1. And Not Letting the Weather Fly You
Flying the Weather
And Not Letting the Weather Fly You
Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative
By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame
“Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”

2. Quote
“In response to how he checked the weather, "I just whip out my blue card with a hole in it and read what it says: 'When color of card matches color of sky, FLY!’””
Gordon Baxter

3. Roadmap
Weather Reports
Weather Problems
Weather Briefing Sources

4. Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)
KSBN Z 08015G20KT 10SM FEW030 SCT060 OVC085 13/07 A3028 RMK AO2 RAB22E38
Airport
Day/Time
Temp/
Dewpnt
Wind
Visibility
Clouds
Altimeter
Remarks
Components of METARs
South Bend
17th day of the month, taken at 1551 Zulu Time (GMT)
Wind from 080° at 15 gusting to 20 Knots
10 Statute Miles Visibility
Few clouds at 3000 feet, scattered 6000, overcast 8500
Temp 13° C / Dewpoint 7°C
30.28 inches of Hg
2nd level ASOS / Rain began 22 minutes after the hour and ended 38 minutes past the hour

5. METAR Examples
METAR KSBN Z 30010KT 10SM OVC045 M04/M11 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP178
METAR KSBN Z 30010KT 10SM FEW037 OVC050 M04/M09 A3002 RMK AO2 SNE0355B25E28
METAR KSBN Z 31012KT 9SM -SN BKN029 OVC038 M03/M08 A3003 RMK AO2 SNE16B34
SPECI KSBN Z 31011KT 10SM BKN031 BKN040 OVC055 M04/M08 A3002 RMK AO2 SNE0355
METAR KIAD Z AUTO/COR 21019G27KT 1/2SM R04R/3000FT -SN FG SCT011 OVC015 01/M02 A2945 RMK PK WND 19029/16 SLP045 T

6. Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)
TAF KSBN Z VRB03KT 2 SM SCT030 BKN080 TEMPO 1517 SHRA
Day/Time
Airport
Valid
Wind
Visibility
Ceilings
Temporarily
FM KT 1SM OVC030 BECMG0210 NSW BKN030
From
Wind / Visibility / Ceiling
Becoming
Wx / Ceiling
Components of TAF
South Bend
17th day of the month, predicted at 1145 Zulu Time (GMT)
Valid from on the 17th
Wind variable at 3 knots
2 Statute Miles Visibility
Scattered 3000, Broken 8000
Temporarily between Rain Showers
From 2200 Wind 130 at 9 Kts, 1 SM visibility, overcast 3000
Between , No Significant Weather, Ceiling Broken 3000

7. TAF Examples
TAF KSBN Z KT P6SM OVC040 FM KT P6SM BKN040
FM KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100
TAF KORD Z KT P6SM BKN035 FM KT P6SM SCT035 SCT250
FM KT P6SM SCT150 BKN200
FM G22KT P6SM BKN150
FM KT P6SM SCT015
TAF KAZO Z KT P6SM -SHSN OVC050 TEMPO SM -SHSN SCT015 BKN025
FM G22KT 5SM -SHSN BKN035 OVC100
FM KT P6SM -SHSN BKN035

8. Pilot Report (PIREP) Components of METARs Gipper
/OV GIJ /TM 2200 /FL090 TP/PA28 /SK 008 BKN 016 /TA -3 /WV2725 /TB LGT /IC NEG
Flight Level
Type A/C
Temp
Aloft
Wind Aloft
Over
Time
Sky Cover
Turbulence Icing
Components of METARs
Gipper
Reported at 2200 Zulu Time (GMT)
Flight Level 090 (9000 Feet)
Piper Cherokee
Broken Layer between 800 and 1600 feet
Temp -3° C
Wind from 270° at 25
Light Turbulence / Negative Icing

9. PIREP Examples
UA /OV FLW090022/TM 0534/FL095/TP C172/SK SKC/WX FV99SM/TB NEG
UA /OV MZB/TM 0547/FL295/TP MD80/TA M43/WV 27211KT/TB NEG
UA /OV HYP090028/TM 0639/FL220/TP MD80/TB MDT
UA /OV FRA320015/TM 0604/FL200/TP A320/TB MDT/RM NORCAL

10. Winds Aloft Forecast First 2 Digits: TRUE Wind Direction
******** FD Winds Aloft Forecast ********
DATA BASED ON Z VALID Z FOR USE Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000 FT
FWA
JOT
MKG
First 2 Digits: TRUE Wind Direction
Second 2 Digits: Wind Speed
Third 2 Digits: Temperature

11. AIRMET (WA) Warn of hazards primarily to small aircraft
Classifications
Tango – Turbulence
Sierra – IFR Weather & Mountain Obscuration
Zulu - Icing

12. AIRMET Example ******** AIRMETs ********
CHIS WA AMD AIRMET SIERRA UPDT 1 FOR IFR AND MTN OBSCN VALID UNTIL .
AIRMET IFR...MN IA...UPDT
FROM 30WNW MSP TO 50W ODI TO 50SE MCW TO 20SSW MCW TO
40NE RWF TO 30WNW MSP
OCNL CIG BLW 010 AND/OR VIS BLW 3SM PCPN/BR. CONDS ENDG
05-07Z.
AIRMET IFR...LM MI IN
FROM 50NNE MKG TO 30NE GRR TO 20ENE GIJ TO 30WSW GIJ TO
30NW MKG TO 50NNE MKG
OCNL CIG BLW 010 AND/OR VIS BLW 3SM PCPN/BR. CONDS ENDG 07-09Z.

13. SIGMET (WS) and Convective SIGMET (WST)
Warn of conditions that could be dangerous to all aircraft
Severe Icing
Severe Turbulence
Convective SIGMET
Observations and/or forecasts that warn of conditions associated with thunderstorms
Tornados
Large Hail
Embedded Thunderstorms

14. Additional Weather Services
Area Forecasts (FA)
Summary of weather over a large area
Transcribed Weather Broadcast (TWEB)
Route forecast covering 25 miles either side of a particular route
Hazardous In-Flight Weather Advisory Services (HIWAS)
Continuous broadcast of in-flight weather advisories
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
Continuous broadcast of recorded information at certain airports containing weather information, runway(s) in use, and other pertinent remarks

15. Weather Charts Weather Depiction Chart Surface Analysis Chart
Information from METARs
Broad overview of flying conditions
Surface Analysis Chart
Location of pressure systems and fronts
Isobars
Radar Summary Chart
Shows areas and direction of heavy precipitation
Low-Level Significant Weather Prognostic Chart
4 Panels
Forecasts of surface and weather up to 24,000 MSL

16. Weather Charts Convective Outlook (AC) Radar Weather Reports (SD)
Forecasts possibility for general, as well as severe, thunderstorm activity during the following 24 hours
Radar Weather Reports (SD)
Textual position and intensity of thunderstorm cells

17. Sources of Aviation Weather
Aviation sources
FSS 800-WX-BRIEF
DUAT(S)
AOPA
ADDS
Aviation Digital Data Service
adds.aviationweather.gov
Non Aviation-sources
Weather channel
Accuweather
Intellicast
Unisys

18. Briefings Standard Briefing Outlook Briefing Abbreviated Briefing
Full Briefing
See Table 18-1 on p. 395
Outlook Briefing
More than 6 hours away
Abbreviated Briefing
Intended to supplement or update previous information

19. Aviation Weather Problems
IFR Problems
Structural ice
Above freezing level
Rime ice
Clear ice
T-storms
Embedded
Need radar or stormscope
Fog
VFR Problems
Low Ceilings
Forecast trends
Few (<10%)
Scattered (10-15%)
Broken (60-90%)
Overcast (>90%)
Low Visibility
Temp/Dewpoint spread
High Winds
Pressure gradient
Spacing of isobars

20. Problems for both IFR/VFR
Thunderstorms
Avoid by 20 nm
Turbulence
Caused by:
Unstable air
Warming from the ground
Friction with the ground
Ridge effects
Mountain waves
Frontal effects
Carburetor ice

21. What can the prudent pilot do?
While still on the ground
Get actual weather (overall & hourly)
Check trends (wind direction, ceiling, visibility.)
Is actual similar to forecast?
In the air
Always have an “out”
180 degree turn
Climb/descend
Know terrain
Maintain basic instrument skills
Explain your problem to ATC & ask for help
Call Flight Watch for WX updates
Call Flight Watch on between 0600L and 2200L when above 5000 MSL!

22. Wind Shear Pix

23. Not so nICE

24. Flight Service Station
ET Calling Home