Florida weather

[Killtron2000]

I was thinking what would be the best time of year to take flight training down south. Has anyone done it during the summer? Was the heat an issue?

http://countrystudies.us/united-stat...ort-pierce.htm

What about hurricanes?

[TheFlyingTurkey]

I did all my flight training at Pan Am Fort Pierce. The heat wasn't really an issue, yes it's hot in the summer on the ramp, but once you take off and get some altitude it cools off. Practicing touch-and-goes you will sweat though, as it isn't much cooler at traffic pattern altitude.

The thunderstorms in Florida are usually pretty small, one cell storms that you can fly around. Not a big deal, unless you're IFR then you just have to make sure ATC doesn't vector you into one. In the summer, every day between 2:00 PM till about 6:00 PM you will get thunderstorms. Although they do occur at any time during the day. I almost never cancelled a local flight, and only a few cross countries due to lines of t-storms blocking the route.

Hurricanes are another issue all together. In 2004 Fort Pierce took a direct hit by 2 hurricanes only a month apart. I was a CFI and the school closed for 2 months for repairs. Last year 2005, South Florida got direct hits from 2 hurricanes. Katrina & Wilma. While they didn't hit Fort Pierce, I think they still disrupted flight training.

FPR is a good training airport, with VRB right next door, and good instrument approaches at both airports. The normal weather you can deal with. Hurricanes appear to be increasing in frequency, but you can't predict where they will go.

[greaper007]

Originally Posted by TheFlyingTurkey

I did all my flight training at Pan Am Fort Pierce. The heat wasn't really an issue, yes it's hot in the summer on the ramp, but once you take off and get some altitude it cools off. Practicing touch-and-goes you will sweat though, as it isn't much cooler at traffic pattern altitude.

What are you complaining about, you guys had air conditioned planes .

Unless you have that disease where you're not able to sweat the heat really isn't that bad. I lived in Dallas for about 10 years and the heat is much worse there. Also, if you're worried about density altitude and performance it's a factor, but not a huge factor in the Duchess. I came here from Cleveland and I can say that I'd much rather have the heat to the cold.

[Killtron2000]

I'm moving to montana in a couple days but I'm use to the weather in cali. My first solo was 8700 feet density altitude in a C172R so DA is not my biggest worry but I'm worried about training in florida during the summer because of thunderstorms and hurricanes. I'll put up with the heat as long as it isn't a big distraction to flying. Hurricane trends seem to be on the rise but maybe it just seems that way because there were a couple big ones in the news.

[Mr_Creepy]

"Moving to Montana Soon?"


(Look out he's about to break in to song!)

[AFdude411]

Killtron,

I trained a lot out of PIE and then SUA (west and east coasts of FL) and the training in the summer isnt that bad. Sure there are almost gauranteed thunderstorms every afternoon, but most can be flown around. And if you fly early enough in the day or out over the water it stays pretty smooth.

All in all, just be prepared for some thermals and scattered t-storms. Not really much of a big deal at all. Good times!

Best of luck!

[Killtron2000]

Alright cool I think turbulence is fun except on a checkride. If I can't be a pilot then I can always be a dental floss tycoon.

[greaper007]

Thunderstorms are something to worry about kill. Not so much on your local training flights, but when you do IFR cross countries you'll really have to be vigilant. Even airmass thunderstorms can tear a small plane apart.

Hurricanes on the other hand are such an enormous variable. I've been through two hurricanes now. Luckily we were far enough away from both of them that they weren't destructive at all. They were really like a really windy rain storm. I ended up going outside and walking/driving around during the last one. However, if you get that bad hurricane that hits where you live directly you can be looking at serious delays. It's really just a coin flip.

The great thing about Florida that makes up for everything is that you can fly nearly everyday. When I lived in Cleveland it took me a month of coming to the airport every other day to find a day with weather good enough for my solo cross country. Of course then my radios stopped working 10 mins into the flight.

Also, the other thing you really need to be careful of is people in Florida. They're a little bizarre and their driving skills leave much to be desired.

[Killtron2000]

Yeah I've been thinking about a gps with XM weather there expensive and there is a monthly fee but I want it. If a hurricane causes huge delays I'll just go back home until its sorted out. The weather sounds alot like colorado during the summer. We have thunder storms most days that roll over and then by 4 they are usually just scattered little pockets I havn't had much trouble with those. But if heat and weather become too much of a problem would it be possible to do most of my flying at night?

[kailuaboy]

the owner actually incourages night flying. But the instructor makes up the schedule. So get onto your instructor to fly at night. If not, find another instructor. I heard theres more instructors than students over there now, so I bet he/or she, would fly at night if you want to; for fear of loosing a student.

[greaper007]

Originally Posted by kailuaboy

the owner actually incourages night flying. But the instructor makes up the schedule. So get onto your instructor to fly at night. If not, find another instructor. I heard theres more instructors than students over there now, so I bet he/or she, would fly at night if you want to; for fear of loosing a student.

Shhh, don't tell him our secrets Ivan. The night is when we all get togethor and watch american idol.

[dbakeg00]

Ivan...shouldnt you be studying how many illegal protesting immigrants you can fit into a 145? And what the left tire pressure should be on a hot day while making a left crosswind landing?

[Cactus_Cutter]

Originally Posted by kailuaboy

the owner actually incourages night flying. But the instructor makes up the schedule. So get onto your instructor to fly at night. If not, find another instructor. I heard theres more instructors than students over there now, so I bet he/or she, would fly at night if you want to; for fear of loosing a student.

I fly my students day, night, wind, rain, weekends, holidays, etc etc etc...

[kailuaboy]

Originally Posted by dbakeg00

Ivan...shouldnt you be studying how many illegal protesting immigrants you can fit into a 145? And what the left tire pressure should be on a hot day while making a left crosswind landing?

tire pressure....lol.... they make it a very good point to "why the hell do we need to know what the tire pressure is? thats MX's job, you gonna go out there and test the tires before every flight?
I love their views here "if you cant touch it in the cockpit, you dont need to know it". You do need to know what each button does though and what system its connected to and what valve either opens or closes.

Update: I am through our FTD sessions and passed the Systems Written (which was a frickin tough), INDOC, and passed the Oral. My PC is on the 23rd. I start in the sim tomorrow.

[dbakeg00]

Ivan...i might be coming to visit Houston soon...if I do, I will give you a call and you can let me sit left seat on the 145

[Killtron2000]

Alright that doesn't sound too bad. So far in my research I keep coming back to ari-ben as the best option. I also got a cosigner for a loan I could do this soon but I want to visit the school first, florida is a 2 day drive at least from where I'm at. Any ideas? would it be worth it to fly down and tour the school for a day and then fly back.