When you get right down to it-the ground, that is-precise knowledge of local weather is the single critical factor determining whether your three-hour instrument flight is going to have a happy ending. Youll either get an easy peek at your flight-storys last page or itll become a cliffhanger at decision height, followed by a missed approach. Naturally, weather has a significant effect on the critical few minutes of an instrument approach (even a VFR approach), as well as our decision-making process. 288
AWOS/ASOS Lies
When you get right down to it-the ground, that is-precise knowledge of local weather is the single critical factor determining whether your three-hour instrument flight is going to have a happy ending. Youll either get an easy peek at your flight-storys last page or itll become a cliffhanger at decision height, followed by a missed approach. Naturally, weather has a significant effect on the critical few minutes of an instrument approach (even a VFR approach), as well as our decision-making process.
Key Takeaways:
- Automated weather observation systems (AWOS/ASOS) have significant limitations in accurately reporting ceiling and visibility, particularly in marginal or changing weather conditions.
- These systems provide fixed-location, time-averaged measurements that can differ substantially from the actual conditions pilots encounter, as demonstrated by real-world flight experiences.
- Pilots must understand these inherent limitations, gather diverse weather information, be vigilant for local phenomena, and always be prepared for a missed approach to ensure safety.
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