Safer Skies

Safer Skies

Weather to Go or

Not!

Weather to Go or

Not!Steven Brady

Safer Skies

Safer Skies

Preflight ActionPreflight ActionFAR/AIMFAR/AIMFAR/AIMFAR/AIM

Safer Skies

91.103 Preflight Action

91.103 Preflight ActionEach pilot in command shall, Each pilot in command shall,

before beginning a flight, become before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available familiar with all available information concerning that flight. information concerning that flight. This information must include—This information must include—

Each pilot in command shall, Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available familiar with all available information concerning that flight. information concerning that flight. This information must include—This information must include—

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91.103 Preflight Action

91.103 Preflight Action(a) for a flight under IFR or a flight (a) for a flight under IFR or a flight

not in the vicinity of an airport, not in the vicinity of an airport, weather reportsweather reports and forecasts, fuel and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternates availablerequirements, alternates available

(a) for a flight under IFR or a flight (a) for a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, not in the vicinity of an airport, weather reportsweather reports and forecasts, fuel and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternates availablerequirements, alternates available

Safer Skies

91.103 Preflight Action

91.103 Preflight Actionif the planned flight cannot if the planned flight cannot

be completed and any known be completed and any known traffic delays of which the traffic delays of which the pilot in command has been pilot in command has been advised by ATC.advised by ATC.

if the planned flight cannot if the planned flight cannot be completed and any known be completed and any known traffic delays of which the traffic delays of which the pilot in command has been pilot in command has been advised by ATC.advised by ATC.

Safer Skies

91.103 Preflight Action

91.103 Preflight Action(b) For any flight, runway lengths (b) For any flight, runway lengths

at airports of intended use, and the at airports of intended use, and the following takeoff and landing following takeoff and landing distance information:distance information:

(b) For any flight, runway lengths (b) For any flight, runway lengths at airports of intended use, and the at airports of intended use, and the following takeoff and landing following takeoff and landing distance information:distance information:

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91.103 Preflight Action

91.103 Preflight Action(1) for civil aircraft for which an (1) for civil aircraft for which an

approved airplane flight manual approved airplane flight manual containing takeoff and landing containing takeoff and landing distance data is required. distance data is required.

(1) for civil aircraft for which an (1) for civil aircraft for which an approved airplane flight manual approved airplane flight manual containing takeoff and landing containing takeoff and landing distance data is required. distance data is required.

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Preflight ActionPreflight ActionAirport FacilityAirport FacilityDirectoryDirectoryAirport FacilityAirport FacilityDirectoryDirectory

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Preflight ActionPreflight ActionAirport Airport diagramdiagramAirport Airport diagramdiagram

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Preflight ActionPreflight ActionChartChart

ComputerComputer

PlotterPlotter

ChartChart

ComputerComputer

PlotterPlotter

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Preflight ActionPreflight ActionFlight logsFlight logs

Flight plan formFlight plan form

Flight logsFlight logs

Flight plan formFlight plan form

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Weather InformationWeather InformationMethods of obtaining weather infoMethods of obtaining weather info

• FSS • DUATS• Preliminary planning sources

Methods of obtaining weather infoMethods of obtaining weather info• FSS • DUATS• Preliminary planning sources

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Weather InformationWeather InformationPreliminary planning sourcesPreliminary planning sources

• Weather channel• Weather radio• Newspaper• Internet

Preliminary planning sourcesPreliminary planning sources• Weather channel• Weather radio• Newspaper• Internet

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Area Forecast (FA)Area Forecast (FA)18 hour synopsis of expected 18 hour synopsis of expected weather patterns over an area the weather patterns over an area the size of several statessize of several states

18 hour synopsis of expected 18 hour synopsis of expected weather patterns over an area the weather patterns over an area the size of several statessize of several states

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Area Forecast (FA)Area Forecast (FA)12-hour forecast of VFR cloud 12-hour forecast of VFR cloud cover, weather & visibilitycover, weather & visibility

6-12 hour categorical outlook6-12 hour categorical outlook

12-hour forecast of VFR cloud 12-hour forecast of VFR cloud cover, weather & visibilitycover, weather & visibility

6-12 hour categorical outlook6-12 hour categorical outlook

Safer Skies

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)

Information for specific airports Information for specific airports issued 4 times a day and amended issued 4 times a day and amended as neededas neededValid for 24 hoursValid for 24 hours

Information for specific airports Information for specific airports issued 4 times a day and amended issued 4 times a day and amended as neededas neededValid for 24 hoursValid for 24 hours

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Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)

TAF AMD KMCO 261414Z 261412 09003KT 3SM BR FEW002 BKN060 TEMPO 1415 3/4SM BR BKN002

TAF AMD KMCO 261414Z 261412 09003KT 3SM BR FEW002 BKN060 TEMPO 1415 3/4SM BR BKN002

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Winds & Temperature Aloft (FD)

Winds & Temperature Aloft (FD)DATA BASED ON 261200Z DATA BASED ON 261200Z

VALID 261800Z FOR USE 1700-2100Z. VALID 261800Z FOR USE 1700-2100Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000TEMPS NEG ABV 24000FT FT 30003000 60006000 90009000MLBMLB 26062606 2617+132617+13 2721+092721+09

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Surface AnalysisSurface Analysis

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PIREPPIREPPilot reported weatherPilot reported weather

Collected and distributed by EFASCollected and distributed by EFAS

Pilot reported weatherPilot reported weather

Collected and distributed by EFASCollected and distributed by EFAS

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EFAS “Flight Watch”EFAS “Flight Watch”(En Route Flight Advisory Service(En Route Flight Advisory Service

• Specifically designed to provide en route aircraft with timely and meaningful weather advisories pertinent to the type of flight, route and altitude.

(En Route Flight Advisory Service(En Route Flight Advisory Service• Specifically designed to provide en

route aircraft with timely and meaningful weather advisories pertinent to the type of flight, route and altitude.

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Flight WatchFlight Watch• 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. local time• 122.0 MHz for aircraft flying altitudes

of 5,000-17,000 feet• Discrete frequencies for ARTCC

areas - 18,000 - 45,000 feet

• 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. local time• 122.0 MHz for aircraft flying altitudes

of 5,000-17,000 feet• Discrete frequencies for ARTCC

areas - 18,000 - 45,000 feet

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Flight WatchFlight WatchCharts depicting the Charts depicting the location of Flight location of Flight Watch control stations Watch control stations and RCOs are and RCOs are contained in the AFDcontained in the AFD

Charts depicting the Charts depicting the location of Flight location of Flight Watch control stations Watch control stations and RCOs are and RCOs are contained in the AFDcontained in the AFD

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PIREP ElementsPIREP ElementsXXX station identifier of nearest weather

reporting station

UA or UUA report type (routine or urgent)

/OV location (in relation to VOR)

/TM time (UTC)

XXX station identifier of nearest weather reporting station

UA or UUA report type (routine or urgent)

/OV location (in relation to VOR)

/TM time (UTC)

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PIREP ElementsPIREP Elements/FL altitude

/TP type aircraft

/SK cloud height (MSL) and coverage

/WX visibility and precipitation

/TA temperature (Celsius)

/FL altitude

/TP type aircraft

/SK cloud height (MSL) and coverage

/WX visibility and precipitation

/TA temperature (Celsius)

Safer Skies

PIREP ElementsPIREP Elements/WV wind direction (magnetic) and

speed (kts)

/TB turbulence

/IC icing

/RM remarks

/WV wind direction (magnetic) and speed (kts)

/TB turbulence

/IC icing

/RM remarks

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Inflight Weather Broadcasts

Inflight Weather BroadcastsARTCCs - Weather Advisory ARTCCs - Weather Advisory

BroadcastsBroadcasts

HIWAS - Hazardous In-flight Weather HIWAS - Hazardous In-flight Weather Advisory ServiceAdvisory Service

TWEB - Transcribed Weather TWEB - Transcribed Weather BroadcastBroadcast

ARTCCs - Weather Advisory ARTCCs - Weather Advisory BroadcastsBroadcasts

HIWAS - Hazardous In-flight Weather HIWAS - Hazardous In-flight Weather Advisory ServiceAdvisory Service

TWEB - Transcribed Weather TWEB - Transcribed Weather BroadcastBroadcast

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Go/No-Go DecisionGo/No-Go DecisionPilot’s capabilities, experience & Pilot’s capabilities, experience & physical well-beingphysical well-being

Aircraft capabilitiesAircraft capabilities

Weather Weather

Pilot’s capabilities, experience & Pilot’s capabilities, experience & physical well-beingphysical well-being

Aircraft capabilitiesAircraft capabilities

Weather Weather

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Understanding Understanding weather plays a weather plays a

major role in major role in accident accident

preventionprevention

Safer Skies