Weather Flying

Book Description

Weather Flying is regarded in the industry as the bible of weather flying. Robert Buck, a general aviation and commercial pilot with tens of thousands of hours of flight time, explains weather in a nontechnical way, giving pilots useful understanding of weather and practical knowledge of how to judge it and fly it. Covers weather flying psychology, en route weather changes, radar and how to use it, taking off in bad weather, and much more. Winner of the Flight Safety Foundation's Publication Award; recommended by the FAA.

Customer Reviews:

Still the best practical guide on the market.......2007-06-12

I first read this book early in my private pilot training, many years ago. Needless to say, I did not really understand what I was reading. Coming back to it now, with a number of additional ratings and many more hours of flight time to my name, was a revelation. Almost on every page, I found myself saying, "Yes, that's how it is." Buck really knows what he is talking about, whether it be ice, thunderstorms, turbulence, or transitioning from instruments to visual on the approach. Taking to heart what Buck has to say will first and foremost help you to survive as a pilot by making good weather decisions. Just as importantly, he imparts a great deal of wisdom on how to get maximum utility from the airplane while keeping risk to a low level. However, as indicated earlier, the book is definitely not for beginners. A solid understanding of basic meteorology and a considerable amount of piloting experience are needed to interpret it correctly--and safely.

Essential reading for the GA Instrument pilot.......2006-06-07

As a CFI I have numerous books in my aviation library. This book details flying in weather and the mindset required to be a safe and competent instrument pilot.

Recommeded to me by my instructor after I received my instrument rating I now recommend it to students and associates whenever the subject of flying in weather (or not flying in weather) comes up.

I read Northstar Over My Shoulder prior to buying this book so I had an understanding of Captain Buck's history and experience which added weight to the wisdom obvious in Weather Flying (buy that book too!)

Dealing with the weather.......2005-10-22

Not a lesson on meteorology; more of a lesson on judgment and decision-making. In other words, how does one deal with the weather? What does one do with the information one has?
Bob Buck is a man of authority, vast knowledge and experience when it comes to weather flying. His advice is, therefore, not to be taken lightly.
The book is readable, Buck writes "as he talks and flies, with an easy touch...he makes it simple and plain". The only thing that frustrated me at times was the fact that due to the sheer amount of information and knowledge he wants to impart, he occasionally jumps from one issue to the other, picking up new subjects while seemingly leaving others unfinished.

"The sky is my office".......2005-06-30

It is hard to imagine a pilot with more weather flying experience than Captain Robert Buck. And much of this flying was in the old days: in the early years of the Army Air Corp and a young company called TWA. Much of this flying was accomplished without the assistance of modern instrumentation. Captain Buck travelled the world seeking the most ornery weather he could find, and then flew into it time and time again, compiling the experience and collecting the data that no one else had at the time. Captain Buck shares that experience here. This book is interesting and engaging to the flying enthusiast, essential to the VFR pilot, and absolutely priceless to the aspiring instrument pilot. Every discipline and every pastime has its classics, and WEATHER FLYING is, without a doubt, one of the classics of aviation.

The language of WEATHER FLYING is simple and straightforward. The lessons are practical more than theoretical, though Captain Buck keeps his readers briefed on essential weather theory as well. Virtually every weather situation that a pilot can encounter is covered in this book, from the ordinary to the exotic. Then Captain Buck instructs you how to fly it. The concept is simple and direct; the lessons are comprehensive and pragmatic.

In short, this is not a book to read once and then shelve. The lessons are too important to be forgotten. This is a manual to be taken down and read over and over again by any sort of pilot who flies any sort of aircraft.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

weather is confusing..........2002-05-07

... and will remain so after you read this book. Everything in Buck's book is useful but it is tough to remember all of his rules without a solid grounding in meteorology. The cover's subtitle "a practical book on flying in all kinds of weather" is accurate. This book is about practice, not theory. However, after finishing the book, I was disappointed to find myself as ignorant as ever about weather and completely at the mercy of the FAA briefers.

Average customer rating:

An excellent reference on basic meteorology as it relates to aviation

Aviation Weather Handbook
Terry T. Lankford
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 0071361030

Book Description

Pilot’s ready-to-use, instant weather guide

Fly safely in all weather conditions as you master the flying skills and strategies of expert aviators. Terry Lankford’s Aviation Weather Handbook gives you flying strategies for every imaginable weather condition: low ceilings and visibility due to haze, smog, dust, sand, smoke and ash; turbulence; icing and other cold weather phenomena; thunderstorms; wind shear and more. You learn basic weather theory and how to interpret area, TWEB route, terminal aerodrome, and winds and temperatures aloft forecasts. Find out how to get the most from FAA and other weather briefing services…and about the reporting systems for which pilots are responsible. This user-friendly guide is organized by weather condition for quick look-up. The appropriate flying strategies appear with each hazard, as does the fundamental theory needed to put it all together.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent reference on basic meteorology as it relates to aviation.......2006-05-05

I have very much enjoyed reading this book by Terry Lankford. I find myself frequently opening this book for clarification on how forecasts and observations are used in real-world aviation/weather situations. Terry provides numerous examples from his years of experience as a weather specialist and flight instructor. His writing style is clear and concise. Obviously, he has a firm grasp of official standards adopted by the FAA, NWS, and WMO, but he presents the information in a manner that is much more enjoyable to read than most manuals on standards from either of these organizations. I highly recommend this well-written book for anyone interested in general meteorology, or for young pilots wishing to learn more about the impact weather will have on their chosen profession.

Severe Weather Flying: Increase Your Knowledge and Skill in Avoidance of Thunderstorms, Icing, and Extreme Weather

Average customer rating:

Talks about nasty weather in a simple way.
Unreserved praise!
severe weather flying
Excellent for professional aviators
Written the way all technical books for pilots should be.

Severe Weather Flying: Increase Your Knowledge and Skill in Avoidance of Thunderstorms, Icing, and Extreme Weather
Dennis W. Newton
Manufacturer: Aviation Supplies & Academics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Radar & Satellite Weather Interpretation for Pilots

ASIN: 1560274271

Book Description

Focusing on detection and avoidance of severe weather, this book teaches pilots how to lessen their chances of being caught extreme weather conditions. Written so that anyone can understand complex meteorological terms, it attempts to bring across the most crucial principles that pilots can use to fly more wisely. Different weather conditions, including lightning, icing, and wind shear, and their effect on flying are discussed in detail.

Customer Reviews:

Talks about nasty weather in a simple way........2004-09-12

This book is for the weather novice who doesn't want to get a PhD in meteorology, but still wants to stay out of trouble. While most of the information about thunderstorms is available elsewhere, his section on icing was particularly valuable. I would recommend this to any pilot who seems lost about weather reports or charts. If you know your way around surface analysis charts and lifted index charts then this book might be too simple for you.

Unreserved praise!.......2002-03-14

For all pilots! I purchased this book over ten years ago and I try to reread it each spring. This book condenses need to know information into useable "bites," and makes weather interesting and understandable. You will learn things about temperature dew point relationships and many other aspects of weather and weather flying that you may never hear any other place. If you are looking for a book that will better prepare you for the dynamics of weather flying, this is one of the very best.

severe weather flying.......2002-01-25

This is a must read book for any pilot who does serious weather flying. Dennis takes the mumbo jumbo and puts it in terms that are very easy to understand. With thirty two years of flying under my belt, this is the only book that makes practical sense of very technical issues.

Excellent for professional aviators.......1999-06-27

Good detail, personal tips & hints that I haven't seen in any other text. Although it is US orientated, it contains a wealth of interesting information.

Written the way all technical books for pilots should be........1999-01-12

Dennis Newton had a goal of writing a book that pilots could understand and use. With over 10 years of line flying under my belt since reading (and re-reading) his book I believe it is the definitive book on the subject of thunderstorm and windshear avoidance for professional pilots. Every professional pilot needs this one in his library.

Freaks of the Storm: From Flying Cows to Stealing Thunder: The World's Strangest True Weather Stories

Average customer rating:

Collection of weather oddities...
Very Interesting
Good Info, Poorly Written
From freak hailstones with horns and colored snowflakes to rainfalls of frogs
Exciting and Well-Written

Freaks of the Storm: From Flying Cows to Stealing Thunder: The World's Strangest True Weather Stories
Randy Cerveny
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Rivers | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Weather | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1560258012

Book Description

In the course of his numerous talks and presentations to college and grade school students, civic clubs, and nursing homes, climatologist Randy Cerveny found that people of all ages are fascinated by the "unusual"—and he seized on that fascination to tell them about strange weather. Now, in his first book, the rest of us can learn of real, documented stories such as these:

• Odd occurrences of chickens losing all their feathers during tornadoes (so-called "chicken plucking");

• Strange stories of finding lightning victims who have been completely stripped of all of their clothes (through a process known as "the vapor effect");

• Weird stories of how past powerful hailstorms have both led to the ending of one war—and the complete prevention of another;

• Bizarre uses of weather—such as the strange contraption called a “windwagon” that literally "sailed" nearly 500 miles from Kansas to Colorado;

Each chapter in Freaks of the Storm encompasses the oddities of a specific type of weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning, and hail. The author also divides specific conditions into a set of categories associated with the overall phenomena.

Customer Reviews:

Collection of weather oddities..........2006-08-25

I enjoy reading and learning about weather. In all my science classes, I never got much instruction about how weather works...even in physics. So now I am pursuing learning about it for my own curiosity and protection. Being deaf in an area which occasionally sees tornadoes and the end parts of hurricanes, which can be devastating here because of flooding, I have no way to hear the sirens they blare when approaching bad weather occurs. Unfortunately, this is a major problem for most deaf people, and no one seems to be doing anything about it. The only person who died two years ago when PIttsburgh got clobbered by 3 hurricanes in rapid succession, was a deaf man who did not know the area was flooding. This happens on a regular basis.

Anyway, I could see that this book was less about weather and more about the odd things that happen in bad weather. The book explains where a lot of old sayings come from, and the possible/probable reasons for 'raining fish' and other such things. This book had a lot of information in it I had read before in more serious books, but there were some good stories in it also.

This isn't the book you want if you are serious about learning about weather. Like I said, the author who is a weather researcher, gathered up all these stories especially in our country about weather. I am sure in every country and language, there are similar stories to be told about horrific weather...the U.S. is unique in some ways for having to bear the brunt of the Atlantic hurricanes. I am sure there are unexplored places in Russian where there may be weather phenomena we are not familiar with...as well as interesting stories from the people who inhabit such places. It would have been interesting to get more information from other countries.

The writing is so-so. Definitely not on par with Erik Larson's Issac's Storm, which I think is a classic of this genre.

Karen Sadler

Very Interesting.......2006-06-22

This is a great book to have on a table to spark some conversation. It has amazing pictures and stories. There are a few errors I noticed, two so far, in which the author refers to something he says he previously said, but which isn't there, and another odd error. I'll be more specific later. I rated it four stars because of those errors.

Good Info, Poorly Written.......2006-06-01

I have to confess that I am not a weather buff, but the subject matter is very intriguing. Who wouldn't want to read about people seeing into the vortex of a tornado, or a person having the car he was driving safely lifted and set down onto the top of a building by a tornado? There are many great stories here. There is also a lot of interesting information about how weather forms, as well as countless quotes from scientists and weather observers from the past several thousand years.
Cerveny is very knowledgeable about weather, however, he apparently does not understand some of the basic points of good writing. There are many redundancies such as "fatally killing" on page 50 and again "fatally struck and killed" on page 64, to name a few. Some points the author makes are obvious, such as on pages 104-105 in which Cerveny quotes another scientist to come to the stunning conclusion that the sound of hail comes from "the combined sound of hailstones falling on surface objects." Duh! There is also an error on pp. 104-105. Section 9 of the Hail chapter, "The Sound of Hail" progresses to Section 9 (instead of 10) "Most Hail Accumulation." Was there an editor for this book? Apparently, the author is a contributing editor for Weatherwise, the magazine, but someone should have checked his writing. I recently finished a Master's degree in another field (not English, by the way) and, though my own writing is far from perfect, my professors would never have let me get away with the errors I find every time I pick up this book. There is a wealth of interesting information here, but the writing problems are a major distraction.

From freak hailstones with horns and colored snowflakes to rainfalls of frogs.......2006-05-21

Any interested in weather and its changing impact on human lives will find FREAKS OF THE STORM: THE WORLD'S STRANGEST TRUE WEATHER STORIES a compelling presentation. From freak hailstones with horns and colored snowflakes to rainfalls of frogs, climatologist Randy Cerveny uses his database of some 8,000 recorded strange weather events to provide a lively survey of the many forms of strange weather. Even leisure browsers with little usual interest in weather will find it a fun survey.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

Exciting and Well-Written.......2006-03-21

This book is almost an encyclopedia of weather phenomena and related stories. In about 340 pages of text, the author recounts over 500 weather-related stories, all categorized by the type of weather phenomenon involved, e.g., tornadoes, hail, rain, snow, etc. The author's writing style is very friendly and engaging; the reader can tell that he has a passion for his subject matter. In most cases, some possible scientific explanations are given for the odd events; in other cases, no explanations are given other than, perhaps, a tongue-in-cheek comment alluding to the veracity of the story. The author's sources are given as is a discussion on some weather archivists - both past and present. This is a very entertaining book and a very easy and enjoyable read. Since most people are interested in the weather, this book should be very popular with just about everyone.

Average customer rating:

Another fine text from RC
Get a briefing and fly IFR with more confidence

Flying the Weather Map
Richard L. Collins
Manufacturer: Aviation Supplies & Academics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1560273194

Book Description

Written for pilots who want to improve their flight weather forecasting skills, this manual provides an in-depth discussion of the basic theory and logic of aviation weathercasting and an analysis of 46 instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flights made in a light airplane in all seasons. Each flight episode is illustrated with pre-takeoff upper-level and surface weather maps and a small-scale chart, which clearly traces the progress of the flight and the actual in-flight weather conditions.

Customer Reviews:

Another fine text from RC.......2007-08-01

I've always been a Richard Collins fan -- even when I was 11 and bought "Flying" magazine off the drug store rack and pored over every article -- understanding maybe 15%.

The percentage is higher now, but I still need to read and re-read to fully comprehend all the material presented.

The chapter on Lows is worth the price of this book. Every IFR and VFR pilot should buy and read this book. If you find you don't understand half of what Dick is talking about, it's time to go back to the basic Aviation Weather texts and get up to speed. Nothing is more critical to GA flying safety than the PIC's complete understanding of the Weather picture before launch and during flight.

Get a briefing and fly IFR with more confidence.......2002-06-14

This is one of the best books that I've come across. Richard L. Collins does a great job of covering the basics of weather and what is really going on in order to build on real useful knowledge. Once he completes that, Richard takes you on 40+ actual flights where he talks about the briefing that he got, what the weather is really like and what the NOOA maps showed after the flight (since they always look at the past).

You learn more than just about weather. You learn about how to work with FSS, what to ask, and why forecasts are sometimes so different than actual when they shouldn't be. After reading this, I felt a lot more confident about my IFR weather planning and flying and look at the weather with a whole new mind set.

Customer Reviews:

Exceptionally well written.......2001-05-23

Mr. Hinebaugh displays a refreshing blend of literary brilliance and technical understanding. His crystal clear descriptions of his experiences deliver what an aviator is looking for . . . a complex read of operating aircraft in extreme conditions. I would rank this work along with Antoine De Saint Exupery's, `Wind, Sand and Stars' as one of the best aviation books available.

Poorly informed pilot presents one-sided view?.......2000-01-04

This book is a great read as a story of adventure. But as a scientist - and one with colleagues who have worked in Antarctica, including on one of the experiments touched on in this book - I found mis-statments in the narrative and footnotes suggesting that the author was not well-informed about the science he was "supporting". He certainly supported the science logistically, but he comes across as very unsupportive of the scientific enterprise in general. A pity then that an otherwise enjoyable book should be marred by a poor attitude towards the scientific research that provided the reason for the author to be in Antarctica in the first place.

Very well written! Descriptions that will make you shiver!.......1999-05-16

Love this very well written book. Took me awhile to read but this was due to my 13 year old son grabbing it to read before I was finished. He was very into this and his remarks "Cool book!" sums it up rather well. The Shaman of the weather guessers really makes me wonder how these guys kept their tempers in check at times. Description of the lands and the changing conditions along with the flying difficulties of all the unique situations that come up makes this a very enjoyable and easily read book. Thanks Mark for giving me and my son something to talk about for quite awhile!

Outstanding! Now I know what its like being in the coldest.......1999-04-06

place on the planet as only an incredibly brave Naval Pilot could. Thanks Mark for getting us there and bringing us back home again safely!

A spendid read.......1999-03-01

Very few pilots are great writers. Here's one of the exceptions. Hinebaugh (then an Air Force pilot, now flying commercially) salts his narrative with deceptively beautiful lines, along with gutsy tales of flying under almost impossible conditions. Great nuggets also: did you know that planes at the South Pole can spew out contrails while still on the ground, thereby creating such a fog that they can't take off? Don't be put off by the silly title. It's a splendid book.

Average customer rating:

Great Book, Especially for UK Pilots

Pilot's Weather
Brian Cosgrove
Manufacturer: The Crowood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Weather | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This book breaks new ground in the presentation of what is and should be presented as a fascinating and vitally important part of a pilot's skill. Gone are the dreary old monotone drawings of isobars and fronts, endless graphs and reams of figures and in bounce full color photos of what you actually see - clouds and cloudscapes that tell you instantly what's happening to the air around you. For those who fly aircraft and micros, gliders or kites - this book makes the weather make sense.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book, Especially for UK Pilots.......2000-10-07

This is a great book that explains weather as it relates to flying. Unfortunately, the author has written primarily for a UK audience and there are differences in some procedures (such as altimeter use) and terminology. That makes it less than perfect for US pilots like me! But it's still a great book and worth adding to any pilot's personal library.

Flying America's Weather: A Pilot's Tour of Our Nation's Weather Regions (Focus Series)

Average customer rating:

Handy regional weather guide for general aviators

Flying America's Weather: A Pilot's Tour of Our Nation's Weather Regions (Focus Series)
Thomas A. Horne
Manufacturer: Aviation Supplies & Academics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Weather Flying
Severe Weather Flying: Increase Your Knowledge and Skill in Avoidance of Thunderstorms, Icing, and Extreme Weather
The Weather Book: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to the USA's Weather
The Killing Zone: How & Why Pilots Die

ASIN: 1560273690

Book Description

This fascinating volume encompasses the viewpoints of a pilot with a special aptitude for and interest in meteorology, who can explain the climates and phenomena that can be found in every region of America in every season. With maps, photos, and illuminating text, it explains what to expect, how to prepare for, and how to enjoy the best and the worst of America's flying weather.

Customer Reviews:

Handy regional weather guide for general aviators.......2000-08-20

This well-organized volume breaks down the U.S. into 17 distinct regions, including states whose weather is characteristic enough to justify their own chapters (Alaska, Hawaii, California, Texas and Florida). Horne, an experienced pilot, accomplishes something unusual for anyone, scientist or aviator: He explains meteorological terms and weather events in straightfoward, example-laden ways which should be easy for any worthy pilot to comprehend, and cites scientific references for further reading. In the regions where they are most common, various weather phenomena (e.g., downbursts, hurricanes, derechoes, tornadoes, rotors, fog, icing, squall lines, snowstorms, extreme heat and cold, and more) are made relevant to the pilot through plainly written explanations, combined with historic examples of their roles in aviation incidents. While memorizing definitions to pass the FAA knowledge exam may be enough to get one's license; this book takes the pilot an important step beyond by allowing him to *understand* the weather behind those terms on the test. The only significant flaw is the liberal use of website addresses, many of which will change during the several years this book resides on library shelves. Still, Horne's book should be in every general aviator's library.

Fair-Weather Flying (Thomasson-Grant Aviation Library)

Average customer rating:

Fair-Weather Flying (Thomasson-Grant Aviation Library)
Richard L. Taylor
Manufacturer: Aviation Supplies & Academics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Understanding Flying

ASIN: 156566034X

Book Description

The author shows the VFR pilot and student how to "bite off chewable-size chunks of progressively more demanding situations," accepting a little more crosswind, a little more turbulence, a little less runway. Taylor challenges you to venture outside the narrow channels of training days to get more out of your airplane and the time you spend in the air. Hard cover, 333 pages, glossary and index included.

Understanding Flying Weather (Flying & Gliding)

Average customer rating:

Understanding Flying Weather (Flying & Gliding)
Derek Piggott
Manufacturer: A&C Black
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Weather | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0713643463

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