
GRUMMAN AMERICAN
FOR TRAINING USE ONLY – SECTION 10
MODEL GA-7/COUGAR
SAFETY INFORMATION
10-8
Issued: April 10, 1978
TURBULENT WEATHER
A complete weather briefing prior to beginning a flight is an essential element of a safe trip.
Updating of weather information enroute is another safety aid. However, the wise pilot also knows weather
conditions change quickly at times and treats weather forecasting as professional advice rather than an absolute
fact. He obtains all the advice he can, but still stays alert by using his knowledge of weather conditions.
Plan the flight to avoid areas of severe turbulence and thunderstorms. It is not always possible to detect individual
storm areas or find the in-between clear areas.
Thunderstorms, squall lines, and violent turbulence should be regarded as extremely dangerous and should be
avoided. The hail and tornadic wind velocities encountered in thunderstorms can destroy any airplane, just as
tornados destroy nearly everything in their path on the ground.
A roll cloud ahead of a squall line or thunderstorm is visible evidence of violent turbulence. However, the absence
of a roll cloud should not be interpreted as denoting the lack of turbulence.
FLIGHT IN TURBULENT AIR
Even though flight in severe turbulence is to be avoided, flight in turbulent air may be encountered under certain
conditions.
Flying through turbulent air presents two basic problems, to both of which the answer is proper airspeed. If you
maintain an excessive airspeed, you run the risk of structural damage or failure. If your airspeed is too low, you
run the risk of stalling.
If turbulence encountered in cruise or descent becomes uncomfortable to the pilot or passengers, the best
procedure is to reduce speed to the maneuvering speed listed in the limitations section of this handbook.
This speed gives the best assurance of avoiding excessive stress loads, and at the same time provides a margin of
airspeed to prevent inadvertent stalls due to gusts.
Beware of over controlling in attempting to correct for changes in altitude; applying control pressure abruptly will
build up g-forces rapidly and could cause damaging structural stress loads. You should watch particularly your
angle of bank, making turns as wide and shallow as possible, and be equally cautious in applying forward or back
pressure to keep the nose level. Maintain straight and level attitude in either up or down drafts. Use trim
sparingly to avoid being grossly mistrimmed as the vertical air columns change velocity and direction.
FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS
An airplane which does not have all critical areas protected in a proper manner must not be exposed to icing
encounters – the pilot should make an immediate 180 degree turn when icing conditions are encountered.