Question about TAF's

[UnAnswerd]

These seem to be pretty useful. You typically get a 24-hour forecast, which is usually more than enough, even for a cross-country. The information is basic, and to the point. They can easily be obtained from the internet, so you can analyze the information and just exit once you're done. There is also no need to talk to another person, which I like. I do however, have a few questions:

The FAA claims you MUST get a weather briefing for any flight outside the vicinity of the airport. Does a TAF count as a briefing??? How far away is "outside the vicinity" of the airport???

If a TAF is issued for a particular airport, how far may you typically travel away from that airport, before the accuracy of the TAF starts to diminish???

Any information would be greatly appreciated

 

[labbats]

If I remember right a TAF is a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast and good for 5 nautical miles around the airport.

As for legalities of a weather brief, I asked the same thing when I was instructing, and was told that to CYA, you should call, but they can't really say whether or not you looked on http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/ or not.

Let me say that anything over a few hours ahead of you isn't too fresh of information, and never take the cloud heights as facts. You should use it as just one tool, as well as prog charts, radar, etc.

 

[kevdog]

accuracy of TAF's diminish about 2 minutes before they are released. It is good advice to never depend on a TAF, since they are hardly ever accurate. They are basically what the trend might be at a particular station.

 

[METARMan]

TAF is a forecast made by a National Weather Service forecaster and is valid within 5 statue miles around the airport center.

I think the answers to your questions are somewhat subjective. I'm not sure if anything is specifically written on what data constitutes a weather briefing. A weather briefing must be from an FAA approved source (DUAT, FSS, WSI Inc., etc.), however what must be covered in that briefing is somewhat subjective.

In the FAR 121 dispatch releases I'm used to METARs, TAFs and NOTAMS are usually the only data in the release package. However, there are also important data such as PIREPs, AIRMETS, area forecasts, etc.

I think it is best to play it wisely, as with most FAR's. If you look at a METAR and TAF which show VFR weather yet fly outside of 5 statue miles and get caught in IFR without a clearance then I'd say you did not get an adequate briefing.

Be cautious, you are the only one watching your back.

METARMan

 

[UnAnswerd]

Thank you all for the information. I'm just getting into weather, and can see that this will get complicated, especially for X-countries.....

 

[banned username 2]

The FAA claims you MUST get a weather briefing for any flight outside the vicinity of the airport. Does a TAF count as a briefing??? How far away is "outside the vicinity" of the airport???

One of the best ways to get a (free) briefing and let the FAA know you really checked the weather is to use DUATS (http://www.duats.com/). By logging in there and checking the WX there is a record of your briefing.

As far as TAFs being worthless... When I go flying, unless there is something out of the ordinary along my route of flight, I typically check TAF's (FT's), METARs (SA's) and take a look at the National Radar... If things are really hairy I'll take a look at some Prog charts, Sigmets and Pireps as well... Of course my printed out WX brief has everything included... As far as Winds Aloft (FD's), my computerized flight plan takes all that into consideration (DUATs has a flight planner in it also, I believe)...

This has worked for me for a very long time... A picture is worth a thousand words!

 

[kevdog]

Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but not if it is 3+ hours old.

I think calling flight service and getting a full briefing is this persons best choice for right now!

 

[labbats]

Let me add that if you do call for the information, that they will give it to you in a certain order every time. I used to create a worksheet that had big blanks on it for my students to write the information down on under each section they would brief. Ask your instructor to do the same, or their rapid-fire briefing will just show up as scratchpaper in front of you when you hang up.

 

[mattpilot]

what do you guys think they tell you when you call the briefer?

All they do is read the metars, Tafs, area forecast etc.. to you and interpret it for you. Along with that, they give you their best guess as to how it will turn out. Most importantly, they give you pilot reports.

But you can get all that from looking at DUATS and other weather sources.

How far away is "outside the vicinity" of the airport???

I believe its beyond 25nm. Not sure though, but i believe i read that in the AIM. Anyhow, if i'm wrong, feel free to redicule me

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Get and read "Aviation Weather Services", AC 00-45E, published by the US DOC, NOAA, NWS, US DOT, and the FAA. It's the best $15 you can spend.

And then remember that a weather forecast is nothing but a horoscope with numbers.

 

[mayday1]

By logging in there and checking the WX there is a record of your briefing.

don't FSS briefers also keep a record of your call via your tail number? I know, a bit less accurate, but I think they keep those records as well.

 

[LineBoy]

Gentleman: (and possibly ladies to)

I decided after reading the posts that I would also like to make a comment. I would have to agree that just getting weather from aviationweather.com does not complete a briefing. A source that is approved by the FAA such as
duats or just PICKING UP the phone (cell Phone) and making a call to a FSS is the way to go. Yes those people are just reading the info from a computer screen that we would see if we check via computer but, One thing nobody has mentioned was NOTAMS. Anytime a standard briefing is requested NOTAMS will be issued for the departure and destination, even if there is no destination "OTHER" airport planned in the flight and we are just gonna remain in the "vicinity". In this day and age of security and "PRESIDENTIAL VACATIONS" (haha) they should be checked prior to every flight. Does that mean an instructor who has just flown 3 consecutive flights in 4 hours in the "vicinity" of the airport with students should be calling FSS or logging on to duats before every flight? Of course NOT!! But the STUDENT should be taught from the beginning of their flight lessons the importance of doing so.
P.S FSS people are actually pretty nice and they don't bite. They enjoy having conversation about weather trends, existing weather, plans for the weekends, etc. etc. etc. Don't be so afraid to talk to people.

 

[mattpilot]

Thing about NOTAM's and briefers is, they are not required to tell you, unless you ask. Most are kind enough to ask if you have the latest notams though.

DUATS is quite useful for notams too. A quick look can tell you if there is anything useful or if all are just unlighted towers (not that those aren't useful either ). A briefer, if asked for notams, will start to tell you about all the unlighted towers, until you stop him