Aviationweather.gov new site

CFI A&P said:
A friend of mine used to have this conversation with his co-worker (who is not a fan of briefings) before every flight:

"Ready to go?"
"What's the weather look like?"
"Doesn't matter. We're going anyway."
Click to expand...
To be honest the takeoff briefing is one thing in professional aviation that I think is kind of dumb. In my mind it goes like this. "If you don't know what we're doing by now, get out of the airplane."
 
Intellicast!

Their regular radar has (had?) a slight delay. For local, their Java Loop is real-time, and can be a closer picture.

But I do find that Accuweather is slightly better for pin-point forecasts. After all, Joel Myers, the founder of Accuweather, invented it for clients who wanted to know when to call out the snow-plow drivers, and when to run the snow-making machinery at ski slopes. The rest, as they say, is history.

It's another reason why they call Penn State "The MIT of Meteorology."

Proud (and I do know where 'Nittany' came from!).
 
anyone-else-remember-ren-and-stimpy-or-is-it-just-me.jpg
 
What does the dispatch release say?

But seriously, for GA flying: fltplan.com

I've always been surprised by how much people get into weather planning for what seems to be a relatively simple flight. I feel like METARS, TAFS, PIREPS, icing and convective forecasts and maybe winds aloft depending on what kind of flying you're doing cover it pretty well. Guys who spend 10+ minutes studying radar charts and whatever else on a computer in an FBO are baffling to me. Yeah, you get an idea of things and trends, but if the issue is that much in doubt then you either need a better airplane, an alternate plan or just wait for another day.

There's only so much practical information you can absorb from weather services. The fltplan.com route briefing printout covers everything you really need and more. It's seriously as good as an airline dispatch release (or as good as you're going to get for free in GA).
 
Cal Goat said:
What does the dispatch release say?

But seriously, for GA flying: fltplan.com

I've always been surprised by how much people get into weather planning for what seems to be a relatively simple flight. I feel like METARS, TAFS, PIREPS, icing and convective forecasts and maybe winds aloft depending on what kind of flying you're doing cover it pretty well. Guys who spend 10+ minutes studying radar charts and whatever else on a computer in an FBO are baffling to me. Yeah, you get an idea of things and trends, but if the issue is that much in doubt then you either need a better airplane, an alternate plan or just wait for another day.

There's only so much practical information you can absorb from weather services. The fltplan.com route briefing printout covers everything you really need and more. It's seriously as good as an airline dispatch release (or as good as you're going to get for free in GA).
Click to expand...
I've gotten to where I just download it via the Android app and scan for red. The radar views are irrelevant to me for the most part, as most of my legs are 3+ hours.
 
Sol Rosenburg said:
I agree. I turned to weather underground and a couple different radar apps. NOAAs always seemed to over shade intensity by around two levels. Looked like mod-sever red on there and go flying and see light drizzle or rain no turb.
Click to expand...

Sounds like someone isn't familiar with radar...and elevation scans...composite reflectivity...or goodness knows any other actual element that would aid in radar interrogation/forecasting.

Pilots: Really good at reading METARs. Horrible at weather analysis, and really horrible at forecasting.
 
surreal1221 said:
Sounds like someone isn't familiar with radar...and elevation scans...composite reflectivity...or goodness knows any other actual element that would aid in radar interrogation/forecasting.

Pilots: Really good at reading METARs. Horrible at weather analysis, and really horrible at forecasting.
Click to expand...

why I switched, options
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top