Aviation Weather Student Guide

INTRODUCTION

In accordance with applicable military instructions, all pilots are responsible for reviewing and

being familiar with weather conditions for their planned flight. Where Weather Services are

available, a qualified forecaster shall conduct the weather briefings. They may be conducted

either in person or via telephonic, autographic, weather vision, or approved Internet methods. In

some cases pilots may have to complete the briefing and DD 175-1 Weather Briefing Forms on

their own.

In preparing for a flight, aircrew should always make an analysis of the weather. The pilot is

negligent in the performance of duties if a weather brief is accepted that is not completely

understood. The object of such a pre-brief analysis is to give the aircrew a complete picture of the

weather conditions and developments that will affect flight along the route. Additionally, it enables

the aircrew to discuss intelligently any apparent discrepancies in the forecast given during the

weather brief itself. Once in the air, a pilot cannot always consult the forecaster or the charts to

understand the reasons for unexpected changes and choose the best corrective action. At these

times, the aircrew must rely on knowledge, experience, and information obtained before departure.

Before going into a weather office to receive a flight weather briefing, the pilot and aircrew must

know exactly what information is needed. The aircrew needs to know the local weather at the

time of takeoff and during the climb to altitude, the weather to be expected while en route and

the effect on aircraft performance, and the existing and forecast weather at destination and

alternate airfield(s). The type of information needed will vary considerably depending upon

whether the pilot is flying a jet aircraft, turboprop, piston-driven propeller aircraft (not covered in

this text), or a helicopter.

So how can a pilot or navigator, whose specialty is flying aircraft, be able to carry on an

intelligent discussion with a professional meteorologist? Better yet, how can the aircrew make

intelligent decisions about dealing with the weather once airborne? The answer lies in learning a

foundation of weather knowledge that continues to grow over the course of one’s career through

experience and personal study. Thus, the purpose of this course in Aviation Weather is not to

produce meteorologists, but rather aviators who understand the basics of weather phenomena and

the weather information systems in use.

Chapters One through Four, deal with the weather products available to aviators–from the codes

and abbreviations used to communicate weather in a precise manner, to the charts and warnings,

and finally to the Flight Weather Briefing Form itself, the DD 175-1.

The authors of this book hope you find this course informative and are able to use this book as a

reference throughout your career.