Can someone PLEASE tell me....
Guest
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Can someone PLEASE tell me....
Hi there!
I'll be going to Florida (Orlando) in late June (to do some last minute hour-building) and I'm trying to work out what times of the day to book the planes for (I've read that the torrential rain storms roll in at around 3pm??). Can anyone tell me what the best times for flying are, as a result of the WX?
I would be looking to fly twice a day, and also spend a few days flying in the Bahamas for experience, since they are so close. Any advice and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated, I'm arranging this trip at short notice.
Many thanks,
PPP
I'll be going to Florida (Orlando) in late June (to do some last minute hour-building) and I'm trying to work out what times of the day to book the planes for (I've read that the torrential rain storms roll in at around 3pm??). Can anyone tell me what the best times for flying are, as a result of the WX?
I would be looking to fly twice a day, and also spend a few days flying in the Bahamas for experience, since they are so close. Any advice and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated, I'm arranging this trip at short notice.
Many thanks,
PPP
Guest
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Aim to
Get up early
Go to bed early
0800-1300,
1600-1900,
Make sure that you have a fax stating aircraft availability for the times you
need.
Go to a place with plenty of other schools
aircraft and backup, pay as you go NOT up front..
Treat every flight like a Grade A PPL
flight test - dont get into bad habits
Good luck
Get up early
Go to bed early
0800-1300,
1600-1900,
Make sure that you have a fax stating aircraft availability for the times you
need.
Go to a place with plenty of other schools
aircraft and backup, pay as you go NOT up front..
Treat every flight like a Grade A PPL
flight test - dont get into bad habits
Good luck
Guest
Posts: n/a
I was born and raised in Florida. Generally speaking the farther south you travel the less likely that you will encounter the types of thunderstorms that prohibit flying.
In the south Florida region thunderstorms are generally localized. Occasionally there are thunderstorms without much vertical development that develop due to the nightly sea breeze along the costal areas that dissipate by mid am.
In the Central region thunderstorms start to develop in the mid pm but have dissapated by early evening.
The Cross City area is known as thunderstorm alley.
Lines of thunderstorms are more prevelant latter in the year. September and October are usually worse.
These lines usually develop in the gulf around Ft. Myers and stretch up towards Orlando to Daytona beach.
Another area for lines of thunderstorms would be from Columbus Ga. through Tallahassee down into the gulf.
A quick look at a weather chart in the mid am will give a lot of information about line development. A low with a trough extending from it will result in massive thunderstorm development along the trough as the temperature increases.
June in the south Florida area should provide one with excellent flying opportunities in the am and early pm.
Night cross countries are still a possibility if the thunderstorm activity was a result of land mass heating. These thunderstorms usually disspate when the heat source goes below the horizon.
If a thunderstorm has broken through the tropopause- watch out. These thunderstorms last well into the night and have lots of nasty side effects. Tornadoes, hail, etc.
One nice thing about flying in Florida is that there are plenty of airports to land at if the thunderstorm activity seems to be getting out of hand.
Finally, in all the years I lived and flew in Florida I never owned a raincoat. It wasn't neccessary because, as a general rule, one was pretty confident that if it was raining one could simply wait indoors for ten to twenty minutes and the rain would have stopped. The thunderstorm causing the rain in your area would have passed by.
In the south Florida region thunderstorms are generally localized. Occasionally there are thunderstorms without much vertical development that develop due to the nightly sea breeze along the costal areas that dissipate by mid am.
In the Central region thunderstorms start to develop in the mid pm but have dissapated by early evening.
The Cross City area is known as thunderstorm alley.
Lines of thunderstorms are more prevelant latter in the year. September and October are usually worse.
These lines usually develop in the gulf around Ft. Myers and stretch up towards Orlando to Daytona beach.
Another area for lines of thunderstorms would be from Columbus Ga. through Tallahassee down into the gulf.
A quick look at a weather chart in the mid am will give a lot of information about line development. A low with a trough extending from it will result in massive thunderstorm development along the trough as the temperature increases.
June in the south Florida area should provide one with excellent flying opportunities in the am and early pm.
Night cross countries are still a possibility if the thunderstorm activity was a result of land mass heating. These thunderstorms usually disspate when the heat source goes below the horizon.
If a thunderstorm has broken through the tropopause- watch out. These thunderstorms last well into the night and have lots of nasty side effects. Tornadoes, hail, etc.
One nice thing about flying in Florida is that there are plenty of airports to land at if the thunderstorm activity seems to be getting out of hand.
Finally, in all the years I lived and flew in Florida I never owned a raincoat. It wasn't neccessary because, as a general rule, one was pretty confident that if it was raining one could simply wait indoors for ten to twenty minutes and the rain would have stopped. The thunderstorm causing the rain in your area would have passed by.
Guest
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Tarmach,
October is still the hurricane season. Still can be quite hot and muggy. Maybe the end of October. If you want calm atmosphere and cool temperatures I would go for mid to late Novemeber and Early December. The end of December, January, and February can be cold and blustery. The reason for this is the very strong cold fronts that push down into Florida. Often referred to as an Alberta Clipper or some such thing. Even Miami can be uncomfortable at these times of year if by uncomfortable you mean shorts and Tshirt weather all day and night. January and February usually have clear skies day and night. This of course means heat loss due to radiation heat loss. There are exceptions to every rule of course.
Florida is experiencing a severe drought at this time for example.
October is still the hurricane season. Still can be quite hot and muggy. Maybe the end of October. If you want calm atmosphere and cool temperatures I would go for mid to late Novemeber and Early December. The end of December, January, and February can be cold and blustery. The reason for this is the very strong cold fronts that push down into Florida. Often referred to as an Alberta Clipper or some such thing. Even Miami can be uncomfortable at these times of year if by uncomfortable you mean shorts and Tshirt weather all day and night. January and February usually have clear skies day and night. This of course means heat loss due to radiation heat loss. There are exceptions to every rule of course.
Florida is experiencing a severe drought at this time for example.
Guest
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Hi PPP
I've just returned from Orlando Flight Training, having gained my PPL.
I also went at very short notice, concerned about booking a/c & instructors at the last minute. Turns out when I got there that these things can be sorted a day or two in advance - not a month in advance like in sunny UK (which is actually sunny for a change
). Naturally, this might not be the case at every school.
I also flew twice a day. As for best times to fly, RVR800 made some good recommendations, especially with the mornings - definately the best time to fly. Occasionally, the only prob with very early morning (0700) is the vis. can sometimes be too low until temp rises (above dewpoint etc...). Generally, that didn't hinder most of us though.
Flying in Florida is fantastic, so I'm sure you'll have a good time.
Good luck & be safe,
ATCS
PS Which school are you planning on?
I've just returned from Orlando Flight Training, having gained my PPL.
I also went at very short notice, concerned about booking a/c & instructors at the last minute. Turns out when I got there that these things can be sorted a day or two in advance - not a month in advance like in sunny UK (which is actually sunny for a change
). Naturally, this might not be the case at every school. I also flew twice a day. As for best times to fly, RVR800 made some good recommendations, especially with the mornings - definately the best time to fly. Occasionally, the only prob with very early morning (0700) is the vis. can sometimes be too low until temp rises (above dewpoint etc...). Generally, that didn't hinder most of us though.
Flying in Florida is fantastic, so I'm sure you'll have a good time.
Good luck & be safe,
ATCS
PS Which school are you planning on?
Guest
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Not Florida I know, but I've just got back from 25 hours in Arizona.
Great flying till 10am, bumpy as hell 10 till 6, then smooth again after.
Yes you sweat, yes you have to land in 10 knot cross winds, but by God do you learn fast.
Which is what it's all about isn't it?
WGW
[This message has been edited by WGW (edited 22 May 2001).]
Great flying till 10am, bumpy as hell 10 till 6, then smooth again after.
Yes you sweat, yes you have to land in 10 knot cross winds, but by God do you learn fast.
Which is what it's all about isn't it?
WGW
[This message has been edited by WGW (edited 22 May 2001).]
Guest
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ATCS, identify yourself. I have just returned form OFT aswell!!!!!!!
------------------
[email protected]
The ground won't hurt you, if you hit it hard enough!
------------------
[email protected]
The ground won't hurt you, if you hit it hard enough!
Guest
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Princess,
I know you won't really care - and a lot of people will argue - but beware your plan to fly to the Bahamas.
When you go out to Florida - assuming you do not have a visa - the airline that carries you will issue you with a green form (an I-94W)...known as a "visa waiver".
To qualify for this, you must enter the USA through an immigration airport by means of an accepted air passenger carrier, you must have enough financial means to support yourself for the duration of your stay and you must hold a return ticket with the airline that is dated not more than 90 days from your entry date.
When you go to the Bahamas - as a non-USA resident/citizen - you must (legally) leave via an immigration airport (Kissimmee is not one of them) and hand in that green visa waiver...because you are leaving the USA.
When you come back - if you meet the wrong immigration man on duty at the time - you MAY be refused entry to the USA due to no visa.
If you do not re-enter the USA by means of an accepted air carrier you cannot get another visa waiver form (legally).
West Palm Beach have - so far - been allowing foreign pilots to return to the USA. Ft. Pierce generally DO NOT. I said "generally".
Meet the wrong person at West Palm - and you will not get back in.
On the subject of booking aeroplanes for your best times...my experience of OFT (when I have been there) was that you get the plane when they want you to have it - and a student will get preference (time limit on a course)...you can hour build at night (as far as they are concerned).
I know you won't really care - and a lot of people will argue - but beware your plan to fly to the Bahamas.
When you go out to Florida - assuming you do not have a visa - the airline that carries you will issue you with a green form (an I-94W)...known as a "visa waiver".
To qualify for this, you must enter the USA through an immigration airport by means of an accepted air passenger carrier, you must have enough financial means to support yourself for the duration of your stay and you must hold a return ticket with the airline that is dated not more than 90 days from your entry date.
When you go to the Bahamas - as a non-USA resident/citizen - you must (legally) leave via an immigration airport (Kissimmee is not one of them) and hand in that green visa waiver...because you are leaving the USA.
When you come back - if you meet the wrong immigration man on duty at the time - you MAY be refused entry to the USA due to no visa.
If you do not re-enter the USA by means of an accepted air carrier you cannot get another visa waiver form (legally).
West Palm Beach have - so far - been allowing foreign pilots to return to the USA. Ft. Pierce generally DO NOT. I said "generally".
Meet the wrong person at West Palm - and you will not get back in.
On the subject of booking aeroplanes for your best times...my experience of OFT (when I have been there) was that you get the plane when they want you to have it - and a student will get preference (time limit on a course)...you can hour build at night (as far as they are concerned).
Guest
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Pricess PP
Yes I have flown from
Stuart, Fl
Lakeland, Fl
Hollywood, Fl
Its great out there
The advice is from bitter experience of:
Arriving at a school with no a/c availabe
despite having phoned in advance
Hearing of others out of pocket big time
NEVER NEVER NEVER pay up front!
Once the cheque is cleared they can lose interest
Caught over the Everglades in a CB in a
'I learnt about flying from that ..'
scenario one afternoon
Good Luck..
Yes I have flown from
Stuart, Fl
Lakeland, Fl
Hollywood, Fl
Its great out there
The advice is from bitter experience of:
Arriving at a school with no a/c availabe
despite having phoned in advance
Hearing of others out of pocket big time
NEVER NEVER NEVER pay up front!
Once the cheque is cleared they can lose interest
Caught over the Everglades in a CB in a
'I learnt about flying from that ..'
scenario one afternoon
Good Luck..
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ah ATCS, I remember you now, you were always talking about sheep!!!
------------------
[email protected]
The ground won't hurt you, if you hit it hard enough!
------------------
[email protected]
The ground won't hurt you, if you hit it hard enough!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my post!
Critcaact-
That was more information than I could ever have hoped for! I've printed-out your advice to take with me.
ATCS-
I was looking to go to OFT also.
WGW-
... sounds like the average conditions on a trip thru the Banning Pass (L.A.) !!
Bear Cub-
Thanks for pointing that out, I'll need to make sure that I check all that out with the school. P.S. I certainly DO care! At least I would if I got on the wrong side of the immigration heavies!
RVR800-
Thanks again for the advice, I'm gonna make a point of getting fax confirmations of bookings from all the schools I may go to in the future.
PPP
Critcaact-
That was more information than I could ever have hoped for! I've printed-out your advice to take with me.
ATCS-
I was looking to go to OFT also.
WGW-
... sounds like the average conditions on a trip thru the Banning Pass (L.A.) !!
Bear Cub-
Thanks for pointing that out, I'll need to make sure that I check all that out with the school. P.S. I certainly DO care! At least I would if I got on the wrong side of the immigration heavies!
RVR800-
Thanks again for the advice, I'm gonna make a point of getting fax confirmations of bookings from all the schools I may go to in the future.
PPP
Guest
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Princess PP,
I would like to clarify one point in my first post regarding thunderstorms that prohibit flying.
ALL THUNDERSTORMS PROHIBIT FLYING.
What I meant was that the thunderstorms in South Florida tend to be isolated and can easily be seen developing and hense avoided.
AVOID ALL THUNDERSTORMS.
I can recall one after noon that in a matter of a minute about five inches of hail fell in my front yard over a very wide area in a very short period of time. The thunderstorm that prodeuce this hail was many miles from the hail event.
I would like to clarify one point in my first post regarding thunderstorms that prohibit flying.
ALL THUNDERSTORMS PROHIBIT FLYING.
What I meant was that the thunderstorms in South Florida tend to be isolated and can easily be seen developing and hense avoided.
AVOID ALL THUNDERSTORMS.
I can recall one after noon that in a matter of a minute about five inches of hail fell in my front yard over a very wide area in a very short period of time. The thunderstorm that prodeuce this hail was many miles from the hail event.
