Flying in the rain

If it's raining when you look out from the gate, you might think “maybe not today”. For aviation, rain is a very ordinary day.

Rain and aircraft

Airliners are designed and certified to take off and land in rain. Engines are tested to swallow heavy water and keep running, and runways are built with slopes and grooves that drain water quickly.

At takeoff

You'll see drops streaking sideways across the window. Soon after takeoff you enter the rain cloud; a grey window and a few light bumps are normal. Once you climb above the cloud layer you often find sunshine.

At landing

On a wet runway pilots put the aircraft down more firmly on purpose, so the tyres cut through the water and grip the runway well. That's why a rainy-day landing can feel a bit more “solid”. The sound of reverse thrust follows right after.

Rain and turbulence

Light and moderate rain doesn't cause bumps on its own; the movement comes from air currents inside the cloud. Pilots see heavy clouds on weather radar and fly around them. In SafeSkies you can check the rain at your destination and the turbulence forecast along your route ahead of time.