With increasing technologies and access to the internet it may seem to some that a telephone weather briefing is a little outdated. For some it may be, but for others it’s a great opportunity to speak to a weather briefing specialist to learn about the conditions along your route of intended flight. 1-800-WX-BRIEF (992-7433) is a weather briefing service offered by Lockheed Martin and fully authorized by the FAA. It’s a legal and recorded briefing available throughout the U.S.
When telephoning a weather briefing facility for preflight weather information, pilots should:
- Identify themselves as pilots;
- State whether they intend to fly VFR or IFR;
- State the intended route, destination, and type of aircraft;
- Specify the kind of briefing;
- Request a standard briefing to get a “complete” weather briefing;
- Request an abbreviated briefing to supplement mass disseminated data or when only one or two items are needed; and
- Request an outlook briefing whenever the proposed departure time is 6 or more hours from the time of briefing.
More information on Weather Briefings can be found in the latest edition of Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45G). The FAA will ask questions in relation to this topic on the Private Pilot Knowledge Exam, they may look something like the ones below. After reading Monday’s post (found here) and today’s, see if you can answer some of the questions. I will post the answers in the comments section on Tuesday.
1. To get a complete weather briefing for the planned flight, the pilot should request
A—a general briefing.
B—an abbreviated briefing.
C—a standard briefing.
2. A weather briefing that is provided when the information requested is 6 or more hours in advance of the proposed departure time is
A—an outlook briefing.
B—a forecast briefing.
C—a prognostic briefing.
3. When telephoning a weather briefing facility for preflight weather information, pilots should state
A—the aircraft identification or the pilot’s name.
B—true airspeed.
C—fuel on board.
4. What should pilots state initially when telephoning a weather briefing facility for preflight weather information?
A—The intended route of flight radio frequencies.
B—The address of the pilot in command.
C—The intended route of flight and destination.
