On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the quality of your weather briefing before each flight? Does the wealth of information available from mobile apps and online resources give you the feeling of being more prepared today, compared to calling Flight Service 15 years ago? Or do you find it more challenging now, hunting down various resources, reports and forecasts from a variety of different sources online and in several different locations in the same app, trying to build a mental picture of the atmosphere before each flight?
Reverse Weather Briefing
Key Takeaways:
- Despite a wealth of available weather information from apps and online resources, preflight briefings remain challenging due to scattered data and the difficulty in integrating advanced National Weather Service (NWS) products into a coherent process.
- The author proposes a "reverse weather briefing" approach for IFR pilots, which begins by analyzing current Pilot Reports (PIREPs) and radar imagery to identify active hazards.
- This method helps pilots efficiently focus on actual conditions and guides them to investigate specific, relevant forecast charts, a process expected to become more effective with future increases in real-time PIREP submissions.
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