Introducing Graphical Forecasts for Aviation

In the summer of 2014 the FAA published in the Federal Register its intent to do away with the Area Forecast (FA) and replace it with digital and graphical alternatives. The agency wrote that the FA was a broad forecast of limited value and that existing, better, alternatives existed.

jmiller

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA) replaces the traditional Area Forecast (FA), consolidating existing aviation weather products and introducing new graphical overlays for clouds, ceiling, and visibility.
These novel Ceiling/Visibility and Clouds overlays are crucial for instrument pilots, enabling them to assess conditions and determine alternate airport requirements, particularly for locations without Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs).
However, the GFA is purely computer-model generated, leading to potential inconsistencies between forecast products, operational limitations, and a lack of meteorologist-filtered insights, necessitating a conservative approach and understanding of its interpolation methods.

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In the summer of 2014 the FAA published in the Federal Register its intent to do away with the Area Forecast (FA) and replace it with digital and graphical alternatives. The agency wrote that the FA was a “broad forecast of limited value” and that better alternatives existed. We wrote about the demise of the forecast in “FA Swan Song” in our July, 2015 issue.

This January the National Weather Service released an Experimental Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA), which the Service says is a graphical replacement of the text FA. Is it? Does it contain information pilot’s need? Can you determine if an alternate is required or an airport qualifies? Let’s find out.