WestWind Airlines

Houston's Intercontinental (KIAH) and Hobby (KHOU) airports will close Friday afternoon due to Hurricane Ike.  The last flight at KIAH will be at 2:00pm (1900z) and the last flight out of KHOU will be at 3:30pm (2030z).

Other coastal airports in Louisiana and Texas may close.  I suggest checking the status of any airport in the region before flying today.  Or on the flip side... Have fun in a 100kt crosswind!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5996459.html

Matt M.
WWA 1887
AHM KDEN

If I can get my computer up and running sometime this weekend, before the horrible weather conditions disappear, I might take something up in there and see if I can still control the plane. One of the few chances i would ever have to even virtually experience something like that.. since I don't ever see myself with the financial means to become a RWP, and even if I did, I don't have the cajones to be one of those hurricane jockeys, flying planes into the eye of the storm. So, might do that if I can get back flying.

On a personal note, though, thoughts and prayers to everyone in that region. Glad you had enough of a warning to get out early.. hope everyone makes it through ok.

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Mitch Worthington
WWA1901
Command Captain
HM, KDEN Hub
Director of Charters — Central & South America

I'm going to base myself in KDFW for the next few days to help out in the relief efforts. I am going to try get some supplies to the smaller coastal airports today and maybe tommorow if possible in the Baron. But as soon as the storm hits it'll be the MD-11 and the 757, because I don't think the little Baron could handle 100 knot winds! This will be my first real C044 charter. I done a bit with Hanna in Haiti but not too much. So wish me luck! I'll try not to damage too much Westwind property!

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Eoin Coates
Senior Command Captain
Real World Student Pilot
Frankfurt am Mein-Hub Manager

"If the thought came into my head, I would go out and buy a gun"- Herb Kelleher's reply after being asked if he would start another airline.

Mitch Worthington:

I don't have the cajones to be one of those hurricane jockeys, flying planes into the eye of the storm.

In many WW aircraft, you are flying at hurricane force winds before you leave the departure end of the RW (130 kts = 150 mph). At 450 kts (515 mph) you are way beyond the windspeeds of any huricane. I think the difference must be the turbulence and of course, you don't have the flying debris while it is out to sea like you would on land near the gournd. Fascinating stuff!!

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver

Mike --

Never thought of it that way, but of course, you're right. But even if you're going 450 kts, wouldn't a 120kt crosswind still knock the crap out of you? I've dealt with some pretty nasty winds on FS9.. I think 99 is the most I've ever done, and the plane rocked more than I would have expected. And then, yeah, you have turbulence, wind shear and as you get closer to land, the random flying VW bug. Not something I think I would enjoy. Even still, it'll be fun to try virtually.

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Mitch Worthington
WWA1901
Command Captain
HM, KDEN Hub
Director of Charters — Central & South America

On that subject. Years ago at flight school. Your flying at a 100 knts into a 100 knt headwind. Whats your IAS?

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Randy Donnelly
AHM KSLC
WWA2024

If GE CF6-80C2B8F engines were attached to a typical automobile, at takeoff power the car would accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in less than .5 seconds.

On that subject. Years ago at flight school. Somewhat of a trick question. Your flying at a 100 knts into a 100 knt headwind. Whats your IAS?

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Randy Donnelly
AHM KSLC
WWA2024

If GE CF6-80C2B8F engines were attached to a typical automobile, at takeoff power the car would accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in less than .5 seconds.

Mitch Worthington:

Mike --

Never thought of it that way, but of course, you're right. But even if you're going 450 kts, wouldn't a 120kt crosswind still knock the crap out of you? I've dealt with some pretty nasty winds on FS9.. I think 99 is the most I've ever done, and the plane rocked more than I would have expected. And then, yeah, you have turbulence, wind shear and as you get closer to land, the random flying VW bug. Not something I think I would enjoy. Even still, it'll be fun to try virtually.

Theoretically you fly IN a body of air so you are not flying into a crosswind, you are crabbing into it to maintain a desired direction. In a hurricane, I assume you would want to fly into a headwind instead of flying into it from the side. What kills you is the wind sheer--when the wind stops blowing one direction and starts blowing another--like you said. That is what you are most likely experiencing in MSFS. But of course, I don't have any real experience with it. It is all theoretical.

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver

Randy Donnelly:

On that subject. Years ago at flight school. Somewhat of a trick question. Your flying at a 100 knts into a 100 knt headwind. Whats your IAS?

I would say it depends on what you mean by flying 1t 100 kts. If you are flying at 100 KIAS, then the answer is--of course--100 KIAS. Your grounds speed would be zero--unless I am missing something. Of course if you are flying with an KIAS of zero, then you are falling. Most likely in a horizontal spin. As soon as you begin to recover, you would pick up KIAS. You could be flying at 100 KIAS, zeri groundspeed and flying straight toward the gournd. My head hurts.

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver

Well i had to do it.I took off from Dallas this morning and went toward Houston,mind you this wasnt in a WWA aircraft.Was pretty wild ride.When i got toward Houston i had to try a landing.Winds not as bad as i had thought,around 35 to 45 most of the time with a spike of around 55-60 a few times.Landing was a little sketchy but i got down.What was really cool after i found a place to park,the winds where bad enough the plane was bouncing at a full stop.Might try it again in something smaller like a EMB-120,this flight was in a 737 

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Monster Driver
P255 charter

Mitch Worthington:

Mike --

Never thought of it that way, but of course, you're right. But even if you're going 450 kts, wouldn't a 120kt crosswind still knock the crap out of you? I've dealt with some pretty nasty winds on FS9.. I think 99 is the most I've ever done, and the plane rocked more than I would have expected. And then, yeah, you have turbulence, wind shear and as you get closer to land, the random flying VW bug. Not something I think I would enjoy. Even still, it'll be fun to try virtually.

It depends on how sudden the shift in the wind is.  Two years ago when the Superbowl was in Miami, I flew from the Miami area up to Chicago-Midway after the game rw (I can't remember the altitude but it was probably FL430 or FL450).  In the vicinity VXV vor we had a crosswind of 210 knots (we crossed the core of the jet stream), and it was smooth as glass.  The airplane was crabbed way to the west to keep our track but the wind change was so gradual as we crossed the core that there was maybe just a little rumble.  You get the big bumps when there is a lot of sheer (rapid changes in wind direction and or speed) as you are flying.  In a hurricane there is a lot of sheer.......

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EHAM-YSSY B772LR