorm. The 340 was two crew, a pilot and a intern pilot, but not sure on the winter project.

I enjoyed the project. The flying was fun, but periods of down time when no storms were in the area. I am also one of those crazy nuts that believes that cloud seeding works if you look at the science, so I say go for it.

belliott

Did you ask any questions during the interview? Winter work isn't hail prevention or rainfall localization. Sacramento would be snowfall enhancement for the snow pack. When I did it the intent was to drive up tourism by increasing snowfall on the ski resorts and increase water run off in the coming spring. The biggest concern you will run into is ice buildup in mountainous terrain... it was a good learning experience. Overall it was enjoyable, decent paying, and I dare say I had fun.
As for the 340.... unless it is a RAM modified model you need to keep a close eye on ice build up and your speed (if I'm remembering correctly) because the 340 is a little underpowered IMHO. Beyond that it is a solid airframe and is an excellent handling aircraft.

JohnBurke

Actually, you do fly into thunderstorms. My previous role was flying a modified lear into cells over and over again.

Most of the piston and turboprop equipment used for those roles, however, dispenses beneath the bases of convective cells where it's updrafted into the building activity.

Seeding clouds in freezing conditions is different. The underlying principle is to create condensation nuclei which act as a catalyst to cause a change in the existing conditions. With high moisture content in freezing weather, the goal is to initiate a fall-out from the cloud.

Yes, companies doing this have been doing it for a while, and yes, it's allowed them to get a good handle on what they can get away with.

I flew for the operator in question. I completed the contract period in a foreign location. Upon completion, I was informed through a third party that I would be staying on. I wasn't consulted or asked. I stayed a little longer, and was again told that I'd be staying, without the company personnel having the decency to ask or approach me about it. They had my passport, informed me that I'd be told when I could leave. I recovered the passport from the safe where it was stored, and hopped a ride out of the country with a friend. Color me unimpressed, and more than a little ****ed off.

viper548

Cloud seeding in Sacramento in the winter is probably to increase visibility at the airport when the fog is thick.

aviatrixsteff

Thanks for the info!

That sounds like human trafficking. That's ridiculous.

aviatrixsteff

It's to induce precip

OnCenterline

I've never done this kind of work, but there is flying into thunderstorms, and then there is flying into thunderstorms. I'm sure it will as safe as safe can be. Flying into a fully developed storm probably wouldn't help the project (downdrafts have started), and if you did, you'd probably waste no time looking for a ground-bound job.

Nothing will scare you like severe and extreme turbulence and the associated total loss of control. Been there, done that, and I do NOT want the t-shirt!