The Weather Savvy Pilot in 2009

Presented byScott C. Dennstaedt

A proud product of Chesapeake Aviation Training

http://avwxworkshops.com(803) 802-2591

Owner of Chesapeake Aviation Training Headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina

Former NWS research meteorologistNationwide FAA-certificated instrument flight instructor

Specialize in aviation weather trainingTechnically advanced aircraft

Contributing editor for IFR magazineWriter for Plane & Pilot, Pilot Journal, Aviation Consumer and

Twin & Turbine

04/19/23

Scott C. Dennstaedt

§ 91.103 Preflight action.Each pilot in command shall, before

beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. This information must include - (a) For a flight under IFR or a flight not in

the vicinity of an airport, weather reports and forecasts

04/19/23

GA pilots have many preflight resourcesNWS (ended)Flight Service Station (FSS)

By phone 1-800-WXBRIEF

In personDUATS (via the Internet)

DTC (duat.com)CSC (duats.com)

Internet weather briefSelf briefingMay include DUATS

and/or FSS04/19/23

The RDU Flight Service StationThe RDU Flight Service Station

Flight Service is still rather busy

An average of 50,000 to 60,000 calls are handled each week by FSS

04/19/23

Is a FSS briefing enough?

A standard briefing includes A standard briefing includes Synoptic overview (mainly at the surface)Synoptic overview (mainly at the surface)Radar and satellite overviewRadar and satellite overviewMETARs METARs Area Forecast (FA)Area Forecast (FA)TAFsTAFsAIRMETs, SIGMETs and convective SIGMETsAIRMETs, SIGMETs and convective SIGMETsWinds and temperatures aloft (FB Winds)Winds and temperatures aloft (FB Winds)PIREPsPIREPsNOTAMsNOTAMs

04/19/23 Aviation Weather Center Aviation Weather Center

04/19/23NTSB study done using 4,159 accidents from 1994 through

2003

04/19/23NTSB study done using 4,159 accidents from 1994 through

2003

There are still many weather related accidents attributed to pilots who have done a briefing with a Flight Service Station specialist.

Nearly 50% of these accidents are wind related (crosswinds/gusts).

Some pilots are using the Internet

Online subscription-based websites WeatherTAP

Flight planning software Jeppesen Flitestar

Private collection of miscellaneous sitesNot necessarily specific to aviation

Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)Combination of the above

04/19/23

04/19/23

ADDS “adds” a graphical element to the briefing and provides many supplemental products (like GTG, CIP, FIP, etc.).

A FSS or DUATS briefing is primarily text-based.

ADDS provides all of the same text-based data that encompasses a standard briefing

ADDS still doesn’t provide “all” of the available (and relevant) information – aside from NOTAMs.

Some pilots are going beyond the basicsInternet is full of relevant

supplemental dataMOSModel-based forecasts

Simulated reflectivityThermodynamic

diagrams Non-standard convective

indicesQPFHigh resolution graphics

Satellite

04/19/23

Simulated reflectivitySimulated reflectivity

Internet Wx Brief RoadmapSubscription-basedCollection of key

NWS/NOAA websites used as an organized checklistStart at the top and work

toward the bottomLinks directly to the chart

Organized by departure date/timeWithin 12 hoursWithin 24 hoursBetween 1 and 3 daysThree days and longer

Also a teaching tool04/19/23

Scott Dennstaedt, CFIFort Mill, SC KEQY/KUZA803-802-2591 (day and evening)http://avwxworkshops.com

04/19/23