Even if you have a datalink weather capability in the cockpit, don’t give up on your air traffic controllers. Many other technologies are at work—albeit unseen, but critical to get the pilot back on the ground safely.
This is especially true when flying through a high-impact terminal area during the warm season when convective SIGMETs are sprinkled nearly everywhere. Your satellite-based weather receiver becomes less effective in the busy terminal area due to its latency—especially if an update or two is missed. The good news is that some approach controllers are armed with near real-time weather data from two additional sources to include the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR). Even though the controller can’t see your view outside of the cockpit, they can offer near real-time guidance around the most significant cells. This is especially critical when microbursts have reared their ugly head in and around the terminal area.
