When the largest Atlantic tropical storm to be recorded - Hurricane Sandy - hit the United States, FlightAware reported that there were close to twenty thousand flight cancelations. Although it was initially assessed that a hurricane as strong as Sandy would only occur once every century, InsiderNJ revealed that the rising sea levels would increase the occurrences four-fold.

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The World Meteorological Organization reports that close to 85 tropical storms develop over the Earth's warm tropical oceans each year. More than half of these develop into hurricanes.

What this means for the aviation industry is that airlines and airports have to prepare extremely well to handle hurricanes, which are defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a storm whose "maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph".

Photo: US Air Force

How big a threat are hurricanes (to the aviation industry)?

Inclement weather conditions are the biggest reasons behind flight cancelations. A few days ago, ABC News reported that Hurricane Helene had already caused the cancelation of nearly nine hundred flights on a given day. Between September 27 and September 30 alone, 1,753 departures and 1,740 arrivals in the US had been canceled.

Here are some numbers that reflect the scope of hurricanes:

Three major hurricanes, seven hurricanes, and fourteen named storms in the Atlantic hurricane season [June 1-November 30]. An average of eight hurricanes, four major hurricanes, and fifteen named storms in the Pacific hurricane season [May 15-November 30].

Note that these numbers reflect statistical averages of over thirty years.

Photo: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater via Wikimedia.

However, NASA warns that there might be an increase in the intensity of hurricanes due to climate change. As the agency stated,

" In a hurricane, spiraling winds draw moist air toward the center, fueling the towering thunderstorms that surround it. As the air continues to warm due to climate change, hurricanes can hold more water vapor, producing more intense rainfall rates in a storm... most models show that climate change brings a slight increase in hurricane wind intensity . This change is likely related to warming ocean temperatures and more moisture in the air, both of which fuel hurricanes."

Given that Hurricane Helene resulted in 230 flight cancelations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) alone, one can only extrapolate that more flight cancelations when (hurricane) wind intensifies due to climate change in the future. Here is how airlines (and passengers alike) have been affected by hurricanes in the past:

Hurricane Ian led to the cancelation of over 2,000 flights on the East Coast in 2022. Hurricane Idalia led to the cancelation of hundreds of flights in 2023, as reported by CNN.

Photo: Pierre Markuse | Flickr

Despite how bad weather can disrupt flights, Alternative Airlines reported that July 2024 marked the 30th year without "domestic airliner crashes caused by a thunderstorm downburst."

How do airlines deal with hurricanes?

It might come as a surprise to many people that aircraft such as the Lockheed WP-3D Orion (Hurricane Hunter) are capable of flying into the eye of the hurricane. However, these are exceptional aircraft that are deployed by organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect data about hurricanes. The aircraft can accommodate 20 people, comprising:

Two pilots A flight engineer A flight director A navigator A radio/avionics specialist Two engineering/electronics specialists Up to 12 scientists

Photo: NASA | Wikimedia Commons

Information collected (and later analyzed by scientists) helps forecast a hurricane's path, size, and speed. The information is then received by airlines and pilots. While it is possible for pilots to fly over hurricanes, as attested by Meteorologist and pilot James Aydelott (in an article by The Points Guy),

"As far as aviation goes, most tropical systems and hurricanes are, generally, not as tall as traditional thunderstorms. The tallest convection in a tropical cyclone is usually clustered around the central core of rotation, whether that's just a low pressure, or in a hurricane, an eye ... As far as flying goes, there should be no issues flying above a hurricane in an aircraft equipped to monitor radar echo tops."

....flying over a hurricane isn't standard practice. Airlines generally rely on weather predictions done by bodies such as the NOAA to plan and prepare for safe operations.

How do airports prepare for hurricanes?

Airport managers play a seminal role when a hurricane approaches an airport. The managers are responsible not only for management of airport workers but also for ensuring the safety of passengers. Let's take a look at the various duties they supervise:

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Role

Responsibilities

Securing the airport and surrounding areas

Tying things in need of additional support during strong winds Moving support vehicles to safe locations

Effective communication

Constant communication with:

Relevant (local and federal) government authorities People who are in need of (or provide) emergency services Airlines operating to and from the airport

Planning

Co-ordinating with organizations that provide weather updates Ensuring proper practise of disaster related drills.

If the wind exceeds a threshold of 40mph, the airport managers need to ensure that the airports are shut down.

The role of the FAA in dealing with hurricanes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s Joint Air Traffic Operations Command (JATOC) works closely with federal, state, and local partners to prepare for air travel disruptions caused by hurricanes. Some of the works include:

Data collection Decision-making Synchronization of efforts

Photo : Byjeng | Shutterstock

The control towers of FAA located in hurricane-prone areas can function well despite adverse weather, with each tower having "a predetermined threshold for wind resistance". air traffic controllers (ATC)s evacuate the tower cabins and operate from lower levels if the wind approaches the threshold level.

All in all, the airports, airlines, and the FAA work closely with one another to ensure aviation safety in case of (impending) hurricanes.