Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
One was 20 years ago in the F-4, and the destination was forecast 25,000 cirrus; 10+ miles. No alternate required... we squeezed in on an ILS to "minimums..."
So you don't automatically plan for alternates?
I am not familiar with these things, hence my question.
Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
I too taught my students to "read the sky;" particularly thunderstorms (how to tell if building or decaying), haze layers (usually a wind shift as you go through it), lenticulars, cumulus, different ways fog can form..
The TS bit is
very interesting, because I start my lessons on TS with a short movie, asking my students which of these clouds is likely to become a TS.
May I ask what you base your assessment on?
How does the cloud show you it is still growing / likely to become a mature Cb / decaying? And what about hail... can you see whether there's hail in the cloud?
One thing I use is the "hat". A strong thermal pushes the air above it upwards, like a ship does with the water. At times that produeces a "veil" cloud. If you see that, you are most likely having a thunderstorm 10 minutes later.
Re hail I read about "hail streaks", but I feel there must be some more / other signs in the cloud.
Thanks a lot!
Grille