GA1322

We’re grateful to the reporter for giving us this frank and open report, and for their self-critical assessment of lessons learned. Given the gusty conditions forecast, they probably shouldn’t have operated the aircraft anyway but if you are operating in gusty or windy conditions then don’t just think about how to manage the take-off or landing but also think about the taxy as well. Funnelling of wind between hangars and other structures is a known issue and should be considered as part of a pilot’s TEM considerations in gusty/windy conditions. This can be a particularly significant issue for high-wing aircraft or tail-draggers, both of which can be more prone to the effects of gusty wind conditions on the ground. If you are taxying in gusty conditions then also think about placing the control column in an appropriate position to counter any gusts. Finally, note that forecasts of gusts are not amended until they exceed the current gust forecast by 10kts or the mean speed by 15kts (see Met Office guide ‘What TAF values really mean’), so gusts might be 9kts higher than in a TAF before it is changed and so this should also be considered in TEM assessments.