Weather is the single biggest variable in flying. It can turn a long-awaited vacation into a long wait at the FBO, a quick two-hour flight into a tedious four-hour slog, or a stress-free jaunt into a skill-testing ordeal. The variations are infinite, but for pilots it all boils down to two questions: What’s really going on out there, and what does it mean for me?
The day-to-day challenge of answering those questions is the focus of the Air Safety Institute’s new fall seminar, “Real World Weather.” The seminar, which debuts on September 2, takes a no-nonsense look at how you can get better, more complete weather information—and make better, more informed decisions as a result. You’ll examine:
• The best weather resources, and when to use them.
• Situations that tempt smart pilots to make dumb choices.
• Weather-related accidents and the factors that led to them.
• Knowing what’s safe and what isn’t when things get “complicated.”
Visit the website for dates and locations near you. This seminar is brought to you in part by AOPA Insurance Services and, in part, by Jeppesen, a Boeing company.
Flying through precip?
Pilots sometimes avoid—or ignore—discussing inflight weather with ATC when it would be most helpful to them. For example, when you’ve earned your instrument rating and fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), there may be a time when precipitation is mercilessly pounding the airplane’s windshield; that’s when it would be a good time to check in with your air traffic controller for assistance. Watch Ask ATC: Precipitation Intensity to see how controllers can help in such situations, and learn how they will collaborate with you when you’d like to getout of the weather—fast.
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