Do passenger aircraft slow down alot in thunderstorms?

Question

So there will be significant delays?

Answer 1

All certified aircraft have a published manuevering speed that is normally lower than their maximum cruise speed. This speed is intended to be low enough that the wing will stall (loose lift) and therefore unload before the forces can reach high enough levels to break the aircraft's structure. When entering an area of known turbulence, such as a thunderstorm, the aircraft will be slowed to or below the manuevering speed in order to prevent risk of structural failure.

In general, most passenger aircraft go to great pains to avoid thunderstorms. This is due to passenger comfort, the risk of damage from hail (particularly hard on radomes, leading edges and engines) and extreme turbulence.

Answer 2

no they dont. befor the flight pilot ll get the wether report, by that he can  avoide the storm areas

Answer 3

In addition to what Bucky said, we slow down so we can enjoy 'em longer!

Avoidance is really the key, as many of the others have pointed out.

Answer 4

Not so much from the thunderstorm but from the wind.   Headwinds will slow a plane most,   tail winds will push it along.     Most often,  if a bad thunderstorm is near,  pilots will go over or around if possible.

Answer 5

In the air....

The usual slowdown occurs when the plane tries to go around thunderstorms (and not through them) to avoid wind shear.

But if the thunderstorm is a supercell (the largest thunderstorm type, usually with rotating updrafts), the plane usually is diverted to another airport that didn't get thunderstorms above.

At the airport....

The usual slowdown for a plane during a thunderstorm is the "ground stop", where

planes cannot take off and have to stay at the gate, tarmac, or even the runway if the takeoff path leads directly into the thunderstorm. The ground stop continues as long as the thunderstorms are around....and only until the storms pass or clear away can the planes take off from there. This is where most of the aviation-related thunderstorm delays happen.

Answer 6

yeah we try to avoid them if at all possible and flying around them will incur afew minutes delay normally. if we encounter turbulence we will slow down too but not that much below normal cruise speed.

Answer 7

Passenger aircraft try to avoid thunderstorms at all costs.  They will fly through some if they are relatively weak, but the general rule is to avoid all thunderstorm activity by at least 20 nautical miles.