Local Weather Briefing (Private Pilot Lesson 1f)

Summary

This script discusses the importance of pre-flight preparation, particularly obtaining a local weather briefing for pilots as per FAA regulations. It explains the types of weather briefings: outlook, standard, and abbreviated, and the information required for a standard briefing, including aircraft type, equipment, and flight details. The script also covers weather advisories, TFRs, and the significance of pilot reports, emphasizing the pilot's responsibility to be informed about all available weather information before flying.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the importance of pre-flight actions, referencing the FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations), specifically parts 43, 61, and 91, which cover maintenance, pilot certification, and operational rules, respectively.
• 🌤️ It emphasizes that pilots must obtain a local weather briefing before every flight, as required by part 91, to ensure they are familiar with all available information concerning the flight.
• 📞 There are two main ways to obtain a local weather briefing: by phone through 1-800-WX-BRIEF or via a computer accessing new BOTS, both of which connect to the flight service station for the same information.
• 🔍 When requesting a weather briefing, pilots need to provide details about their aircraft, equipment, flight duration, and intended route to receive tailored weather information.
• 🔢 The script explains the process of providing the necessary information for a weather briefing, including aircraft type, identification, true airspeed, departure point, time, cruising altitude, and destination.
• 🌡️ It distinguishes between three types of weather briefings: outlook, standard, and abbreviated, each serving different purposes based on the timing and nature of the flight.
• ❗ The weather briefing includes information on adverse conditions, significant meteorological conditions, TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions), and pilot reports, which are crucial for flight safety.
• 📉 The script outlines weather categories such as AIRMETs for moderate weather and SIGMETs for severe weather, including specific identifiers for turbulence, icing, and thunderstorms.
• 📈 The weather briefing provides a synopsis of overall weather patterns, including information on pressure systems and fronts, which helps pilots understand the broader weather context.
• 📍 Current and forecast conditions for departure, en route, and destination are provided to help pilots assess weather trends and make informed decisions.
• 💨 Information on winds and temperature aloft is given, derived from weather balloons, which is essential for flight planning, especially for cross-country flights.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Airmen's Information Manual and FAR Part 43, 61, and 91 in the context of this discussion?

The Airmen's Information Manual and FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations) Parts 43, 61, and 91 are crucial for pilots. Part 43 pertains to maintenance and preventive maintenance of aircraft, Part 61 outlines the rules for obtaining pilot certificates, and Part 91 contains the operational regulations that pilots must follow to maintain their licenses.

Why is a pre-flight action important according to FAR Part 91.103?

Pre-flight action is important as it requires the pilot to become familiar with all available information concerning the flight, including weather reports, forecasts, fuel requirements, alternate airports, and any ATC delays, ensuring safe and legal flight operations.

What is a local weather briefing and why is it required before each flight?

A local weather briefing is a legal requirement that provides pilots with current and forecast weather information for their intended flight route and destination. It is required to ensure the pilot has the necessary information to make informed decisions about the safety and feasibility of the flight.

How can a pilot obtain a local weather briefing?

A pilot can obtain a local weather briefing by calling the flight service station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF or by using a computer to access web-based briefing services. Both methods provide the same information, either in an automated format or through direct communication with a weather briefer.

What information does a pilot need to provide when requesting a weather briefing?

When requesting a weather briefing, a pilot needs to provide information such as the type of flight (VFR or IFR), aircraft identification, type of aircraft and equipment, true airspeed, departure point, departure time in Zulu time, cruising altitude, whether the flight is local or to another airport, and the expected duration of the flight.

What are the three types of weather briefings a pilot can request?

A pilot can request an outlook briefing for information more than six hours in advance, a standard weather briefing for a complete flight overview, or an abbreviated briefing for an update on previously acquired information.

What does the term 'AIRMET' signify in a weather briefing?

AIRMET stands for Airmen's Meteorological Information and signifies moderate weather conditions that may affect the safety of VFR flight but do not include thunderstorms.

What does 'SIGMET' indicate in a weather briefing?

SIGMET stands for Significant Meteorological Information and indicates severe weather conditions that may impact the safety of all flights, including thunderstorms, turbulence, icing, and other significant meteorological phenomena.

What is a TFR and why would a pilot receive information about it in a weather briefing?

A TFR, or Temporary Flight Restriction, is an area where flying is restricted due to events such as airshows, VIP visits, natural disasters, or other situations that could pose a risk to aviation. Pilots receive TFR information in weather briefings to avoid entering these areas and ensure flight safety.

How can a pilot report contribute to the weather briefing process?

A pilot report, or PIREP, provides real-time weather information based on the pilot's actual observations during flight. These reports are valuable to the weather service as they offer current weather conditions, complementing forecasts and enhancing the overall weather information available to pilots.

What information does the weather briefer typically provide during a standard weather briefing?

During a standard weather briefing, the briefer provides information on adverse conditions, weather advisories, current and forecast conditions for the departure, en route, and destination areas, winds and temperatures aloft, and any TFRs that may affect the flight.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Importance of Regulations and Preflight Weather Briefing

This paragraph discusses the significance of adhering to aviation regulations as outlined in the Airmen's Information Manual, emphasizing parts 43, 61, and 91. It highlights the necessity of a preflight weather briefing as per part 91, which is a legal requirement for pilots to familiarize themselves with all available information about the intended flight. The paragraph also explains the importance of understanding and following these rules to maintain one's pilot license and the methods of obtaining a weather briefing, either through telephone or computer services.

05:02

📞 How to Obtain a Legal Weather Briefing

The second paragraph provides a detailed explanation of how pilots can obtain a legal weather briefing, which is crucial for flight safety. It outlines the process of calling the flight service station or using computer services to access weather information. The paragraph also describes the information that pilots need to provide when requesting a briefing, such as aircraft type, equipment, flight duration, and destination. It further clarifies the difference between outlook, standard, and abbreviated weather briefings, and the importance of understanding the format and content of a standard weather briefing.

10:03

⚠️ Understanding Weather Briefing Terminology and Conditions

This paragraph delves into the specific terminology and conditions included in a weather briefing, such as airmet segments, convective SIGMETs, and significant meteorological conditions. It explains the categorization of weather severity, including moderate and severe conditions, and the importance of thunderstorms in aviation weather briefings. The paragraph also covers temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), which may affect flight plans, and the role of pilot reports in providing actual weather conditions as opposed to forecasts.

15:04

🌍 Weather Briefing Content and Pilot Responsibilities

The final paragraph focuses on the content of a weather briefing, including advisories, the overall weather synopsis, current and forecast conditions for departure, en route, and destination, as well as winds and temperature aloft. It emphasizes the pilot's responsibility to understand the trend of weather conditions and to be prepared to take notes during the briefing. The paragraph also discusses the source of winds and temperature data, typically gathered from weather balloons, and concludes with advice for pilots on how to interact with weather briefing services, especially for first-time callers.

Keywords

💡Preflight

Preflight refers to the series of checks and preparations made by a pilot before taking off on a flight. It is a crucial part of ensuring the safety and readiness of the aircraft for flight. In the script, preflight actions are discussed in the context of adhering to regulations and obtaining necessary information, such as a weather briefing, which is a legal requirement before beginning a flight.

💡Part 43

Part 43 is a section of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) that pertains to maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations of aircraft. It outlines the requirements and standards for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. In the video, it is mentioned as one of the important parts that pilots need to be familiar with, as it directly impacts the safety and operational readiness of the aircraft.

💡Part 61

Part 61 of the FARs covers the rules and regulations related to the certification of pilots and flight instructors. It includes the requirements for obtaining various pilot certificates and ratings. The script emphasizes the importance of Part 61 for pilots to understand how to legally obtain and maintain their licenses.

💡Part 91

Part 91 is another section of the FARs that contains the operational regulations for general aviation within the National Airspace System. It includes rules on flight rules, equipment requirements, and operating limitations. The script mentions Part 91 as the regulations that pilots must follow to maintain their licenses, highlighting the consequences of non-compliance.

💡Local Weather Briefing

A local weather briefing is a report on the current and forecasted weather conditions for a specific area, which pilots are required to obtain before a flight. It includes information on weather phenomena, such as turbulence and icing, as well as any temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). The script discusses the importance of obtaining a local weather briefing to ensure the safety and legality of a flight.

💡IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)

IFR refers to a set of regulations that governs the operation of aircraft in conditions where flight by visual reference to the ground is not possible, such as in low visibility or at night. In the script, IFR is mentioned in the context of the type of flight conditions that would require a weather briefing and the associated rules for flying under such conditions.

💡VFR (Visual Flight Rules)

VFR is the term used for a set of regulations that allow for flight under visual reference to the ground, during daylight hours, and in good weather conditions. The script explains that VFR flights also require weather briefings, particularly when crossing borders or flying under certain conditions.

💡Flight Plan

A flight plan is a document used by pilots to outline the intended route, altitude, and other details of a flight. It is a critical component of flight preparation and is used to communicate with air traffic control and obtain weather briefings. The script describes the information required for a flight plan and how it is used in obtaining a weather briefing.

💡Zulu Time

Zulu Time, also known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), is the time standard used by aviation to avoid confusion caused by time zone differences. The script mentions Zulu Time in the context of providing accurate departure times for weather briefings and flight plans, emphasizing the need to convert local time to Zulu Time.

💡Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)

TFRs are restrictions on aircraft operations in certain areas, usually due to special events, emergencies, or other safety concerns. The script discusses TFRs as part of the weather briefing, where pilots are informed about any areas they should avoid during their flight.

💡Pilot Reports (PIREPs)

PIREPs are reports made by pilots about actual weather conditions they encounter during a flight. These reports are valuable to the aviation community and weather services as they provide real-time, on-the-ground information that can supplement forecasts. The script mentions PIREPs as an important source of information during a weather briefing.

Highlights

Discussion on the importance of local weather briefings for pre-flight preparation.

Explanation of FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations) Part 43, 61, and 91 relevant to pilots.

Emphasis on Part 91 as the operational regulations pilots must follow to maintain their license.

Requirement for pilots to obtain a local weather briefing as per Part 91.1 & 3.

Differentiation between legal weather briefings and the types of information they contain.

Methods to obtain a local weather briefing: via telephone or computer accessing NEW BOTS.

The standard format of information provided during a weather briefing call.

Importance of knowing aircraft type, equipment, and flight details for a weather briefing.

How to calculate takeoff distance with a weighted balanced field and local weather information.

Three types of weather briefings: outlook, standard, and abbreviated.

When and how to request each type of weather briefing based on flight timing.

The significance of airmen reports and their contribution to actual weather data.

Explanation of weather advisories and how they affect flight decisions.

Description of air mass segments and their impact on flight conditions.

Identification of severe weather conditions and their aviation implications.

How to interpret and utilize weather synopses for understanding weather patterns.

Current and forecast conditions provided in a weather briefing for flight planning.

Importance of understanding winds and temperature aloft for flight navigation.

The role of weather balloons in gathering atmospheric data for flight planning.

Encouragement for pilots to ask questions and seek clarification during weather briefings.

Transcripts

this discussion is about a local weather

reading before we actually preflight the

airplane there are several things we

have to tend to you before we go briefly

and if we refer to the for you to see

what the jefe actually requires of us

the far team is our book of regulations

and Airmen's information manual the

parts that are important to you and that

the examiner is going to ask you about

is part 43 which is about maintenance

preventive maintenance part 61 that's

the rules and regulations pertaining to

how do you get your pilot certificates

in different regions and then finally

part 91 is the regulations that you must

fly by so when my instructor told me a

long time ago was part 61 tells you how

to get your license and part 91 tells

you how you lose it if you don't follow

those rules so anyway this brings us to

part 91 1 & 3 that says pre-flight

action one of the questions the

examiners love to ask on your world

interview for your pilot certificates

and ratings is do you have to obtain a

local weather briefing and what is a

local weather briefing what what is

actually a legal weather briefing so I

would like to just read this part to you

it says each pilot in command

ashell before beginning a flight become

familiar with all available information

concerning that flight and this

information must include says forty

flight under IFR this instrument flight

rules or for an a flight not in the

vicinity of this Airport meaning that

you're going to go land in another

airport and come back for example it

says that you are responsible for

weather reports forecasts fuel

requirements alternate airports if the

first intended airport can't be made for

some reason and any ATC delays and then

in the next section that says for any

flight you're required that means a

local flight or flight far away you're

required to know runway lengths of the

airport of intended use and the

following takeoff and landing distance

information so the only way to calculate

out your takeoff

distance is to have done a weighted

balanced form and also get a local

weather briefing

so the overall catch-22 on this anyway

says that a pilot is responsible for all

available information so to answer the

question properly is a legal weather

briefing required before each flight I

would say yes so how we obtain a local

weather briefing just two different ways

we can either use the telephone and call

it 100 WX brief or you could call you

could use some computer and access new

BOTS but either way it's still going to

the flight service station and it will

give you the same information just once

computer format and the other one you

can either listen to an automated one or

you can actually talk to a weather

briefing now when you talk to the

weather refer it's pretty standard the

format and the information that they're

going to give you but they need to know

some things from you first for example

what type of airplane are you flying

what equipment does it have onboard

how long are you going to fly for where

are you going to fly information like

that so the easiest thing to do is use

the flight plan form that the flight

service station uses also and we're

going to answer the first questions I'm

just going to take this up here so we

can see it we're going to ask for the

first ten numbers on this and the first

thing it wants to know is are you flying

the VFR that's a visual flight rules or

you flying IFR that's instrument flight

rules or are you going on and eat the

VFR which is if you're going to cross

the defense

so that borders our country the next

thing it wants to know is your aircraft

identification this way it's documented

they know that the pilot of that

aircraft has called that's what makes it

an official legal weather briefing the

next thing they want to know is your

type of aircraft and the type of

equipment and habits so for example your

assessment of 172 slash alpha and we'll

go over those codes later but it might

mean whether you have motorcy capability

or DME capability or you have GPS

instrumentation on board the next thing

they want to know is your true airspeed

how fast are you gonna fly so let's just

say maybe 100 knots and again we'll go

over that information later when the

time comes the next thing because it

wants to know your departure point so

for today we would tell them we're

departing kind of this Airport which is

Gulf my unit 1 and then it wants to know

what time will you be departing and they

asked for it in Zulu so Zulu time for us

in South Carolina is we have to convert

you to UTC time which is Greenwich

England time and then in the summer

months we subtract for hours and in the

winter time we subtract five hours to

convert it from Zulu into our time if we

need to convert it into Zulu time we

would have to add four hours and then in

the winter time add five hours so for

example if we intended I'm leaving at

12:05 our time that will be noon then

Zulu time would be you gotta put it in

military also which will be 16 hour 1600

would be Zulu because it's our local

time plus the four hours to put it into

Zulu okay then I'm wants to know what is

our cruising altitude so just for your

first local place typically we just tell

them about 3,000 feet that's the old it

to you we're gonna perform our slow

flight and stalls and steep turns and

stuff like that so 3,000 and then

rather flight if we're just staying

local you just tell them local and we're

not going to land at any other airports

or if you know you're going to go to the

neighboring Airport such as Pickens

County Airport or Anderson Airport then

you just tell them that you're going

over there and then the destination of

course would be back here at golf

non-uniformed they also need to know the

time and route so you do you expect to

be in the air for an hour and a half two

hours typically now a half to two hours

is good if yes for two hours they're

going to give you the weather pertaining

to that two-hour time block so if you

just simply use one of these flight

platforms and you can't serve one

through ten that is the information that

they need and in that order so for

example I would call the weather briefer

and tell them that I am requesting a

standard weather briefing for a VFR

flight November four six four two Juliet

the Cessna 172 / alpha 100 departing

golf Mike uniform at 1600 Zulu 3,000

feet local not landing in any other

airports coming back to you Greenville

downtown Golf link uniform and 2 hours 0

minutes and route that's what they need

to know to pull up the information that

they're going to give you now I'm going

to remove this for a second and let's go

over the information that they need to

give you it's always going to can't come

in the same sequence then I'm going to

take this one up here to show you and

let me backtrack on one other thing I

did mention that we need to certain

quest a standard weather briefing

there's three type of weather briefings

that you could ask for the first one is

an outlook or weather briefing an

outlook briefing is used if you you want

the information greater than six hours

in advance of your actual flooding or

you can ask for a standard weather

briefing which is a complete flight

briefing

we'll call that one complete the third

type of weather briefing you can ask for

it is an abbreviated briefing and an

abbreviated weather briefing is just an

update of information that you've

already acquired earlier so how this

works is let's say that you have a

flight tomorrow morning and you're very

excited tonight to go on your flight but

you want to know how is the weather

going to be so you would call first and

you ask for an outlook briefing because

your flight is greater than six hours in

advance and they will give you just a

general picture of the weather but they

can't give you the fine details because

you know it's it's not current enough so

then the next morning you get up and

you're ready to make your flight plan

you'd ask for a standard weather

briefing where they would give you all

of the information that I'm about to

discuss with you and let's say then you

go out to pre-flight and unfortunately

there's flat tire for some reason and

it's two or three hours later by time

the mechanic comes changes the Tiger

before you finally get to fly so you may

want to know who have the winds changed

to the weather at your destination and

change or anything like that so if you

could call the weather briefer again and

ask for an abbreviated weather briefing

for just any updated information that

you want and you you state specifically

what you want the winds aloft or

you know the visibility at your

destination or anything like that so

those are the three types of weather

briefings that you can ask for Outlook

standard or abbreviated now let's come

back to the standard weather briefing

that I said is complete and it's always

going to come out in the same format

they start by giving you any adverse

conditions adverse conditions would be

like is an IFR instrument flight rules

or is a VFR visual flight rules and also

any really important no domes no Tom's

are notices to Airmen and it could be

something like the airport that you're

going to is closed because there's an

airshow or it could be the airspace is

closed because the Prez

or something like that so a lot of times

they'll give you pointer no domes that

points out any really important

information that you may or not may not

want the rest of your weather briefing

and that next with adverse conditions

the FAA wants a very quick easy way to

let you know about the weather is it

moderate or is it severe you know is

they kind of iffy or is it really bad

and you should not go fly so how they

put these into different categories as

they put them under air mats sigmax and

convective sigmax so airmen see and then

see an air map is moderate weather but

it does not include thunderstorms

thunderstorms are abbreviated as CB

which means cumulonimbus clouds which

you've kind of get used to that so I'm

just going to put no CBS no cumulonimbus

which means no thunderstorms air mats

immediate I mean I'm sorry Sigma as soon

as you hear that it immediately means

severe so it's severe weather but no

thunderstorms so no CBS would be

included in that thunderstorms are so

important to aviation that they need

their own category and we call the

convective segments convective or

convective activity means a lot of

moving air flow which a thunderstorm has

so think of a convective as moving air

flow of a thunderstorm and then it's

significant meteorological conditions so

those are definitely severe

thunderstorms okay now what actually

could be considered moderate weather

that is not associated with a

thunderstorm there's basically three

things I have farm or turbulence

or icing and they give them these fancy

little identifiers that go with it so if

we say ear Matt Sierra that means that

there's an air map for IFR conditions

don't worry too much about it that

Sierra means IFR and tango means

turbulence in Zulu means icing because

usually in the briefing they will say

there's an airman Sierra for IFR

conditions or there's an air mat Tengen

for turbulence or an air mass Alou for

icing but the examiners like to ask you

what is an airman tango and you should

tell them that order that it's a

moderate turbulence not involve me in

thunderstorms

okay now once we go to this thing that

we're talking about significant

meteorological conditions which are

severe weather conditions but do not

include thunderstorms so certainly we

could have severe turbulence we could

have severe icing we can also have

volcano ash and we can also have dust

storms they do not associate the same

lettering with this segments so don't

worry about that just remember that if

it says there's a Sigma no one should be

flying in these conditions not airliners

you know not general aviation because of

this severe turbulence severe icing

severe ash from a volcano or severe dust

storms okay finally we get to the

convective segment which has to do with

thunderstorms and what do they consider

a severe thunderstorms if there's 3/4

inch hail if there's any tornadoes if

they're a line like a big long line of

thunderstorms if there's embedded

thunderstorms and that it means that

hidden in other clouds and then also a

large area

they consider severe thunderstorms so

any one of these air maps segment

convective Sigma is just weather

conditions that's how they distribute it

out to us so they're usually going to

start your weather briefing with those

are there any you know is there any

airman Sierra for IFR conditions is

there any turbulence in that area

anything like that so you'll see that we

use this little form here at this flight

school that just helps you write down

the weather quickly as they're giving it

to you so air mat segments convective

segments and then they come up with TFRs

and a TFR is a temporary flight

restriction and they gave you an example

earlier for example if the president

visited or a large sporting events such

as the Super Bowl or if there's a

natural disaster when the oil spill

happened when a hurricane happens and

they issue the government will issue a

TFR temporary flight restriction so you

would not go flying that area okay the

other thing mentioned I'm here are my

reps of high rep is a pilot report

it's what the pilot actually sees and

experiences during their flight during

their flight conditions

anyone can make a pilot report the

weather service people love for us to

make pilot reports because it is an

actual weather instead of just a

forecast and then any other flood

advisories and then they can tell you

VFR not recommended they can't tell you

to go fly or not to go fly and usually

they will caught you know be on more of

the cautious side and try to get you not

to go flying if they feel like that the

weather is a bit iffy for a VFR pilot so

they may say VFR not recommended

the next thing that they will tell you

is the synopsis the synopsis is the

overall weather patterns which we're

going to go into detail later but for

example they may tell you that there is

a low-pressure to your north-east and

there's any cold front moving in the

area and you can expect some

thunderstorm activity in front of that

cold front which is driven by a

high-pressure and then usually we'll

just sketch it out on the little map

here because it's easier to quicker and

easier to sketch it out than it is to

handwrite all of it but the synopsis is

your overall view of the fronts and

pressure systems the next thing that

they'll usually give you are the current

conditions for your departure you're in

route and your destination if you're

going away from the airport and then

they'll give you the forecast conditions

again for your departure you're in route

and your destination the reason that

they want to eat you to current

conditions and the forecast conditions

is so you can also note the trend of the

weather is it getting better is it

getting worse and then they will give

you the winds and temperature aloft so

several places around the state or each

state they release the big weather

balloons and the one in our area is

actually released from Greer which is

only about ten miles away from here so

they released these weather balloons up

and on the way up the bullion gathers

data as far as temperatures and

pressures and the wind and stuff on its

way up so that's where we get our winds

and temperature aloft from and we have

on here GSP because that's our local one

and they'll give you the winds so for

example they'll tell you the direction

the winds are coming out of so let's say

that this is north south east and west

and they report that the winds at 3,000

feet are coming out of 300 degrees at 15

knots so it's telling you the direction

the wind is coming from as well as the

speed of the wind and you know we're

going on a cross-country flight plan you

may also be into

gathering the winds from six thousand

and eight nine thousand and you noticed

that the winds aloft come in three

thousand foot increments as well but for

a local flight usually we just tell them

three thousand feet as much now we're

concerned with so this is what you can

expect for local weather briefing just

to reiterate is you want to have a

flight plan form so you know which

information the the flight service

station wants from you then you have to

tell them do you want to outlook

briefing a standard weather briefing or

an abbreviated weather briefing give now

one through ten and you're good to go

and then be ready to write and be ready

to copy down all the information and it

typically is going to come in this

format remember they work for us so if

you have a question and they're talking

too fast just tell them to slow down you

can tell them it's your first time

calling every time you call you can tell

them it's your first time calling if you

want to