The Top End wet season in Australia presents various hazards for pilots flying under visual flight rules (VFR).
Some of the challenges typical at this time of year are:
- poor visibility
- severe turbulence
- icing and lighting.
The wet season begins at the start of November and finishes at the end of April.
Across the Top End the average rainfall is 1200mm. Humidity increases and temperatures rise, ranging from 25C to 33C.
If you are flying across the Top End, it’s important to know what to do if the weather deteriorates during a flight.
View our wet season webinars and seminars on the CASA Briefing YouTube channel.The most recent ones are listed below.
2022 Wet season operations webinar
Our industry experts discuss how pilots can make better decisions when managing hazards while flying during the wet season in the Top End.
You will hear from:
- Tim Penney, Aviation Safety Advisor, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
- Michael Paech, Senior Aviation Meteorologist, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
- Dean Jones, Senior Officer Standards North Asset Management & Preparedness, Australian Maritime Safety Australia (AMSA)
- Leanne Costin, Director Operations Primary Towers North, Airservices Australia
- Jason Wicksteed, Cobham Special Missions.
The panel discusses weather patterns that pilots will encounter during the wet season and some of the typical adverse weather behaviour signs to look for.
Watch the 2022 Wet season operations webinar on YouTube.
2021 Flying in the wet season seminar
Hosted by Aviation Safety Advisor, Terry Horsam, this seminar focuses on operational hazards and decision-making in the challenging and dynamic wet season weather.
Senior Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigator, Peter Ayre analyses the factors behind an incident involving a Cessna 210, and discusses his key aviation safety messages.
Other guest presenters who share their close calls and lessons learnt include:
- Captain Ian Silvester, Airnorth training and checking pilot. With more than 20 years of experience flying in the Top End, Ian’s operated small VFR aircraft, Embraer Brasilia, and E-Jet types
- Harry Burns-Fabb, Bureau of Meteorology. An aviation weather forecaster with years of experience up north. His personal interests include monsoonal activity and the challenges in predicting the weather
- Squadron Leader James (Jimmy) Lee, Darwin Air Traffic Control. Jimmy is currently operations commander and check controller in approach.