How to avoid low pressure systems:

…and once again it‘s #flightplanning #friday !

The last couple nightshifts on #dispatch duty confronted me with some challenging #flightplanning – as a series of low pressure systems with associated fronts was battering Europe with storms and heavy rain (A) #weather #nerd 🤓

For a JFK-FRA #flight, I thus chose LEJ (EDDP) as Alternate #airport (ALTN) as WX was to hit there later (B). I added 3 more #aerodrome widely spread for info (C) (with LEJ giving the highest Altn Fuel anyway, the #pilots would have all options).

Additionally, with shitty #WX at enroute airports too, I chose the maximum Contingency fuel policy (D).

Some NOTAM and Performance check – and it was route planning time!The #NAT once again confronted me with turbulence fcst all over – but the SIGWX didn‘t really match the CAT (clear air turb) gradients (green, A).

Plus, departing the crowded East Coast airports for the super crowded North Atlantic Track system, you can‘t just fly any route to any track.

Having matched the North Atlantic Advisory (B) and tried out several options, I decided on my #plane’s route (C): I ruled out the optimum (MFT; blue route in A) and a north routing (yellow) that still involved hours of turb at a very long flighttime.

Instead, following the turb fcst, I chose a track further south (red rte) – plus a higher-than-optimum level (D) to overfly the jet and its turb upon Oceanic entry.

After confirming my decision with the latest sat image and wind overlay (E), I wrote some briefing remarks to the #flightcrew, attached the turb chart – and released #flightplan.

Several hours (and some sleep) later, the #aircraft had landed safely at FRA – and I received feedback by one #pilot the conservative planning had paid off, at only occasional light turb.

So, the one to spill their coffee this time wasn‘t #cabincrew but me 😅

#flightplanningissexy #flightdispatch #avgeek #dispatcherproblems #flying #dowhatyoulove #lovewhatyoudo #aviation #ilovemyjob