Ep 3. Cruel Skies

An invisible microburst within a mile of a runway. Volcanic ash 35,000 feet above the Indian Ocean. In a heartbeat, nature can turn a routine flight into a fight for survival. Relive four pivotal aviation disasters and near misses that ultimately forced the industry to better protect our planes from severe weather encounters. Enter NOAA's National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center, and see how dedicated meteorologists, using state-of-the-art tracking equipment, have become every pilot's first line of defense against Mother Nature.