What should a pilot do if they encounter severe weather during flight?

When pilots encounter severe weather during a flight, the best course of action is to avoid the weather by changing altitude or route. This approach prioritizes the safety of the flight, as severe weather can pose significant risks including turbulence, thunderstorms, icing, and reduced visibility. By adjusting their altitude or course, pilots can often navigate around the hazardous conditions, ensuring a safer flying experience for themselves and their passengers.

In many cases, pilots have access to weather radar and reports that can help determine the most effective route to take. Communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) can also assist in obtaining information about weather conditions ahead, and ATC can provide alternatives if needed.

Choosing to continue the flight on course could lead the aircraft directly into dangerous weather, which can compromise both the flight's safety and the integrity of the aircraft. Requesting to land immediately, while it may seem prudent in extreme situations, is typically unnecessary unless the aircraft is in immediate danger. Notifying ATC after passing through the weather can be too late for effective preventive measures and does not address the immediate need to avoid the severe weather in the first place.