Jazmin Li
Tropical cyclones can have a significant impact on airport operations, causing flight cancellations, evacuations, and infrastructure damage. When a tropical cyclone is forecast to hit an airport, airlines typically issue travel waivers, allowing passengers to change or cancel their bookings without penalties. They also make decisions about continuing to fly in and out of airports near the storm's path, with the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft being the top priority. Tropical cyclones bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges, which pose risks to aircraft and airport operations. Airlines may evacuate their aircraft to another location away from the storm's path, and mass flight cancellations are common. The impact of tropical cyclones on airports can be felt even after the storm has passed, with disruptions to fuel supply, electricity infrastructure, and access roads affecting the resumption of normal operations.
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What You'll Learn
- Airlines issue travel waivers, cancel flights, and evacuate aircraft
- Airports may lose electricity supply and fuel infrastructure
- Strong winds can cause turbulence and make aircraft control difficult
- Tropical cyclones can cause flooding, hindering access to the airport
- Airliners can avoid cyclones by flying above them or changing routes
Airlines issue travel waivers, cancel flights, and evacuate aircraft
Tropical cyclones can have a significant impact on flight activity. Airlines typically issue travel waivers, cancel flights, and evacuate aircraft when a tropical cyclone is approaching an airport they serve.
Upon learning of severe weather, airlines will issue travel waivers to allow passengers to rebook or cancel their flights without the usual fees. These waivers are the first major step in an airline's response to an impending tropical cyclone. The dates and airports covered by these waivers vary by airline and affected airport, so passengers should keep an eye out for specific waivers from their carrier.
The next common step is mass flight cancellations. Airlines will typically cancel all flights out of airports expected to be hit by the cyclone and will often announce these cancellations multiple days in advance. After cancellations are announced, airlines will attempt to re-book passengers onto earlier flights out of the storm's path. However, this can be challenging as earlier flights are often already full due to other passengers taking advantage of the waivers.
Before the most severe tropical cyclones, airlines focus on evacuating as many passengers, staff, and other travellers from the storm's path before stopping operations at the airport. They may use larger aircraft on previously scheduled flights or operate extra evacuation flights out of airports likely to be affected by the storm.
Tropical cyclones pose little threat to aircraft at cruise altitude, and modern aircraft are designed to withstand severe weather. However, pilots have strict guidelines for determining whether it is safe to land at an airport affected by severe weather. In addition, cyclones can cause significant damage to airport infrastructure, especially electricity infrastructure, which can limit airport operations even after the storm has passed.
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Airports may lose electricity supply and fuel infrastructure
Airports are vulnerable to losing electricity supply and fuel infrastructure due to tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones can cause severe damage to electricity infrastructure, resulting in power outages that affect airport operations. Major airports are heavily reliant on an external electricity supply, and while generators can provide backup power, they may not be sufficient to sustain full operations at large airports.
To prepare for potential power loss, electricity generation plants and transfer stations can be engineered to withstand tropical cyclones. Additionally, turning off the power as the storm approaches can help minimize damage to the grid. After the storm, extensive repairs and reconstruction may be needed to restore the electricity supply. Implementing renewable sources, such as solar panels or small wind turbines, can also serve as a backup during power outages.
Tropical cyclones can also impact fuel infrastructure, leading to fuel shortages at airports. Damage to fuel storage facilities or disruptions in the fuel supply chain can result in jet fuel shortages, hindering airport operations and affecting the refueling of aircraft. It is crucial for airports to have adequate fuel reserves and contingency plans to address fuel shortages, especially in the aftermath of a tropical cyclone when fuel demand may be high.
The impact of electricity and fuel shortages can disrupt airport operations for several days or even longer. Airlines that operate hub or large-scale operations at affected airports may take more time to resume normal services. This extended recovery period is due to their reliance on a substantial local workforce, who may have evacuated during the storm or faced challenges returning to work due to fuel shortages or travel disruptions caused by flooding or road closures.
Tropical cyclones can cause significant disruptions to airport operations, and losing electricity supply and fuel infrastructure further exacerbates these challenges. It is essential for airports to have robust emergency response plans, including backup power sources and fuel reserves, to mitigate the impact of these natural events and ensure the safety and continuity of airport functions.
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Strong winds can cause turbulence and make aircraft control difficult
Strong winds can have a significant impact on aircraft control and flight activity. In the context of tropical cyclones, winds can exceed 64 knots in severe cases, and even reach 160 knots or more. Such intense winds can cause turbulence and affect aircraft speed, heading, and altitude, making a pilot's job much more challenging.
When an aircraft encounters strong winds, it may experience significant changes in speed, heading, and altitude. These changes can be especially pronounced during the landing phase, with crosswinds and gusts creating turbulence and making it difficult for pilots to maintain stable flight paths. In some cases, pilots might even need to abandon their landing attempts, opting for a go-around before trying again. This creates additional work for air traffic controllers, who must reorganise the landing sequence to accommodate these changes.
The impact of strong winds on aircraft control is influenced by various factors, including wind direction and the aircraft's direction of movement. Strong upper winds can result in aircraft approaching an airport from different directions experiencing tailwinds or headwinds. Headwinds can slow down aircraft, increasing the time required for landing and reducing runway throughput. On the other hand, tailwinds can increase the runway distance needed for take-off and landing.
Additionally, strong winds can affect airport ground operations and passenger flow. Certain airfield equipment, such as jet bridges, may become inoperable due to safety concerns, causing delays in passenger embarkation and disembarkation. Furthermore, strong winds can impact the opening and closing of aircraft doors, with limitations typically set around 45 knots. Beyond these wind speeds, it is not deemed safe to open or close the doors, impacting the movement of passengers and crew.
To mitigate the effects of strong winds, aircraft are typically parked nose into the wind, and chocks are installed at all landing gear positions to prevent unintended movement. Additionally, some aircraft have mechanical or hydraulic control locks that prevent movement of the control column and associated flight control surfaces, ensuring stability during strong winds. These measures are crucial for protecting the aircraft and ensuring safe operations during periods of adverse weather conditions.
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Tropical cyclones can cause flooding, hindering access to the airport
Tropical cyclones can have a significant impact on flight activity. Airports in threatened areas should secure or evacuate aircraft to locations away from the storm's path. Tropical cyclones can cause torrential rains, storm surges, and flooding, which can hinder access to the airport for both travellers and employees.
Flooding on roads near an airport can prevent travellers from reaching the airport and employees from getting to work. This can result in a shortage of staff, causing the airport to operate at a limited capacity. In addition, damage to fuel infrastructure can cause jet fuel shortages, further hindering airport operations.
Tropical cyclones are associated with strong winds, which can exceed 160 kt in severe cases. These destructive winds can cause damage to surrounding infrastructure, particularly electricity infrastructure. Airports require an external electricity supply to function at full capacity, and while generators can provide limited electricity, they cannot support large airports' full operations. As a result, airports may not be able to accommodate a large number of flights, leading to cancellations and disruptions.
The impact of tropical cyclones on airports and flight operations is mitigated through preparedness and proactive measures. Airlines typically issue travel waivers, allowing passengers to change or cancel flights without fees. They also cancel flights and evacuate aircraft before the storm hits. Passengers who proactively rebook their flights to depart before the cyclone strikes have a better chance of evacuating.
Tropical cyclones are predictable, and their general track can be forecast several days in advance. This predictability allows airlines, pilots, and airport authorities to make informed decisions to ensure the safety of passengers, staff, and aircraft. However, it is important to recognize that the impact of tropical cyclones on airports can be indirect as well. For example, while an airport may not be directly in the path of the cyclone, the impact of flooding in surrounding areas can still affect access to the airport and its operational capacity.
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Airliners can avoid cyclones by flying above them or changing routes
Tropical cyclones can have a significant impact on airports and airlines, causing flight cancellations, missed connections, and disruptions to airport operations. However, airliners can employ several strategies to avoid cyclones, including flying above them or changing routes.
Firstly, it is important to understand the characteristics of tropical cyclones. These storms have relatively slow and predictable movement, which makes it easier for airliners to steer clear of them. Cyclones are characterized by destructive surface winds that can exceed 160 kt in severe cases, as well as heavy rainfall that can exceed 500 mm in a 24-hour period. They can also cause storm surges in coastal areas, leading to severe flooding.
When a tropical cyclone is approaching an airport, airlines typically take proactive measures to ensure the safety of their passengers, staff, and aircraft. The first step is often to issue travel waivers, allowing passengers to change or cancel their flights without incurring fees. This is followed by mass flight cancellations, with airlines announcing the cancellations multiple days in advance to give passengers time to make alternative arrangements.
One strategy for airliners to avoid cyclones is to fly above them. Tropical cyclones do not reach as high as standard storms, and the tallest part surrounds the central core of the hurricane. Therefore, it is theoretically possible for aircraft to fly over a hurricane and into its eye. However, this is not a common practice due to the potential risks involved. If any problems arise while flying through a cyclone, the crew's options may be limited, and the storm's path could restrict the pilots' ability to respond effectively.
Instead, airliners typically choose to change their routes to avoid flying into a cyclone. Pilots have strict guidelines to determine whether it is safe to land at an airport affected by severe weather, and they can use forecast data to plan their routes accordingly. By staying informed about the seasons and regions when and where such storms are expected, pilots can navigate their aircraft away from the path of the storm.
In summary, while tropical cyclones can significantly impact airports and airlines, airliners can effectively avoid these storms by flying above them or, more commonly, by changing their routes. By staying updated on cyclone forecasts and following established safety guidelines, pilots can ensure the safety of their passengers, crew, and aircraft.
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Frequently asked questions
Airlines typically cancel all flights out of airports expected to be hit by a tropical cyclone and will announce the cancellations multiple days in advance. They will also issue travel waivers to allow passengers to rebook or cancel their flights without the usual fees.
The main risks to airports come from destructive surface winds, which can exceed 160 kt, and heavy rain that can exceed 500 mm in a 24-hour period. In coastal areas, storm surges pose an additional hazard, causing severe flooding.
Pilots have strict guidelines for determining whether it is safe to land at an airport affected by severe weather. They will usually refer to weather forecasts to plan for extra fuel required for landing or diverting to other places.
It can take several days or longer for an airport to fully reopen to commercial service after a tropical cyclone. Airlines may take even longer to resume normal operations, as they may have evacuated staff during the storm and need to get them back to work.
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