Pilots & Weather Considerations Federal Aviation Administration 1

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations What this seminar isnt What this seminar isnt –Weather 101 –How to read METARs

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations Weather Considerations Personal Rules to LIVE by Personal Rules to LIVE by –Bright Lines you dont cross Personal WX minima VFR/IFR Personal WX minima VFR/IFR PAVE (pre-flight planning) PAVE (pre-flight planning) CARE (in-flight decision making) CARE (in-flight decision making)

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations Weather Considerations Establish weather criteria in the comfort of your own home when you dont have a specific trip in mind Establish weather criteria in the comfort of your own home when you dont have a specific trip in mind Recognize the difference between legal and appropriate Recognize the difference between legal and appropriate

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations Weather Considerations Personal VFR Minimums Personal VFR Minimums –Ceiling –Visibility –Max X-Wind Component –Fuel Reserves (Day/Night)

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

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations PAVE During Pre-flight planning evaluate: Pilot Pilot Aircraft Aircraft enVironment enVironment External Pressures External Pressures

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations 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 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 Aircraft: Equipment, performance, load, fuel capacity, runway surface and length, operating ceiling, limitations

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations PAVE The PAVE checklist continued: EnVironment: Weather, personal minimums, terrain, over water, high altitude operations, airspace and NOTAMs EnVironment: Weather, personal minimums, terrain, over water, high altitude operations, airspace and NOTAMs External Pressures: Expectant host, planned meeting, special event, passengers External Pressures: Expectant host, planned meeting, special event, passengers

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations 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.

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations CARE In flight monitor changes in the PAVE criteria and consider: Consequences Consequences Alternatives Alternatives Reality Reality External Pressures External Pressures

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations CARE Once youre 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, EnVironment, and External pressures) and the decisions you make regarding them. Consequences: Consider consequences of changing risk factors during the flight (Pilot, Aircraft, EnVironment, and External pressures) and the decisions you make regarding them. Alternatives: Have a back up when you cant 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 Alternatives: Have a back up when you cant 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

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations 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 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. External pressures: Other people or personal commitments cause goal oriented behavior at the expense of making good decisions.

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations 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

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations 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.

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

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations Weather Considerations Would you be happy with the headline in tomorrows newspaper? Would you be happy with the headline in tomorrows newspaper? Would you do this with 100 paying passengers in the back? Would you do this with 100 paying passengers in the back?

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

Federal Aviation Administration Pilots & Weather Considerations 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.