Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being good pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 02.21.06

A Flight Service weather briefing includes a great deal of information necessary to plan and conduct a safe flight. In the final analysis, however, FSS is a weather briefing service; specialists are trained to provide certain information in standard briefings... but some information is given only on request.

Pilots may obtain the following from AFSS/FSS briefers upon request:

1) Information on Special Use Airspace (SUA), "SUA related airspace" and Military Training Routes (MTRs) activity within the flight plan area and a 100 NM extension around the flight plan area.

SUA and related airspace includes the following types of airspace:

• Alert Area,
• Military Operations Area (MOA),
• Restricted Area,
• Refueling Anchor,
• Warning Area and
• Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA).

MTR data includes the following types of airspace:

• IFR Military Training Route (IR),
• VFR Military Training Route (VR),
• Slow Training Route (SR) and
• Aerial Refueling Track (AR).

Pilots are encouraged to request updated airspace information from ATC facilities while in flight.

2) A review of the Class II Notices to Aviators Publication

3) Available military NOTAMs

4) LORAN-C NOTAMs, for those with these superb yet rapidly vanishing devices

5) GPS RAIM availability for 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA or a time specified by the pilot.

6) Runway friction measurement value NOTAMs,

7) Approximate density altitude data

8) Information on air traffic services and rules, customs/immigration procedures, ADIZ rules, search and rescue, etc.; and the ever-popular

9) Other assistance as required.

Aero-tip of the day:  Sometimes if you want (or need) to know, you’ve got to ask.  Know what is available on request during a preflight "weather" briefing.

FMI: Aero-Tips