Pilots Need To Know What All The Data They Gather Means

Today’s pilots enjoy an abundance of weather information sources, but having weather information available is only part of the weather decision-making equation. Knowing how to acquire, interpret, and make operational decisions based on weather information is essential to safe flying. This fact sheet acquaints general aviation pilots with available weather information sources and offers guidance on making well-informed weather decisions.

You may think you have more than enough weather information, but having that information available is just part of your decision-making equation. You need to know how to acquire, interpret, and make operational decisions based on that information.

Once you obtain weather information needed for your flight, it’s important that you study and evaluate it in order to understand what it means. The knowledge tests for most pilot certificates include questions about weather theory and the use of weather products in aviation. However, it takes continuous study and experience to develop your skill in evaluating and applying weather data to a specific flight. You might find it helpful to approach the task of practical, real world weather analysis with several basic concepts in mind.

One approach to practical weather analysis is to review weather data in terms of how current and forecast conditions will affect visibility, turbulence, and aircraft performance for your specific flight.

Think of the preflight weather plan as a strategic, “big picture” exercise. The goal is to ensure that you have identified all the weather-related hazards for this particular flight, and planned for ways to eliminate or mitigate each one.

Escape Options: Know where you can find good weather within your aircraft’s range and endurance capability. Where is it? Which direction do you turn to get there? How long will it take to get there? When the weather is instrument meteorological conditions (ceiling 1,000 feet or less and visibility 3 nm or less), identify an acceptable alternative airport for each 25-30 nm segment of your route.

Reserve Fuel: Knowing where to find visual flight rules (VFR) weather does you no good unless you have enough fuel to reach it. Flight planning for only a legal fuel reserve could significantly limit your options if the weather deteriorates. More fuel means access to more alternatives. Having plenty of fuel also spares you the worry (and distraction) of fearing fuel exhaustion when weather has already increased your cockpit workload.

Terrain Avoidance: Know how low you can go without encountering terrain and/or obstacles. Consider a terrain avoidance plan for any flight.

Finally, fly regularly with a flight instructor who will challenge you to review what you know, explore new horizons, and to always do your best.

(Source: FAA. Images from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov