Is there any special training, relating to land under extreme weather, such as snow storms, contaminated runways or ice conditions?
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asked Nov 13, 2015 at 12:14
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5$\begingroup$ Typically you don't land on a unsafe runway. Instead you divert to your alternate. $\endgroup$– ratchet freakCommented Nov 13, 2015 at 12:16
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$\begingroup$ I meant to land, not on an unsafe runway. just to land. For example, the brake´s usage during roll out, the reversers, avoiding deep landings, any technic that may prevent or avoid runway excursions. $\endgroup$– eduardoguilhermeCommented Nov 13, 2015 at 12:19
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3$\begingroup$ Related : Are pilots generally trained for crosswind landings? ---- How does one train for making landings and takeoffs in bad weather? and What kind of aircraft may land on iced areas, like Antarctica?. $\endgroup$– minsCommented Nov 13, 2015 at 13:26
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2$\begingroup$ On icy runways and taxiways, best to taxi considerably slower than normal, especially when turning. Turns should be made at walking speed to minimize nose gear slippage. On 747-100/200 aircraft if you know you're going to be operating in icy conditions and you have control over the aircraft loading, best to make sure the c.g. is forward of 26.6% MAC to get weight on the nose gear. $\endgroup$– TerryCommented Dec 13, 2015 at 21:51
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3 Answers
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In some regards there is but this depends on what you consider extreme weather.
On one hand there are physical limits to which a plane can be landed when it comes to wind both head on and cross winds. Granted they are cases they may never or only rarely come up you may simply not be able to land the plane.
Assuming you have made it to the airport and are able to land...
There are some check lists and different procedures that me be executed for different weather. Snow and wet runways in general may see a longer landing distance and roll out however this is not "special" training as landing distance should always be calculated based on conditions.
Approaches are flown as published but changing winds and weather may cause the pilot to react differently or do different things to fly the approach. For example if you compare a calm wind approach to a dry runway with a wind sheared approach to a wet runway you may see some differences. The pilot may elect to come in a few knots over Vref and possibly with less flaps in a wind shear situation. Again this is not special training as much as it is standard.
On a contaminated runway the pilot may chose to preform something like a short field landing so as not to potentially collapse the nose gear. All pilots (even GA) are trained in this maneuver. There are so many possible situations here it would be hard to train for ever one but some are trained for or a checklist exits.
Side Story: I was talking to a commercial pilot recently who flies the 777 and he was telling me a story of a time during training in the sim where they gave them heavy rain and 40Kts of wind shear (no one could successfully land the plane that day in his group in the sim). So they do at least throw situations like that at pilots in the sim, if they do it all the time I cant say.
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As a pilot, you are trained for all eventual failures and conditions, but above all else your priority is the safe operation of the aircraft.
Therefore, landing during hazardous conditions is always avoided as a primary response.
There is nothing special (beyond training in the simulator) that is required to land aircraft in difficult conditions; because the mechanics of landing the aircraft do not change, just the variables you have to account for.
So, as common sense - during rain/sleet/snow/ice - a longer rollout is required to come to a stop. You may also land with extra reserve power in case a takeoff/go-around is required (especially true in high wind / wind shear conditions).
Other than that, there is nothing special about landing in snow/sleet/rain vs. normal conditions.
answered Jan 24, 2017 at 10:19
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In commercial pilot training, they have to go through training for all sorts special situations training. Every pilot must go through training for such situation. So it probably is not "special" as requiring a whole new course or something like that although it might be "special conditions" inside the training programme. However, as a comment above said, it would be safer to divert to an alternate airport if possible.
answered Nov 13, 2015 at 17:34