23/06/2017
Can it be too wet to fly?
Similarly to windy weather, heavy rain has more of an impact on landing and runways, especially the former, when pilots need to adjust their anticipated landing distance according to how much water is on the runway.
However, most runways are constructed in such a way that though they might get wet, the chance of standing water is very slim.
Hydroplaning - where aircraft, or indeed any vehicle, essentially skids on the surface of a pool of water, rendering braking and steering redundant - is the most dangerous outcome of a wet runway. Pilots are sometimes advised to ensure a firm touchdown to prevent early skids.
