Weather Briefings

From Pilots Almanac

Flight, particularly flight away from the local area, is subject to a variety of weather conditions. Training for all pilot certificates includes specific instruction in the relation of weather phenomena to safe and prudent flight. It is one of the most important topics for aviators.

Flight Service Stations (FSS) exist to assist pilots with any number of questions and issues. However, their primary function lies in their dissemination of weather forecasts. A Flight Service Station can be reached anywhere in the United States by telephone at 1-800-wx-brief.

Preflight weather briefings are available to pilots in three different forms. Inflight weather briefings and updates are available through the EFAS or Flightwatch program. Pilots should always obtain preflight briefings and not rely on inflight briefings.

See Inflight Weather Advisories.

Anatomy of a Weather Briefing

On your intial callup, give them your aircraft tailnumber, type of aircraft, departure point and time, estimated time en route, cruising altitude, and destination airport. Then request the appropriate type of weather briefing.

Weather briefings are delivered in the same format every time.

• (1) Adverse conditions
  • This is given first in case you decide to cancel your trip. In that case, the remainder of the briefing would be useless.
  • If conditions are forecast to be marginal VFR (MFVR), the briefer will state "VFR flight not recommended."

• (2) Synopsis
  • The synopsis or synoptic picture is an overview of general weather and airmass conditions over the region.

• (3) Current conditions
  • Existing conditions are provided at your departure and destination airports, along with some enroute reporting points if your trip is long enough to warrant that.

• (4) Forecast conditions
  • Knowing your route of flight and the time period in which you will be aloft, the briefer will give you the forecast at your departure, en route, and destination airports.

• (5) Winds aloft
  • Wind speed and direction is available at altitudes incrementally by 3,000 feet at and below 12,000 feet MSL.

• (6) NOTAMs and TFRs
  • It is critical that pilots become familiar with NOTAMs that may affect their flight. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) will also be noted in this section.

Types of Weather Briefings

• (1) Standard Briefing - a complete briefing containing all six sections above based on your immenent flight (i.e. a flight that will begin within the next six hours).

• (2) Abbreviated Briefing - as the name implies, this is a partial briefing that provides answers to weather questions the pilot asks.

• (3) Outlook Briefing - formatted as a standard briefing, but forecasted only for a flight scheduled to occur six more hours into the future.

External Links

FAA Weather Briefing - A tutorial provide by the FAA.