Category: KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS

 

The term “offshore operations” is used to describe situations where not only a part of the flight takes place over large bodies of water but when most of the flight, including the main objectives, are to be completed away from dry land. Driven by industry demand, the use of helicopters in offshore operations has increased greatly in the recent years. Because of their VTOL and hover capabilities, helicopters are often used to support:

• Construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms;
• Construction and maintenance of offshore oil and gas platforms;
• Various ship operations;
• Various authorities (e.g. coast guard).

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A Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) system detects and reports hazardous weather in and around airport terminal approach and departure zones.

The TDWR identifies and warns air traffic controllers (ATCs) of low altitude wind shear hazards caused by microbursts and gust fronts, in addition to reporting on precipitation intensities and providing advanced warning of wind shifts. Read More

Meteorological Terminal Air Report (METAR) Definition

Meteorological Terminal Air Report (METAR) – literally ‘Meteorological Terminal Air Report’ or more straightforwardly ‘Routine aerodrome meteorological report’

Code Name

The indicator group e.g. METAR, SPECI, or TREND as appropriate. Where a number of METARs are issued in the same bulletin, this, along with a date time group may be in the bulletin header. Read More

Definition

Mountain Waves is defined as oscillations to the lee side (downwind) of high ground resulting from the disturbance in the horizontal air flow caused by the high ground. Read More

Definition

A Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS) is a ground-based device used to locate wind shear and associated climate phenomena, such as microbursts, near an airport; mainly alongside the runway corridors. This facts can then be passed, in real-time, to warn pilots and aerodrome services.Low Level Wind Shear is defined as a sudden alternate of wind speed and/or course in both the vertical or horizontal planes. At low level, i.e. When plane are departing from or landing at an aerodrome, wind shear can present a severe chance to flight safety. Therefore, well timed warnings are crucial to assist pilots reply appropriately.

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Definition

Jet Stream is defined as a flat tubular current of air, quasi-horizontal, whose axis is along a line of maximum speed and which is characterised not only by great speeds but also by strong transverse (horizontal and vertical) gradients of speed (World Meteorological Organisation).

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Definition

Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)  is described as sudden severe turbulence taking place in cloudless areas that causes violent buffeting of aircraft.

This term is generally implemented to higher altitude turbulence associated with wind shear.

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