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 better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 04.27.06

Almost all aviation weather products come from the FAA’s Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, Missouri.  Sometimes, however, events in the field outpace the ability of the AWC to issue advisories and updates.  When adverse weather builds rapidly, you may hear (or read) of a Center Weather Advisory.

Each of the 21 Air Traffic Control Air Route Traffic Centers (aka, “Centers”) has National Weather Service meteorologists in what is called the Center Weather Service Unit, or SWSU.  Primary function of the CWSU meteorologists is to provide air traffic control room supervisors and Traffic Management Units with up-to-date information on hazardous weather that may require deviations, delays or reroutes of en route IFR airplanes.

NOTE:  Airborne in a severe weather pinch?  You may be able to speak directly with an SWSU meteorologist in an emergency -- ask the Center controller to have the Center Weather guy/gal plug in.   

CWSU meteorologists also provide two unscheduled weather products:

1. The Meteorological Impact Statement (MIS), a two- to 12-hour forecast of weather conditons expected to impact ATC operations, and
2. The Center Weather Advisory, a weather warning for pilots using the airspace.

Center Weather Advisory

The Center Weather Advisory (CWA) is an aviation weather warning for the “big five” hazards: thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, and low ceilings and visibilities.  CWAs are created independently (of the rest of the National Weather service) by SWSU meteorologists in each Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).  CWAs describe the nature, location and intensity of aviation weather hazards, usually (eventually) supereceded by an FAA-created SIGMET or Convective SIGMET if conditions persist.  Controllers will broadcast CWAs over ATC frequencies; you may also hear them over recorded weather products (ATIS, TWEBs, etc.) and hear or read them in your preflight weather brief.

Aero-tip of the day:  CWAs are created in Air Traffic Control Centers to describe weather likely to be hazardous enough that they require delays or reroutes of IFR airplanes.

FMI: Aero-Tips