bstratt
Cleared for Takeoff
I've cancelled twice in the past week due to concerns about the weather forecast and lack of flexibility in my schedule. At both times I wondered if I was being too cautious and too "chicken" to push the envelope, however both times I believe in retrospect I made the right decision.
Last weekend (Easter) I was scheduled to fly to Canada on Friday and return Monday (had to return Monday - no flexibility). Driving up I went through lake effect snow from Gary, IN, to Benton Harbour, Mich, then blue skys the rest of the way. I kept thinking to myself that I could have got on top of that and been okay. Saturday and Sunday were blue skies. Woke up Monday morning to find ground temp of 32 (according to car thermometer), a mist/fog like condition with low visibility and a layer of frost/ice on the the black asphalt of the driveway. This persisted for about 200 miles of the drive back but the temp did gradually warm. I think I would have gathered ice on the take off until I could get above, which would not have been soon given I'd be under Lester Pearson Int'l for a while. I kept thinking I was glad I drove.
Wednesday I had to go to Evansville, IN, for meetings and planned to fly myself. I got up at 4:00am to check weather (I had to be off by 6:00am to make my 9:00am meeting). 20% chance of TS between 1:00pm-4:00pm at DPA(that's okay because I wouldn't be leaving until around 5:00pm so I wouldn't be arriving until 6:30-7:00) -- whoa, what's this -- an airmet regarding potential tornadic strength wind shear for late afternoon/evening -- discomfort level just elevated significantly. Sat there wondering what to do and decided that flying was supposed to be fun and that if I was going to worry/stress about it then it wasn't. Booked a commercial flight by cell phone on my way to ORD at 5:30am. Long story shortened, I ended up spending the night in Evansville as even my regional jet was cancelled due to the weather.
Moral? - I'm going to keep listening to my little voices and not be afraid to make a no-go decision unless I have sufficient flexibility in my schedule to work around things.
Last weekend (Easter) I was scheduled to fly to Canada on Friday and return Monday (had to return Monday - no flexibility). Driving up I went through lake effect snow from Gary, IN, to Benton Harbour, Mich, then blue skys the rest of the way. I kept thinking to myself that I could have got on top of that and been okay. Saturday and Sunday were blue skies. Woke up Monday morning to find ground temp of 32 (according to car thermometer), a mist/fog like condition with low visibility and a layer of frost/ice on the the black asphalt of the driveway. This persisted for about 200 miles of the drive back but the temp did gradually warm. I think I would have gathered ice on the take off until I could get above, which would not have been soon given I'd be under Lester Pearson Int'l for a while. I kept thinking I was glad I drove.
Wednesday I had to go to Evansville, IN, for meetings and planned to fly myself. I got up at 4:00am to check weather (I had to be off by 6:00am to make my 9:00am meeting). 20% chance of TS between 1:00pm-4:00pm at DPA(that's okay because I wouldn't be leaving until around 5:00pm so I wouldn't be arriving until 6:30-7:00) -- whoa, what's this -- an airmet regarding potential tornadic strength wind shear for late afternoon/evening -- discomfort level just elevated significantly. Sat there wondering what to do and decided that flying was supposed to be fun and that if I was going to worry/stress about it then it wasn't. Booked a commercial flight by cell phone on my way to ORD at 5:30am. Long story shortened, I ended up spending the night in Evansville as even my regional jet was cancelled due to the weather.
Moral? - I'm going to keep listening to my little voices and not be afraid to make a no-go decision unless I have sufficient flexibility in my schedule to work around things.
