Decoding Weather

Leanna Osisek • Aug 15, 2022

When an individual decides to undertake a hobby or career in flying, it can open up the world to them in a number of new ways. Learning how to become a responsible, safe, and knowledgeable pilot means grasping a plethora of subjects you may or may not have prior experience with, one of which being meteorology. Weather is always a factor in flight that must be considered as it plays a large part in mitigating risk and being proactive in order to stay ahead of the aircraft. By scrutinizing the current and forecasted conditions, you can determine the flight categories - VFR, MVFR, IFR, or LIFR - at your departure/arrival times, and what is expected (and therefore what to anticipate and how to prepare) along your route. Now let's take a look at some forms of weather information that exist and their details.


METARs

Airports with modern equipment and/or trained personnel publish hourly observations in a METAR  (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) and contain the altimeter setting, wind, ceiling, and other conditions in abbreviated codes, and will include various remarks pertaining to miscellaneous topics including weather trends and updates to runway statuses. A few codes that appear often are listed below, and many that aren't listed make some amount of sense.

CODE COMPONENT MEANING
CB Cloud Cumulonimbus
A02 Automated Observation with precipitation discrimination
- / + Intensity Light / Heavy

TAFs
A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, or TAF, is published four times daily - every six hours - and is valid for 24 hours (in some cases, 30 hours). Like METARs, TAFs are comprised of many abbreviation codes for amounts of cloud coverage, wind direction and velocity, etc. which it is essential to familiarize yourself with as a pilot. Unlike METARs, however, a TAF is considered a forecast rather than an observation. TAF reports are also less common than METARs - think KATL, KMGE, and KAHN but not KPDK, KLZU, or KRYY, which have METARs but not TAFs. Some more frequent or more unusual qualifiers one may see are defined in the table below, and most codes are consistent in both METARs and TAFs.

CODE COMPONENT MEANING MEMORY ITEM
P6SM Visibility >6SM
BR Obscuration Mist Baby/British Rain
FU Obscuration Smoke
UP Precipitation Unknown Precipitation

ATIS, AWOS, ASOS

In addition to the METAR, an airfield's current conditions are updated and broadcasted over the radio, and can be listened to on the frequency found in the chart supplement or on the sectional/en route chart; if the field is towered it will likely have a human-created ATIS at least every hour. The current ATIS will be identified by a phonetic letter. Contrarily, non-towered fields will play AWOS, ASOS, or other automated reports, depending on the equipment, which update more often than ATIS reports.


These are a pilot's primary sources for current and forecasted weather conditions, but there are many places one can obtain weather information at many times before flying, and it is always a good idea to try to look at the big picture as well as the details. Understanding weather, how/when to obtain it, and it's implications is a skill and area of knowledge of paramount importance for any pilot who prioritizes safety. This also makes it important to be well-versed in your aircraft's limitations and is a large function of preflight planning. Officially, weather can be gathered from the National Weather Service, a website we recommend every aviator bookmarks or saves for easy, quick, and frequent access.


Weather often creates challenging Go/No-Go decisions and calls for a pilot to exercise their Personal Minimums in real-world practice. Err on the side of caution if you're ever unsure or uncomfortable, and there is no need to jeopardize safety at any point. As they say, it is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than the other way around.


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Newsletter 9/29/23

29 Sep, 2023
NEW AT NSPIRE

5 Steps to Switching Careers Into Aviation

By Marcus Lansky • 29 Sep, 2023
Maybe you’ve been thinking about making a dramatic career change. If you’ve always dreamed about becoming a pilot, this could be your opportunity to make that dream a reality. By taking a certification course with NSPIRE Aviation , you can kick off a new career as a commercial pilot! Furthermore, these tips will show you how to enhance your resume to secure your first job, and even walk you through some of the requirements for starting your own aviation business. Figure Out if It’s Time for a Change When do you know that it’s time for a career change? Sometimes, looking for a new job in the same field is enough - but sometimes, you need to completely shift directions. Robert Walters Group states that if your skills do not align with your true professional interests, it may be a sign to work on breaking into a new field, where you can pour your talents into a job that you love. Get Certified as a Commercial Pilot You’re committed to making a career change, and you’re ready to take the first big step towards becoming a commercial pilot by earning your pilot’s license. You’ll need to complete a private pilot certification first, earn an instrument rating, get your necessary flight hours under your belt, and then pass a written and practical exam covering everything you’ve learned. Finally, you’ll be ready to get your commercial pilot’s license! Update Your Resume If you’re getting ready to look for your first job as a commercial pilot, you might be wondering how to create a resume . Changing up your resume when switching fields can take time, so start this process early! AVJobs states that you can include your flight times, certifications, and ratings, as well as your previous jobs. Finally, even after you’ve created a strong resume, don’t forget that you can tweak it for each job opening. For example, you might want to add different keywords to the skills section based on the job description. You can also emphasize specific accomplishments in your professional history and academic sections. Navigate the Job Hunt You’ve got your license, your resume is ready, and you’re eager to start working as a pilot. You may need to get a flight instructor certification first, as it’s much easier to find employment as a flight instructor when you have minimal experience. Research different employers in your area, and try to network with people who already work there - they might be able to give you a valuable reference that could land you an interview! Even in the aviation field, networking is often the key to getting the job you want. Consider Starting Your Own Business One day, you might want to start your own business in the commercial aviation sector. For instance, if you live in an area that attracts tourists, you might want to offer private flights to show off the aerial views of your region. If you intend to start a business, you’ll have to obtain a business license first, as well as any appropriate permits. To find out which licenses and permits you’ll need, check out the requirements in your state. By hiring a service to assemble the list of required permits and licenses for your aviation business, you’ll save hours of time! Working in commercial aviation is an exciting career choice. If you’ve been itching for a career change, it might be time to take to the skies. With these tips, you’ll be ready to pursue a certification program, spruce up your resume for job applications, and even launch your very own aviation business in the future. Ready to earn your commercial pilot certification? Turn to NSPIRE Aviation ! Fill out the contact form on their website to learn more about the certification programs. Ready to earn your commercial pilot certification? Photo via Unsplash
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