Weather Briefings for the GA Pilot

How does the General Aviation pilot get their weather (WX) briefing and is there a procedure to follow? This newsletter is designed to help the pilot, by using a checklist of how to go about receiving a WX briefing for your flight. It is important for the pilot to develop an overall mental picture of the WX, knowing what to expect, and how to make decisions to GO FLYING or NOT! For more information on this subject refer to “FAA GA Pilots Guide to Preflight Weather Planning”.

 

The best aeronautical decisions are made while on the ground, prior to flight; to avoid having to make safety decisions while airborne. Referring to FAR 91.103 Preflight action: each pilot in command shall become familiar with all available information for a flight. 

 

Sources available for WX information:

  • TWC: The weather channel, provides a synoptic view (the big picture) to give the aviator a preview of what to expect, for frontal conditions, on their television channel. TWC on the internet has a page that gives WX maps with color coding for limited visibility areas and IFR conditions. This provides your first snap shot of what to start looking for.

  • NWS: National Weather Service’s, Aviation Weather Center, gives initial WX info and a look at the AIRMET and SIGMET watch boxes.

  • DUATS: Direct User Access Terminal System, offers a Standard Briefing package from the FSS to get a printed copy of weather maps. (www.duat.com). This communication also records the transaction which shows you had received an official WX briefing. 

  • ADDS: Aviation Digital Data service  gives a more in-depth look from the joint effort of the NOAA forecast laboratory and NCEP Aviation Weather Center (AWC). (adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov).   

  • AOPA Weather via the AOPA APP, provides national and airport specific data for checking weather and flight planning, (you must be an AOPA member).

 

FSS bundles (or packages) weather information from the NWS into convenient user friendly packages which gives the pilot specific details but also the big picture. On the web 1800wxbrief.com or call 1-800-992-7443 (wx brief). 

 

WX INFORMATION BRIEFING CHECKLIST

 

  • Big Picture: 3 days prior to flight: Start by watching the WX for the area of your intended route looking for a synoptic view: TWC, FSS for Wx Charts, and other sources, to watch for general information:

    • Fronts cold or warm

    • Ceilings visibilities

    • Winds on the ground and aloft

  • Focus: 1-2 days prior to flight: Is the weather moving as you had earlier thought that it would?  Are the fronts moving as you were expecting?

  • Briefing: On the day of the flight get an FSS brief or use another source, which must include:

  • Area Forecasts (FA): gives a picture of clouds and general WX conditions and VMC over a large area. There are 6 forecast areas in the contiguous US, forecasts are issued 3 times per day and each forecast is valid for 18 hours. 

  • Terminal Forecasts (TAF): Issued for an area of 5 statute miles around a large  airport. Issued 4 times per day and valid for 24 or 30 hours. 

  • METAR: An automated hourly WX observation, usually issued on the hour unless significant changes have occurred to the WX, which then can be issued at any time. 

  • AIRMETS: Airmen’s Metrological Information: Advisories for an operational interest to all A/C. Issued every 6 hrs. with intermediate updates as needed and includes: forecasting for  moderate icing and turbulence, surface winds of 30 knots or greater, areas of ceilings below 1,000 ft and visibilities below 3 miles (basic VFR).

  • SIGMETS: Significant Meteorological Information: Advisories to all A/C of potentially hazardous WX conditions. Severe icing and severe turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT) are issued as needed and valid for 4 hours.

  • NOTAMS: Notices to Airmen are mandatory to follow and you must ask for them during the FSS briefing. This alerts pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at airports. 

  • PIREPS: Pilot WX Reports: Valuable up-to-the minute information, regarding conditions as they actually exist. Pilots can report and/or confirm cloud heights, turbulence, wind shear, icing and other information. If a ceiling is below 5,000 ft. and visibilities below 5 miles ATC is required to solicit PIREPS. 

 

All of the information above seems like a lot of effort and time to accomplish especially for beginning aviators. As we build time and experience this task becomes simpler and makes sense. The WX and NOTAMS are required by the FAA and should you have any problems while flying, the FAA will confirm that you did indeed get a briefing. We, as pilots, are legally responsible for this information and will make your flying much more enjoyable. There are going to be times when flying in some conditions is just not a good idea. 

 

To help you make a safety decision for your flight; does the information you researched “Make Sense”?  Are you and your A/C capable of making a flight? If you are not positive that it is SAFE, DON’T GO!

 

FLY SAFE       CHECK THE WEATHER       FILE A FLIGHT PLAN

 

Until next time,

Captain Will Rondeau    

 

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