Weather Information
Lesson Plan

Attention:

  • Research a mishap case study:
  • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap
  • Relate similar personal experience of the same type of incident/accident/mishap

Motivator:

  • Regardless of your experience level, weather is likely to be a key factor in your decision-making process
  • A pilot's ability to find and interpret weather is essential to make well-informed decisions
    • Failure to recognize deteriorating weather conditions leads to a exceptionally high mishap and associated lethality rate
  • Weather service to aviation is a joint effort between federal agencies, the military weather services, and other aviation-oriented groups and individuals
  • The National Weather Service operates a network of radar sites for detecting coverage, intensity, and movement of precipitation
    • FAA and DOD radar sites in the western sections of the country supplement the network
    • Local warning radar sites augment the network by operating on an as-needed basis to support warning and forecast programs
  • Think you've got a solid understanding of weather and atmosphere? Don't miss the weather and atmosphere quiz below and the topic summary

Overview:

Topic:
Time:
Introduction:
0:05
Weather Information:
0:10
Training:
0:05
Review (quiz):
0:05
Case Studies:
0:05
Total Ground Time:
0:30

Required Materials:

  • Paper, Pen, Marker, Whiteboard

Instructor Actions:

Student Actions:

  • Complete assigned reading (see content above)
  • Ask pertinent questions

Private Pilot - Weather Information Airman Certification Standards:

  • Satisfy the requirements of Section I, Task C by determining that the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; FAA-H-8083-25; AC 00-6, AC 00-45, AC 00-54; AIM

Weather Information Knowledge:

The applicant must demonstrate understanding of:

Weather Information Risk Management:

The applicant demonstrates the ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, encompassing:

  • PA.I.C.R1:

    Factors involved in making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, to include:
    • PA.I.C.R1a:
      Circumstances that would make diversion prudent
    • PA.I.C.R1b:
      Personal weather minimums
    • PA.I.C.R1c:
      Hazardous weather conditions to include known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft

  • PA.I.C.R2:

    Limitations of:
    • PA.I.C.R2a:
      Onboard weather equipment
    • PA.I.C.R2b:
      Aviation weather reports and forecasts
    • PA.I.C.R2c:
      Inflight weather resources

Weather Information Skills:

The applicant demonstrates the ability to:

  • PA.I.B.R1:

    Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing

  • PA.I.B.R2:

    Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l above, using actual weather or weather conditions in a scenario provided by the evaluator

  • PA.I.B.R3:

    Correlate weather information to make a competent go/no-go decision

Re-Motivation:

Closure:

  • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
  • Assign study materials for the next lesson