Page 18 - Volume 17 Number 4

activity, convection (updrafts from surfaces exposed to sunlight), and strong winds near the surface or flowing around terrain. If turbulence is discomforting or dangerous enough to affect your flight, you’ll only know you are flying into calmer air if you know you’re flying away from these causes.Airframe ice: Similarly, ice is difficult to foresee, and often even a few thousand feet of change in altitude significantly changes ice accumulation. Use rules for avoiding low visibility combined with knowledge that you’re flying toward warmer (or significantly colder, well-below-zero) air to know the icing threat disappears.Replacing “I Think” with “I Know”Get a good mental picture of the current and forecast weather before takeoff, and more importantly, what is causing adverse weather to develop. Get en route weather updates, especially if you begin to notice discrepancies between the forecast and actual conditions. Establish personal minimums for weather avoidance, and deviate or land early, if necessary, when your self-imposed margins fade away. Get a clearance if conditions are marginal, even for short trips. Don’t expect weather data uplinks to be 100% correct for local weather conditions.Make a heading or altitude change toward known improving conditions at the first sign of a weather encounter that exceeds your training and ability, or the certification and capability of your airplane. Don’t think, but know•the weather will soon get better. Anything else is just wishful thinking. T&T! DOWTY! HARTZELL! MCCAULEY! MT PROPELLER! SENSENICH! RAPCO DISTRIBUTOR! WOODWARD PT6Ahttp://www.rockyprop.com e-mail: rockyprop@rockyprop.com-! LARGE INVENTORY ! SAME DAY SHIPPING! UNCOMPROMISED QUALITY ! COMPETITIVE PRICES ! WORLD CLASS WARRANTY ! FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS2865 AIRPORT DRIVE ! ERIE, CO 80516FAX: 303-665-7164 ! FAA/EASA CRS FR6R545N16 • TWIN & TURBINEAPRIL 2013Thomas P. Turner is an ATP/ CFII/MEI, holds a Masters De- gree in Aviation Safety, and was the 2010 National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. Subscribe to Tom’s free FLYING LESSONS Weekly e-newsletter at www.mastery-flight-training.com.