JPATS Weather - NETC

JPATS AVIATION WEATHER BOOKLET
Figure 4-7 — Wind Shear Associated With a Temperature Inversion
Turbulence Associated With Thunderstorms
The strongest turbulence within cumulonimbus clouds occurs with the shear between the
updrafts and downdrafts. Outside the clouds, wind shear turbulence has been encountered several
thousand feet above and 20 miles laterally from a severe storm. Severe turbulence can be
encountered in the anvil 15 to 30 miles downwind. The storm cloud is only the visible portion of
a turbulent system whose updrafts and downdrafts often extend outside the storm.
Flight Techniques for Turbulence
The following are recommended procedures if you can’t avoid flying in turbulence:
1. Establish and maintain thrust settings consistent with turbulent air penetration airspeed and
aircraft attitude. Severe turbulence may cause large and rapid variations in indicated airspeed.
Don’t chase airspeed.
2. Trim the aircraft for level flight at the recommended turbulent air penetration airspeed.
Don’t change trim after the proper attitude has been established.
3. The key to flying through turbulence is proper attitude control. Both pitch and bank should
be controlled by reference to the attitude gyro indicator. Extreme gusts may cause large changes
in pitch or bank. To avoid overstressing the aircraft, don’t make abrupt control inputs. Use
moderate control inputs to reestablish the desired attitude.
4. Severe vertical gusts may cause appreciable altitude deviations. Allow altitude to vary.
Sacrifice altitude to maintain desired attitude. Don’t chase the altimeter.
Version 3.2/Dec 08 4-9