Transcript AVIATION WEATHER - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical

AVIATION WEATHER
DEBBIE SCHAUM
Self- Briefing Procedures
• Weather Awareness
– Big picture, what’s the general weather along
your route.
– Look outside
– Look at the weather on the TV
– Get the big picture from your home computer
Self Briefing cont.
• Are you ready to fly this mission?
- Are you qualified to fly in these conditions?
- Do you have the experience to take on this
mission?
- Are you physically capable?
- Are you mentally ready?
Things you need to know
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What type of aircraft
Limits of aircraft
Proposed flight level
Take off and destination forecast
Hazards enroute
Winds enroute
Time enroute
Weather information
• Current weather
– Surface analysis
– Weather depiction
– Radar summary
– Satellite
– METARS along route
– Pireps
Weather Information Cont.
• Forecast Weather
– TAFS for takeoff and departure
– Prog charts valid for flight time
– Hazard forecast valid for flight time
– Hazards at your flight level
– Discussion bulletins that apply to your
route of flight
Alternates and Flight Paths
• An Alternate is used if the weather at your
destination is not suitable for landing.
• Winds are too strong or creating too much of a
crosswind
• Thunderstorms/severe weather are over the field
• Visibilities are below pilot’s/plane’s minimum
capabilities
• Ceiling is too low
• Runway is icy or snow covered
Weather Data Sources
ERAU WX
• http://wx.erau.edu/data/
• Good satellite and radar images; access to
WSI data; limited surface and forecast
graphics; does not have upper air or
model graphics data.
Graphical
data allows
route
planning
Then pick additional
Information for your
route of flight
Aviation Weather Center
• http://aviationweather.gov/
• http://adds.aviationweather.gov/
• Good for aviation weather hazards; good
satellite access; icing and turbulence
information; pilot reports; some manual
forecast graphics; access to experimental
aviation hazard products (ADDS); lacks
model data; lacks public weather
National Weather Service
• http://weather.gov/
• Good overview of public weather; click on
organization to get web listings for all local
NWS offices
HOURLY WEATHER GRAPH
Take off data
Runway
Cross winds
Chance of
Precip
NCAR-RAP
• http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather
• Aviation oriented web page; forecast
model graphics are useful aviation
planning (clouds, winds, etc); has links to
other related weather web sites.
• Vertical profile data (Skew-T/Log P)
Using the ADDS Flight Planning
Tool
• Go to http://adds.aviationweather.gov/
• Click on Java Tools
• Launch new FPT (Flight Path Tool)
• Select your flight altitude
• Click on Configure and Identify the items
you want displayed
Creating a cross sectional view
• Click on airplane button on left side.
• Place cursor on starting location and left
click (should put a 1 on that location)
• Move your mouse to your destination and
left click (should put a 2 on that location)
• Continue to all your destinations
• When complete right click and click on
show cross-section.
Cross section cont.
• This should display a cross section view.
• It will always have your starting destination
on the left side.
• Along the bottom you will find all the
information you requested by rolling over
the points
METARS/TAFS
• METAR is Meteorological Terminal
Aviation Routine Weather Report
– It is the observation of current conditions
– By the time it is online it is old information
• TAF is Terminal Airdrome Forecast
– Provide a forecast of weather conditions at an
airport for the next 6-24 hours.
New TAF Format
Example
NOW
KABC 131128Z 131212 14005KT P6SM
SCT025 OVC040
TEMPO 1216 OVC025
FM1600 13015G23KT P6SM OVC015
FM2100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008
TEMPO 2101 1SM -SN
FM0100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006
TEMPO 1401/1405 2SM -SN BLSN
FM0500 01015KT 5SM BR OVC006
AFTER Nov 5th, 2008
KABC 131128Z 1312/1418 14005KT P6SM
SCT025 OVC040
TEMPO 1312/1316 OVC025
FM131600 13015G23KT P6SM OVC015
FM132100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008
TEMPO 1321/1401 1SM -SN
FM140100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006
TEMPO 1401/1405 2SM -SN BLSN
FM141500 01015KT 5SM BR OVC006
Forecasting tools
http://wwwt.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/SREF_avia/FCST/AV
N/web_site/visb/cnv_com_09z_prb1.htm
Great aviation tool for looking up to 63 hrs into future
Flight restriction probabilities
Ceiling and cloud tops
Low level wind shear
Icing potential up to FL 240
Turbulence potential FL 180 and higher
Precip probability
Fog probability
SREF
Time of
origin
Valid time
Probability
Food for thought