Excellent Series On Cargo Flying

Peter R. wrote:
Yep, just the other day I was listening to my local ATC feed as a line of
strong t-storms approached when a local freight company checked on in a
Caravan, flying to the west and directly towards this line.

ATC: "Are you equipped with weather radar today?"

Pilot: "Unfortunately not today. Why?"

ATC: "Strong to severe returns are just west of the airport."

Pilot (in a rather shaky voice): "I would appreciate if you could pick the
best hole and send me through it."



This is an honest-to-God radio conversation I participated in back around 1989:


ATC: Wrapair 701, you have weather at your 12 oclock and 6 miles.

701: Roger.

(I was staring at it. There was a huge bank of clouds stretching from wingtip
to wingtip in front of me. Dark and angry looking. But I'd been in FSS at RDU
just a few minutes before and saw a narrow area along my route of flight that
looked promising. I was low too... only at 4000 feet. I throttled back,
lowered my seat, tightened my belt, turned up the lights, and got a death grip
on the yoke.)

ATC: Wrapair 701, your weather is now at 3 and a half miles and 12 oclock. Are
you sure you wouldn't like to deviate? USAir flight (whatever) deviated 45
miles to the south and Delta fliht (whatever) deviated 35 miles to the north;
state your intentions.

701: It's OK so far. I think I'll be all right.

(Now I'm really getting nervous. Redouble that grip on the yoke. Nervous as a
whore in church. I entered the clouds and went solid. A little light
turbulence and then an insistent updraft. "Oh, hell, here we go", I thought.
There was a little bump and suddenly I'm flying in pretty smooth air, albeit
solid IFR.)

ATC: Wrapair 701, report your conditions.

701: It's pretty smooth where I am now.

ATC: I'm surprised. You know that both USAir and Delta deviated far away from
that weather.

701: Yeah, but those guys are pussies.




--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE