FAA Releases New Weather Handbook

Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11:53 AM ET

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The new 'Aviation Weather HAndbook' features graphics and images to illustrate key concepts such as thunderstorm elements. [Credit: FAA]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has replaced numerous weather advisory circulars with a comprehensive, 532-page *Aviation Weather Handbook* (FAA-H-8083-28).
Structured into three parts, the handbook covers the U.S. Aviation Weather Service Program, weather theory and hazards, and technical weather products, using color illustrations and bullet points for improved understanding.
It features critical chapters for pilots, including detailed standard briefing information, essential mountain weather knowledge, explanations of visibility obstructions, and updated guidance on thunderstorms.

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Advisory circulars from the FAA used to be sent to pilots via the U.S. mail. They were printed on blue paper and sometimes arrived with such frequency you felt like you were on Hogan’s Heroes—every message that the characters on that classic TV show got from London came on blue paper.

A great many of those ACs focused on weather—how to get a good weather briefing, mountain flying, thunderstorms, etc. Now all that information is available in FAA-H-8083-28, the newly updated version of the Aviation Weather Handbook.