Tuesday, March 6, 2012 Weather Avoidance: Back To Basics Ten
simple steps to enhance your weather planning and avoid Mother
Nature’s worst NTSB statistics show weather as one of the top
five accident causes in general aviation, with an 85% fatality
rate. It's up to the pilot to interpret the information received
in a briefing. For example, many pilots abuse the terminal area
forecast (TAF). Dennstaedt explains that most pilots don't
realize a TAF is only good for a five-mile radius around the
station. "It's a point forecast, and not indicative of the
weather along a route," he adds. Pilots get into trouble reading
the TAF and mentally expanding its forecast farther out than it
should be. Another part of the standard briefing pilots need to
rethink is the winds-aloft forecast (also called "FB winds").
The problem is the report's "resolution," which pilots can think
of as "freshness date and accuracy." Winds-aloft forecasts are
good for six hours; which is too long in many instances. Also,
the readings are take