| Quote: Originally Posted by 3D-Seth | | | |
| The info I got on this said they were at 35,000 feet. I am not up on full scale but that would seem to me that they would be above all weather. I just posted what was given to me but I would almost bet they hit it on their down line to land.
Seth | |
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35,000 isn't squat to a big thunderstorm... It's not uncommon for them to hit 50,000 MSL in the US. I think the record is a little over 70,000 MSL, but that wasn't in the US. Another dangerous part about thunderstorms is that a strong one can throw hail like you wouldn't believe. I know they can throw hail several miles to either side, and some can throw them several thousand feet above the storm. Don't mess with big thunderstorms, regardless of the plane you're in.
BTW, situations like this are good examples of why pilots aren't "glorified bus drivers". Pilots are trained and paid for what might/can happen. Not what usually does.