Pilots Weather Considerations Federal Aviation Administration Pilots Weather

Pilots & Weather Considerations Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Downloaded www. avhf. com 1

Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Pilots & Weather Considerations § What this seminar isn’t – Weather 101 – How to read METARs Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations § Personal Rules to LIVE by – Bright Lines you don’t cross § § § Personal WX minima VFR/IFR PAVE (pre-flight planning) CARE (in-flight decision making) Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations § Establish weather criteria in the comfort of your own home when you don’t have a specific trip in mind § Recognize the difference between “legal” and “appropriate” Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations § Personal VFR Minimums – Ceiling – Visibility – Max X-Wind Component – Fuel Reserves (Day/Night) Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations § Personal IFR Minimums – Precision Approaches § Ceiling (above published mins) § Visibility (above published mins) – Non-Precision Approaches – Takeoff Minimums – Fuel Reserves – Freezing Level height above cruise alt Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

PAVE During Pre-flight planning evaluate: § Pilot § Aircraft § en. Vironment § External Pressures Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

PAVE In pre-flight planning the PAVE checklist reminds you to consider: § Pilot: Health (IMSAFE - Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotional state) qualifications, capabilities, currency, proficiency, IFR/VFR § Aircraft: Equipment, performance, load, fuel capacity, runway surface and length, operating ceiling, limitations Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

PAVE The PAVE checklist continued: § En. Vironment: Weather, personal minimums, terrain, over water, high altitude operations, airspace and NOTAMs § External Pressures: Expectant host, planned meeting, special event, passengers Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Elements in the PAVE checklist are cumulative. A major problem in any area is reason to cancel the flight but multiple minor problems in more than one area can also make delaying the flight a good idea. A single problem in any area should be a yellow flag to take notice but two or more problem areas should be a red flag to take action and change your plan. Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

CARE In flight monitor changes in the PAVE criteria and consider: § Consequences § Alternatives § Reality § External Pressures Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

CARE Once you’re airborne use the CARE checklist to stay on top of factors affecting the flight. § Consequences: Consider consequences of changing risk factors during the flight (Pilot, Aircraft, En. Vironment, and External pressures) and the decisions you make regarding them. § Alternatives: Have a back up when you can’t continue as planned, remembering that your alternatives will decrease as the flight progresses and you burn the fuel that will allow you to take a different route or divert Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

CARE The CARE checklist continued: § Reality: Maintain situational awareness and deal with the actual conditions, not what you hoped or planned would happen. Accept change and take proper action § External pressures: Other people or personal commitments cause goal oriented behavior at the expense of making good decisions. Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

CARE As with the PAVE checklist, items in the CARE checklist are also cumulative. While a single major problem in any area can cause a complete change of plans, minor problems in two or more items of the CARE checklist should cause you to re-evaluate the situation and take appropriate action Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations The PAVE and CARE checklists are your virtual co-pilot, the challenging voice in the back of your head that causes you to evaluate each flight management decision you make and validate that decision against a personal standard rather than just winging it. Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations § Local Weather Stuff – Lingering Marine Layer – Santa Ana Winds § Turbulence § Mountain Wave – Low freezing levels § Snow & Ice away from home Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Weather Considerations § Would you be happy with the headline in tomorrow’s newspaper? § Would you do this with 100 paying passengers in the back? Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

FAASafety. gov § Register at FAASafety. gov – Document your support for the program § Attend Safety Seminars – Green Stamps in the Bank § NASA Incident Reporting – Immunity for unintentional violations – 5 year clock – Must be able to document to be able to use Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration

Flying is not inherently dangerous, but to an even greater extent than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect. Thank you for attending. Pilots & Weather Considerations Downloaded from www. avhf. com Federal Aviation Administration