Title: Flying Through Clouds – Why Are They So Dangerous? | Southern Wings
Headings: Flying Through Clouds – Why Are They So Dangerous?
Flying Through Clouds – Why Are They So Dangerous?
Types Of Clouds
Turbulence When Flying Through Clouds
What Happens In Severe Turbulence?
How Do Planes Fly Through Clouds?
What Makes Flying Through Clouds So Dangerous?

Content: This is why pilots do not choose to fly through clouds if they are avoidable and plan their flight path in order to avoid certain weather patterns involving large and dangerous cloud formations (for larger passenger aircraft this means flying up above the cloud base). How Do Planes Fly Through Clouds? Even though clouds are dangerous it is not always possible to avoid them during flight, so how do planes fly through clouds? First we need to understand the difference between flying using visual versus instrument based skills. When training to be a pilot there are two sets of regulations that determine how and when pilots are able to fly their aircraft. These are using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Visual flight rules allow pilots to basically look out the window and fly according to what they see. Flying IFR only means you have to rely solely on the aircrafts on-board instruments to maintain flight as there are little or no external visual references. Not all pilots are IFR rated (able to fly IFR only) as this requires extra training and skills. The low visibility encountered when flying through clouds means using Instrument Flight Rules are necessary.