The Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

At worst, hail can be detrimental to aircraft. Depending on the size and speed the hail is forming as well as the type of aircraft can determine how harsh of an experience the aircraft will encounter. Problems that an aircraft can encounter during a hailstorm could be cracked windscreens, damage to the nose of the aircraft, and engine damage or possible failure. With older models of aircraft and light aircraft in general, hail could puncture the plane all throughout. This can drastically affect the pilots ability to control the aircraft and the aircraft’s ability to maintain altitude due to the loss of lift and a gain in drag.

In most situations, a pilot can avoid hail storms by simply flying around it to avoid it. Air Traffic Control will assist in pilots avoiding or preparing for hail by disseminating weather information. This isn’t enough in some cases because hail can be blown away from the storm it originated from and still cause aircraft problems. The aircraft being more hail strike resistant by being built with stronger material can minimize the impact overall that hail can cause to an aircraft (Goraj & Kustron, 2018). With low visibility from the windscreens being cracked, a pilot could guide the plane to a smooth landing using the aircrafts instruments.

An aircraft that is losing engine power or has large holes and dents can cause parasite drag. More specifically, form drag is drag created by the shape of the aircraft itself when (FAA, 2017). The airflow around the plane can be compromised by the shape of the plane due to rigid or not aerodynamic surfaces. As shown in the picture above, the jet will not be able to fly as quickly as it could since it is suffering a heavy loss to its structure. Flying too quickly could potentially cause more pieces of the aircraft to fall off if it is not secured.

References

FAA. (2017). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (Federal Aviation Administration):

FAA-H-8083-25B. Federal Aviation Administration.

Goraj, Z. J., & Kustron, K. (2018). Review of current research trends in bird strike and hail

impact simulations on wing leading edge. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 90(4), 602–612. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat-02-2017-0053