Weather Information and Preflight Decisions
Episode: core-13
Version: 0.1.1
Source verification: Version 0.1.1 source-relevance review is complete.
In this episode
Using an explicitly hypothetical VFR trip from Northern California to Wisconsin, this episode connects METARs, SPECIs, PIREPs, surface analysis, GFA layers, TAFs, winds aloft, advisories, and briefing types to the decisions they are meant to support. The lesson organizes weather evidence by route segment and time, shows how to identify each product’s limits, and builds clear triggers for delay, reroute, diversion, or landing short.
Study materials and visual aids
- Official Aviation Weather Center Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
- Graphical Forecasts for Aviation tutorial
- Official Flight Service briefing portal: 1800wxbrief.com
- FAA sample preflight briefing checklist (AC 91-92)
- FAA study reference: interpreting METARs and SPECIs
- FAA study reference: interpreting PIREPs
- FAA study reference: PIREP routine and urgent report types
- FAA study reference: SIGMETs
- FAA study reference: AIRMETs
- FAA study reference: Convective SIGMETs
- FAA study reference: mountain-wave rotor zones
Fact-check and source material
| Topic | Authoritative source | Locator |
|---|---|---|
| ACS weather-information task | Private Pilot Airplane ACS | PA.I.C.K1-K4 and following risk/skill elements |
| Preflight obligation | 14 CFR 91.103 | Opening sentence |
| Briefing process and briefing types | AC 91-92 | Paragraphs 7.3 and 7.4 |
| Weather-services overview | PHAK Chapter 13 | Aviation Weather Services |
| Preflight briefing | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 3 |
| METAR and SPECI | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 24 |
| PIREPs | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 24 |
| Surface analysis | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 25 |
| TAFs | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 27 |
| Winds and temperatures aloft | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 27 |
| Mountain waves | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 16, pp. 16-1 to 16-2 |
| Mountain-wave rotor zones | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 16, p. 16-10 |
| SIGMETs | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 26 |
| AIRMETs | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 26 |
| Convective Outlook | Aviation Weather Handbook | Chapter 3 |
| Cockpit weather limitations | AIM 7-1-9 | Flight Information Services |
Correction status
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