Pilot Institute

MAY 8, 2025

ACARS can replace tasks such as pre-departure and oceanic clearances, send position reports, and grab weather data for you. Before long, everything from oceanic clearance requests to in-flight weather updates could flow through ACARS. Weather Updates and D-ATIS ACARS can also improve relaying weather information.

Clearance

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

Rather, it is affected by many factors, such as weather conditions and the presence of obstacles. FSS Flight Service Station A Flight Service Station (FSS) is a ground facility that relays information to aircraft pilots. TFRs are published in real-time and can be checked using drone flight planning apps or via LAANC.

Pilot

Air Facts

JULY 28, 2025

The Flight The second icing event happened in April 2025, on a flight from KEWB (New Bedford, MA) to Y83 (Sandusky, MI), via KBGM. For days prior, I studied the weather through multiple sources: Weather Underground, Windy, MyRadarPro, ForeFlight, Aviation.gov, 1800-WXBRIEF, and more. I delayed takeoff until 5 p.m.

Clearance

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

We can’t cover them all here, but here are a few recent improvements we’ve noticed with MSFS: Improved flight models and ground physics. Visual improvements with lighting and weather. Advanced Controllers One of the most frustrating aspects of flight simulation is adjusting cockpit controls. the Garmin G1000 system).

Rudder

Air Facts

JUNE 4, 2025

Inside the FBO, I grabbed a cup of coffee and checked the weather briefing one last time. I filed my flight plan and headed out. The Challenge: Trusting the Instruments Cessna 123AB, were showing a band of weather moving into your area, came the call from Manila Control. As I re-entered the clouds, turbulence increased.

Altimeter

Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

Key Takeaways Occluded fronts merge warm and cold front hazards, causing complex, severe weather. Identifying occluded fronts on charts is important for flight planning and safety. Pilots should anticipate heavy rain, storms, icing, and turbulence with occluded fronts. What Is a Weather Front? What happens here?

Pilot

Pilot Institute

MAY 26, 2025

Welcome to the world of Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). These weather events are fierce and brutal, and whats worse is that you never see them coming. How can you stay safe during high-altitude flights? Key Takeaways Clear air turbulence is sudden, invisible turbulence that occurs at high altitudes in clear skies.

Turbulence

Pilot Institute

MARCH 7, 2025

Familiarize yourself with your aircraft, review your intended route, and assess the latest weather conditions. Weather Weather is no small factor in flying, and it has caused many accidents. Since weather can change quickly, always check the reports before takeoff. Clouds can hide mountains and other obstacles.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

JULY 4, 2025

Squall lines are powerful weather phenomena that can impact vast areas. Squall lines can bring strong turbulence, heavy rain, hail, lightning, and tornadoes. Weather radars and reports can help you plan ahead to avoid squall lines. They deliver severe weather along their path. What Is a Squall Line?

Weather

Air Facts

JULY 9, 2025

I once went on a flight without checking the weather. I’ve even flown without talking to ATC or filing a flight plan. I fly cross-country often, and for those trips I plan thoroughly—weather analysis, performance calculations, forecasts for winds, icing, turbulence, the works. That’s not the point.

Pilot

AV Web

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Some boisterous turbulence turned into an emergency on Thursday for the crew of an SAS A330. The flight lasted more than 10 hours and landed a few hundred miles from its departure point. According to numerous social media accounts, the turbulence was forecast and the aircraft’s flight plan took it through the highlighted area.

Turbulence

Air Facts

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Weather flying means learning to read clouds Air Facts Journal I had the privilege of working with Richard Collins for a decade, and in that time I learned an awful lot about weather flying. It’s not surprising—the man probably knew more about real world weather than anyone. Is that weather convective or just harmless showers?

Weather

Air Facts

JULY 31, 2024

Turbulence and Triumph: Lessons learned about flying (and about life) Air Facts Journal As pilots, each flight teaches us something new—about aviation, about the world, and about ourselves. On that day, the weather forecast was favorable, with light and variable winds. The turbulence grew stronger, and the clouds loomed closer.

Turbulence

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 6, 2024

Maybe it’s the Georgia flying weather, or maybe it’s the ever-increasing emphasis on “old” pilot instead of “bold” pilot, but it seems that flight planning these days is a lot more about if and when than about route and altitude. It’s only two hours by RV-9A, but there are gotchas lurking in the flight planning.

Airplanes

iPad Pilot News

JULY 30, 2024

This is a relatively minor update that improves the keyboard in the app and adds new categories for ForeFlight’s signature Reported Turbulence feature. Aviation Keyboard ForeFlight’s new aviation keyboard was designed for pilots to simplify the entry of flight plans, numerals, and latitude/longitude coordinates.

Turbulence

Learn to Fly

JUNE 18, 2024

Before a flight, pilots must do all they can to prepare for or avoid factors that are out of their control, such as weather. One of the many weather charts that are available are the significant weather (SIGWX) forecast charts. Or, create a different flight plan to avoid weather obstacles.

Weather

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Often, turbulence is the harbinger of mountain waves, not the ideal ceiling—and visibility unlimited—day. FAA weather charts can help for higher altitudes but when just a few thousand feet agl, they may be less useful. Great Falls weather is fair and warm. Enjoy your flight.” Lessons learned, some forgotten.

Turbulence

World Airline News

MAY 30, 2024

Emirates has joined the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Turbulence Aware Platform. In conjunction with the IATA Turbulence Aware Platform, the airline has equipped more than 140 aircraft with the required onboard software to automatically share turbulence reports with all airlines contributing data to the platform.

Turbulence

iPad Pilot News

JUNE 5, 2024

Top 10 aviation weather apps for pilots iPad Pilot News Checking the weather before flight has always been one of the most popular uses for the iPad. After all, it’s easier to get an update by looking at your tablet or phone than sitting at a computer or calling Flight Service. Station Weather. WeatherSpork.

Weather

Pilot's Life Blog

JULY 25, 2024

Before you become a commercial pilot, it’s important to know how to obtain a good weather briefing. Flying in appropriate weather helps make your flight enjoyable and keeps your passengers safe. Outlook briefing : You’ll obtain this briefing as you plan your flight several days before you depart.

Weather

iPad Pilot News

DECEMBER 17, 2024

ForeFlight ForeFlight first got its start as a weather app on iPhone and quickly grew into a full-featured EFB app as the iPad gained popularity among pilots. These profiles were created using data collected directly the manufacturers performance tables, providing highly accurate ETE and fuel calculations when planning a flight.

Pilot

Learn to Fly

APRIL 11, 2024

The saying “ in like a lion out like a lamb ” is most often used for March, but April can also be a crazy weather month. While aviation training tends to focus on the go/no-go decision, equally critical are the continue/divert decisions that happen quite literally throughout the flight.

Weather

iPad Pilot News

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

This allows you to take advantage of every flight planning and in-flight weather and navigation capability from anywhere on your phone. The MagSafe attachment includes twenty N52-grade neodymium magnets that securely hold your iPhone in place through the roughest turbulence or flight maneuvering.

Cockpit

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 10, 2025

And if not planned properly, a poorly executed descent can present challenges and unnecessary risks when transitioning to an approach or the traffic pattern. Pilots must consider a variety of factors including terrain, weather, airspace constraints, and aircraft performance, to ensure a smooth and safe descent.

Descent

Learn to Fly

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Pilots are one of the most weather-informed groups in the world. They must be, because a change in wind direction or a developing storm can make a mess of all their other careful planning. Figure 1: The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) home page. One such gem that aspiring pilots should get to know is the AWC website.

Weather

Air Facts

AUGUST 16, 2024

I fly a Rockwell Commander 114B which I flight plan at 14 gph and 140 kts. It turns out that an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Orlando would have cost $1,646.00 (CND with taxes) but going Air Phil is way more fun. Friday was a day to decompress, spending time around the pool and preparing the Commander for the flight home.

Weather

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 17, 2024

These weather alerts each have their own role: AIRMETs warn about moderate conditions like turbulence, icing, and limited visibility, which can affect smaller or less equipped aircraft. In this article, we’ll discuss what makes AIRMETs and SIGMETs important, how to read them, and why each matters for flight planning.

UTC

Air Facts

AUGUST 30, 2024

Each region presents unique flying challenges, from the gusty winds around Cape Town’s mountains to the humid, turbulent air over Gauteng in Summer. These diverse conditions keep me on my toes and continuously learning, making every flight both a challenge and a joy. South Africa’s weather is as varied as its landscapes.

Pilot

Professional Pilot

JANUARY 2, 2025

The fully automated MultiScan weather radar also provides predictive analysis and advanced threat detection. In addition, the system offers predictive windshear and lightning detection, and SiriusXM graphical weather. The GWX 8000 StormOptix weather radar provides comprehensive weather information.

Flight Deck

Professional Pilot

MAY 13, 2024

Transatlantic routes While safety is still the primary concern for pilots, today’s challenges are not so much the vastness and weather on this ocean, but traffic density and regulatory compliance. This is where the North Atlantic Organised Track System (NAT-OTS) guides your flight planning.

Jet

Professional Pilot

MAY 13, 2024

Transatlantic routes While safety is still the primary concern for pilots, today’s challenges are not so much the vastness and weather on this ocean, but traffic density and regulatory compliance. This is where the North Atlantic Organised Track System (NAT-OTS) guides your flight planning.

Jet

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

They often are too busy to plan a commercial flight from start to finish. As a result, larger operations often rely on dispatchers specializing in flight planning to handle the responsibility. They also plan diversions and give pilots feedback during emergencies. Does it have GPS, INS, or VOR systems?

Weather

Pilot's Life Blog

MAY 6, 2025

That means if you burn fuel at 8 GPH and fly for five hours, youll travel roughly 600 nautical miles, depending on wind and weather. Pilots have to do weight and balance calculations before every flight. We teach our students how to do this step-by-step so they know how weight affects real flight range.

Weather

AV Web

JANUARY 8, 2025

My first major consideration is weather. Routing around thunderstorms or changing altitude for icing or turbulence are options I like to exercise, which require a little extra fuel for breathing room. An additional consideration exists for aircraft cruising in the flight levels. Good forecasted weather.

Payload

iPad Pilot News

FEBRUARY 14, 2025

Why you should use ForeFlight’s Pack feature on every flight iPad Pilot News ForeFlight is known for advanced features like ADS-B traffic and weather, terrain awareness, and synthetic vision, but it’s the core features like digital charts that provide the most utility for day-to-day flying.

NOTAMs

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Unexpected issues like engine trouble or bad weather make routine flights a handful. VFR flight following offers real-time help and improves situational awareness, all for free. Key Takeaways VFR flight following offers real-time help and improves pilots’ situational awareness. What is Flight Following?

Transponder

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

In aviation, staying ahead of the weather is a must. When weather conditions shift unexpectedly, that’s when a SPECI report comes in. A SPECI (or Special Report) offers a quick weather update between the routine METARs. Let’s explore how SPECIs are going to help you plan around unexpected weather twists.

Altimeter