Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 07.02.06

Landing on a wet runway? Beware of hydroplaning.

Hydroplaning occurs when a thin film of water builds between a tire and actually lifts it from the runway. Tires are no longer in contact with the ground; braking looses its effectiveness, and you may not be able to steer the airplane.

Studies show that hydroplaning can occur in as little as one-tenth inch of water. The speed at which an airplane tire hydroplanes is a direction function of the tire pressure. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) identifies the hydroplaning critical speed as nine times the square root of the tire pressure. This means most light airplanes can hydroplane at as low as 50 knots.

NASA Critical Speed for Hydroplaning

Landing on a wet runway

Aviation legend Sparky Imeson tells us that to avoid hydroplaning when landing on a wet runway:

• Touch down as close to the approach end of the runway as possible, to maximize available landing distance
• Plan a firm arrival, to put the tires solidly against the pavement
• Lower the nose wheel as soon as possible to maximize steering capability
• Avoid applying brakes at or above the NASA critical speed for your airplane
• Retract flaps to put more weight on the wheels, increasing directional control (note: attempting to retract flaps during the landing roll is a common cause of inadvertent landing gear retraction in retractable-gear airplanes)
• Divert to a more suitable airport if a wet runway is combined with a crosswind

Aero-tip of the day: Anticipate hydroplaning, and adjust your landing technique accordingly.

FMI: Aero-Tips