Everybody talks about it

A: That is a topic on which many books have been written. It’s very important; so much so that your life may one day depend upon your weather knowledge. I am not saying that you must become as learned as a meteorologist, but a good foundation in the basics will pay dividends throughout your flying career.

As VFR pilots, we put weather in two categories: good or bad. We fly when it’s good and we don’t fly when it’s bad. Through time and experience, you will develop your definition of good and bad weather, as each pilot has his or her own.

Some weather is good for all pilots—blue skies, light winds, excellent visibility. Fly in this. Some weather is bad for all pilots—thunderstorms, severe turbulence, freezing rain. Don’t fly in this. The rest will come through personal comfort level developed through experience.

One concept that has served me very well for my 40 years of flying is this: Weather is where it is. What you see is what you get. It doesn’t matter what other pilots reported, what was forecast, what it was supposed to be, or how long it was forecast to hang around. When you look out the windscreen of your aircraft, what you see in front of you is what it is right now. Never hesitate to divert, turn around, or land if you do not like what you see. No one will think the lesser of you for it.

And lastly, remember this wisdom-rich aviation adage: It is far better to be on the ground wishing you were flying, than flying and wishing you were on the ground.

Craig Brown is a senior aviation technical specialist in the AOPA Pilot Information Center.
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