ATCC Weather Alerts

[FLYLOW22]

Does anyone find them as equally useless as I do.

FLASHBACK: Above a layer of clouds, cruising at... well I won't brag about how fast the Ultra flies, but anyway... in cruise:

"ExecJet 383, you have weather at 12 o'clock and 1/2 mile, level 4 target."

Pilot looks around. Lot's of blue sky. Nothing on radar that has been tuned using Archie Tremmel's studly technique.

"Ummm. Thanks."

 

[jimcav]

Yeah and how often do they refer to level 1&2 echoes as " an area of extreme precipitation".

 

[AA717driver]

Yeah, going into SBA one night, LA Center kept advising us of "moderate precip" between FIM and the airport. He later revised it to "extreme precip". Yeah, it was raining, but he should work KC Center or Indy for awhile and see what that REALLY means. TC

 

[payton]

The faa in its grand wisdom is requiring us to do this. Our wx radar is even 5-10 minutes old. So basically a waste of time and info in the summer time T-storms. But due to all the lawsuits we are now required to give the wx. We figure we have done a good job when we have convinced a guy to deviate when its clear for 100 miles.
Oh and if we dont issure the wx we get a write up and after 3 write ups they can fire you.

 

[ironspud]

The faa in its grand wisdom is requiring us to do this. Our wx radar is even 5-10 minutes old. So basically a waste of time and info in the summer time T-storms. But due to all the lawsuits we are now required to give the wx. We figure we have done a good job when we have convinced a guy to deviate when its clear for 100 miles.
Oh and if we dont issure the wx we get a write up and after 3 write ups they can fire you.

In another lifetime, I used to fly airplanes without the benefit of WX Radar. One day, I got vectored into (at least a level 4) imbedded at about 8,000-10,000 feet. But that was when ATC had radar that had a job of tracking airplanes, not weather. It was one of the most horrific flights I've ever had. The controller later apologized and soon after I went on a tour of his facility and now (37 years later), understand what little technology he had. Nevertheless - to this day, (and yes, I know WX technology really hasn't improved a whole lot) if you ATC folks give me a "heads up" - trust me - you have my full attention.....and my thanks....and if it isn't there, I'm still ahead. Again, thanks.

NB: You just can't believe how violent those things can be....or how good a Lycoming engine can be, to deal with that much windshear, or water..and still keep running. We won't even talk about assigned altitudes + or - (pick a number.)

 

[learflyer]

Yeah, going into SBA one night, LA Center kept advising us of "moderate precip" between FIM and the airport. He later revised it to "extreme precip". Yeah, it was raining, but he should work KC Center or Indy for awhile and see what that REALLY means. TC

West coast just shuts down with a rain shower or two. Oops, I forgot that we have Philly!