Can Airplanes Fly in the Rain? (Is It Safe?)
Yes, Airplanes fly safely in the rain all the time, although heavy rain can cause visibility problems.
But, in general, rain will not be an issue for flying, and airlines will not cancel or delay scheduled flights due to rainstorms, although worse weather conditions could lead to a delay.
It’s important to know what to expect when you are preparing to fly, and if you are a nervous flier, bad weather conditions and storms might make you feel panicky about an upcoming trip.
Yet, being prepared and understanding any potential dangers will help you stay calm during the flight, even if it starts raining.
Can Planes Fly in the Rain?
Airplanes can fly in the rain, but safety will depend on the pilot’s confidence and how bad the weather conditions are. Very heavy rain can significantly impact visibility, and, of course, pilots need to see when flying the same way a driver needs to see to make it to their destination.
However, large aircraft are much less likely to have issues in bad weather, so commercial flights are usually fine in the rain. Yet, in heavy rain, the airport or air traffic control might delay the flight for a while to allow the inclement weather to clear.
Flight cancellations rarely happen because of rainy weather or a wet runway, though.
Yet if a delay or cancellation occurs, it is most likely to happen at take-off, which is when pilots most need a clear view of the surrounding area to prevent a dangerous accident when they try to fly. During the flight, however, poor visibility is unlikely to be an issue, although it may become one again at landing.
In very rare situations, heavy rain could cause an airplane’s engine to “flameout.” This problem is when the engine loses power, and it can occur any time the engine loses one of its three crucial inputs – heat, air, or fuel.
A flameout is highly uncommon and only happens on around one in 100,000 flights (non-military ones). If it does occur, most pilots can re-ignite the engine, so it’s almost never a major issue.
In short, flying in the rain tends to be safe even though pilots may struggle to take off and land if the rain seriously impairs visibility, but every pilot is well-equipped to deal with issues like rain, wind, and snow. Modern aircraft can even withstand lightning strikes, so a nervous flyer does not need to worry.
Read Also >> Can Airplanes Fly in Snow?
Will it Still Rain Once the Aircraft is at Cruising Altitude?
No, the aircraft will soon rise above the clouds. Most planes fly at around 35,000 feet, which will take them above the rain clouds.
It is perfectly common for planes to lift off and land in the rain but for the rest of the flight to be rain-free because the aircraft is above the cloud level when at cruising altitude. But, if the weather radar or other aircraft equipment alerts extreme weather, the plane may need to perform an emergency landing.
Does Rainy Weather Make it Harder for an Aircraft to Lift-Off?
Yes, heavy rain can sometimes affect an aircraft’s ability to lift off from the runway, especially if it is thick and limits the pilot’s visibility. Sometimes, a pilot may have to wait for the severe weather to clear before they can safely initiate the take-off procedures and get the plane off the ground.
However, rainy weather will not prevent a plane from lifting off. Most aircraft use their wings and engines to produce lift, which pulls the plane up from the ground and into the air.
So, the rain will not interfere with this process and does not make it any more difficult for the plane to become airborne. Also, the weight that the rain adds to the plane is negligible and makes no difference.
Does Rain Make it Harder for Planes to Land?
Rain can affect landing, but again, it is generally only a problem if it is heavy enough to impact the pilot’s field of vision significantly. Water on the runway is unlikely to be major enough to cause any issues.
Although many vehicles will skid in extremely wet conditions, the tires of airplane wheels are heavy-duty and have superbly good grip. Planes land safely in the rain as well as freezing temperatures all the time without incident.
But, if the weather does make it hard to get to the ground or there’s standing water on the runway, aircraft pilots will maintain a holding pattern until reaching the ground is safe. These sorts of predicaments are why planes carry extra fuel.
Can Planes Fly in Freezing Rain?
Freezing rain can be more of an issue for airplanes. Rain that falls at high altitudes is far more likely to be extremely cold, and in some rare situations, it might freeze on the plane’s wings.
In certain circumstances, freezing rain and severe weather can create a stall, which means that the lift keeping the airplane airborne will cease to work correctly. In theory, this will cause the plane to drop from the sky because nothing will be keeping it up anymore.
However, most pilots can restore the lift, and it would be very uncommon for this to be the cause of a crash.
Freezing rain can create other problems at times, though, such as slick runways, making them unsuitable for both landing and take-off. And where rain doesn’t cause issues, ice can be far more problematic, and pilots may not be able to land on a frozen runway.
Freezing may also affect parts of the plane, and in icy conditions, crews will need to complete de-icing procedures before flight.
But, all planes have weather radar which lets them know about bad weather. Also, air traffic control can warn pilots about wet runways so they can make a safe landing.
Can Planes Fly in a Thunderstorm or Snow?
Thunderstorms can sometimes cause lightning and turbulence, but even a bad storm is unlikely to create any danger for the passengers. For instance, your plane getting hit by a lightning strike may sound scary, but lightning won’t hurt the plane.
Similarly, turbulence caused by high winds or a bad storm rarely affects flight. Usually, it’s the passengers who worry about thunderstorms or turbulence, not the pilot.
Snow also isn’t dangerous in most cases, and usually, you’ll make it to your destination without any emergency landings, even during winter storms with high winds.
Conclusion
Commercial aircraft should all be able to fly in the rain, although the airport and air traffic control may sometimes delay take-off and landing because of heavy rain. However, in general, an aircraft in flight will be above the cloud cover and will not have issues with rain until it is coming back to the ground.
