Chapter 3
Overview of Aviation Weather Information
3.3.3.1 Flight Service 1800wxbrief.com
The FAA contract provider for flight services provides a website (https://www.1800wxbrief.com) that allows pilots to review weather information, receive online preflight briefings, file flight plans, and receive automatic notifications and alerts. The website also offers an interactive map to allow pilots to view a variety of weather products and access to a variety of aeronautical information that can be tailored to their planned flight route. See Chapter 28, Aviation Weather Tools, for additional information.
3.3.3.2 Aviation Weather Cameras
The FAA’s Aviation Weather Cameras website provides access to current weather camera images from the FAA’s Aviation Weather Camera Network. On the website, pilots may compare the images to clear day views or play back a loop of past images to establish weather trends. Weather camera images are a supplementary product and may only be used to improve situational awareness.
The website also delivers a variety of safety of flight information including adverse conditions (e.g., AIRMETs and SIGMETs), current conditions (e.g., Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METAR), radar, satellite imagery, and weather trends), TAFs, PIREPs, and other aeronautical information (e.g., remote communications outlets (RCO), TFRs, and charts).
The FAA’s Aviation Weather Cameras website can be found in Appendix G. The website uses a set of progressive web application standards that enables an application-level experience on certain mobile devices. See Section 24.9 for additional information.
3.3.3.3 AviationWeather.gov
The website https://aviationweather.gov is operated by the NWS AWC in Kansas City, MO. It is a major aviation weather website for obtaining text and graphical preflight weather information and products.
3.3.3.3.1 Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) Tool
The Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) Tool is a set of web-based displays that provide the necessary aviation weather information to give users a complete picture of the weather that may impact flights in the CONUS, Gulf of America, the Caribbean, portions of the Atlantic Ocean, and portions of the Pacific Ocean, including the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. See Chapter 28 for additional information.
3.3.3.4 Weather.gov
The National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) is a suite of gridded forecasts of sensible weather elements (e.g., cloud cover, maximum temperature). NWS field offices working in collaboration with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are combined in the NDFD to create a seamless mosaic of digital forecasts. Weather elements necessary for aviation are included in the NDFD. However, be aware that the NDFD may provide different forecast information for the same location and time than the GFA. For further information about NDFD, please contact National Weather Service - Graphical Forecast
3.3.3.5 Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B)
Pilots can receive a regulatory compliant briefing through online weather resources that can be used in conjunction with the Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) products. See Section 3.3.4.1 for information on FIS-B.
3.3.3.6 Commercial Services
There are several commercial aviation weather providers that offer aviation weather and flight information suitable for tablets and EFBs. These have a subscription fee for the service.
3.3.3.7 Weather Applications (Apps)
There are an increasing number of weather apps that allow pilots to access a wide range of weather reports and forecasts from their phone, tablet, and computer. Some apps include flight planning services, in-flight updates, NOTAMs, and TFRs. Details on these weather apps and other online weather services can be found in the information from the service provider.