Wind gusts is preventing Ryanair flights to land at Palermo Falcone Borcellino Airport in Sicily.
Wind gusts up to 43 kt are currently preventing flights to land at PMO airport. Wind shear is a sudden and drastic change in wind speed or direction over a relatively short distance—either horizontally or vertically. In aviation, this phenomenon poses a serious hazard, especially during takeoff and landing phases when aircraft are operating close to the ground and have limited time and space to recover from unexpected changes in flight dynamics.
Flights diverted:
- Ryanair flight #FR2313 from Torino is diverting to Catania.
- Ryanair flight #FR6450 from Catania is diverting to Palermo.
What Causes Wind Shear?
Wind shear can be caused by various weather events and conditions, including:
- Thunderstorms: Downdrafts and microbursts can create powerful horizontal winds that shift suddenly.
- Jet streams: High-altitude fast-moving air currents can lead to abrupt changes in wind speed.
- Temperature inversions: Layers of warm air above cool air can trap wind currents, creating sharp shifts in wind direction or strength.
- Frontal boundaries: When two air masses collide, especially with different temperatures, wind shear can develop along the front.
Why is Wind Shear So Dangerous?
The danger lies in the fact that wind shear can alter an aircraft’s lift and trajectory without warning. For example:
- On Takeoff: A sudden tailwind can reduce lift, causing the aircraft to stall at low altitude.
- On Landing: An abrupt shift from headwind to tailwind can cause a loss of airspeed and lift, leading to a hard landing or runway overrun.
- In Flight: Severe wind shear can destabilize the aircraft, making it difficult to maintain control or altitude.
Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport (IATA: PMO, ICAO: LICJ), also known as Palermo Airport or formerly Punta Raisi Airport, is an international airport located in Cinisi, approximately 35 km (22 miles) northwest of Palermo, Sicily’s capital. It serves as the second busiest airport on the island, following Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, handling over 8 million passengers in 2023.
