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Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

flightradar24.com

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Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#71

Post by rando444 »

nxsynonym wrote: post #3

As easy of a target as airlines are for the usual criticism, this is an heroic feat. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved. I can't image what it must be like to fly into a storm system like that. Nerves of steel.

Hurricanes aren't really difficult to fly through since the air moves horizontally, and is mostly predictable, it doesn't really affect the flight much. Takeoff and landing are the major problem areas.

Thunderstorms, however, are much more difficult to fly through, because the air is moving vertically in an unpredictable fashion.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#72

Post by capkutay »

rando444 wrote: post #71
nxsynonym wrote: post #3

As easy of a target as airlines are for the usual criticism, this is an heroic feat. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved. I can't image what it must be like to fly into a storm system like that. Nerves of steel.

Hurricanes aren't really difficult to fly through since the air moves horizontally, and is mostly predictable, it doesn't really affect the flight much. Takeoff and landing are the major problem areas. Thunderstorms, however, are much more difficult to fly through, because the air is moving vertically in an unpredictable fashion.

Yeah but what if they couldn't take off in time? Those pilots/crew would suddenly be stuck on an island weathering one of the most powerful hurricanes in history.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#73

Post by azernik »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #47
ars wrote: post #32

I'm wondering about the ground crew willing to stay in the airport to help this flight get going - and then having to get to a shelter in the middle of a hurricane.

While I'm not familiar with SJU, my guess is an airport terminal is likely one of the more sturdy buildings around, and is likely to have some pretty robust structures you can take shelter in. Most commercial buildings are sturdier than the average house, and I'd rather be at an airport than at home in a storm that levels buildings.

And this is not just any old commercial building, but is also probably considered vital infrastructure for emergency planning, and so extra-reinforced.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#75

Post by jordache »

code4tee wrote: post #74

This is an impressive team effort by Delta--and a great demonstration of the teamwork required between those in the air and on the ground to pull something like this off.

why? the hurricane is predictable in its movement and moves at a snail's pace relative to the plane. The pilots I'm sure had radar data inside the cockpit

It's not rocket science.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#76

Post by idlewords »

jordache wrote: post #75
code4tee wrote: post #74

This is an impressive team effort by Delta--and a great demonstration of the teamwork required between those in the air and on the ground to pull something like this off.

why? the hurricane is predictable in its movement and moves at a snail's pace relative to the plane. The pilots I'm sure had radar data inside the cockpit It's not rocket science.

The plane was fully turned around and refueled in 52 minutes, with a hurricane bearing down on it. Your response doesn't do a lot of justice to an impressive team effort.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#77

Post by idlewords »

simplyluke wrote: post #65

During the cold war my grandfather flew bombers into the eyes of hurricanes to drop sonar beacons. I'm sure he'd get a kick out of this. The older bombers they flew were all manual controls (as opposed to fly by wire), which meant physical exhaustion from wrestling the plane into the storm was a major factor - so they'd bring extra fuel to be able to circle the eye of the storm for some amount of time to build up the…

The main wing spar on those bombers also had to be reinforced to support the weight of the crew's giant balls. Respect.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#78

Post by chrisbolt »

DigitalJack wrote: post #59
ihsw2 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hurricanes are relatively slow-moving, relatively predictable, and have relatively consistent wind speeds/directions. Obviously it would be quite bad to fly into a hurricane's rain bands (the weather outside of the "corridor" that the DL431 flight moved through). The real feat here is the real-time and reliable coordination between all interested parties -- as mentioned in the article, the meteorologists, dispatchers…

So you are saying thunderstorms contain more intense wind shear than a hurricane...I don't think I believe that.

This video explains it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7CQaDEKbBU

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#79

Post by adventured »

jordache wrote: post #75
code4tee wrote: post #74

This is an impressive team effort by Delta--and a great demonstration of the teamwork required between those in the air and on the ground to pull something like this off.

why? the hurricane is predictable in its movement and moves at a snail's pace relative to the plane. The pilots I'm sure had radar data inside the cockpit It's not rocket science.

You must be a professional pilot. Yes, I bet that's it. Plus, flying into and out of hurricanes isn't rocket science (and everybody knows that rocket science is really difficult and dangerous), so, easy stuff.

Re: Delta Goes Big, Then Goes Home

#80

Post by omegant »

Cshelton wrote: post #4

Other than a very bumpy ride and lots of nerves, I would think a 737 (and many other commercial jets) would have no problem flying through a hurricane. Landing on the other hand... Anyone with knowledge of this?

This is what you get when an airliner goes into a big storm. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/pilots-awarded-medal-...
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