What to check prior to pattern work?

[Metro752]

why is anyone seriously answering Mr. Unanswered.

It's obvious the answer he is looking for is to not tighten the fuel caps so they easily come off, and don't worry about that frayed alternator belt.

 

[User546]

I will typically do a search before.

METAR's - I check airports within about 50 miles from the West and North of me (as that typically is the direction weather travels where I live). I'm looking for wind speeds/directions, visibility, cloud heights. If there is a significant difference between the METAR at my home airport as opposed to an airport 50 miles to the west, I take note and will look a little further into the trend, and if I can expect it to get worse or not.

TAFs - Even if I'm just going out to some slam and go's for a couple hours, I always like to look at the TAF. Although it's not science, it will give you a good general trend to expect as the day goes on. It can atleast reveal if things are expected to be stable or unstable. I'm looking for wind shifts, directions, lowering visibility, lowering clouds, etc. If I notice that I'll file that away in the back of my head for note while flying to watch for any possible changing weather.

NOTAMs and TFRs - I can't believe no one has mentioned this one yet! TFRs are very important to check now a days, cause a President (or other entities) can pick up and move into your area with little or no notice. It's your responsibility to know this, and don't rely on hearing this kind of information on the ATIS either. If the Prez decides to show up in your town they'll typcially be a 30 mile TFR around where he's at, and that can get you in big trouble quick (even doing pattern work!).

PIREPs - I like to take a quick glance at PIREPs to see what other pilots are reporting out there right now. Main thing I'm looking for is turbulence reports, or wind shear information.

And thats about it really. Sounds like a lot, but once you get good at doing it, and get comfortable with reading and understanding the reports, this should be a couple minute ordeal, unless the weather is going down the tubes, then you'll need to spend a few more minutes taking in all other available information to make a safe decision. And no need to call FSS for the reports either, just use the available info online.

Remember, your PIC now even if your just in the pattern, so you have a huge responsibility in making all the proper decisions with all the available information you have. Don't take this responsibility lightly!

 

[User546]

Also, just as a suggestion for someone starting out.

Check the weather reports every day, even if your not flying, to give you lots of practice reading and understanding them. It'll also allow you to see different weather "on paper" then just the weather of a particular day you fly. Then most importantly, look outside and put a face to the text. This'll help you better identify what "Winds 210@18G25, Viz 5 miles, and OVC at 3,000" looks like.

Read the METARs, TAFs, Charts - Radar Summary, Wx Depiction, Surface Anaylsis, PIREPs, and Winds & Temps aloft.

If weather isn't looking clear and a million then ask yourself "Would I fly today if I was scheduled to?"

This practice will go a long way in helping you better understand the weather reports, and make you more comfortable at reading and understaning them when the time comes that the weather is marginal and you have to make the actual decision.

 

[NW_Pilot]

Until now, the only thing I've been doing is checking local forecasts and listening to ASOS prior to each lesson. Now, my instructor has signed me off to fly solo in the pattern, and it's all up to me. Just wondering what kind of weather data I should be obtaining prior to each flight. Is a full weather-briefing necessary just for pattern work? Again, just wondering what specific sources I should be checking prior to pattern work.

Thanks.

For pattern work go out side and look up at the horizon and turn around 360 degrees to see what it looks like! Anyway why you staying in the pattern? Go out and practice your maneuvers stalls steep turns, etc!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Farmer's Almanac.

 

[DrewBlows]

NOTAMs and TFRs - I can't believe no one has mentioned this one yet! TFRs are very important to check now a days, cause a President (or other entities) can pick up and move into your area with little or no notice. It's your responsibility to know this, and don't rely on hearing this kind of information on the ATIS either. If the Prez decides to show up in your town they'll typcially be a 30 mile TFR around where he's at, and that can get you in big trouble quick (even doing pattern work!).

You beat me to it. I suggest that students call a flight service station specialist before every flight for just this reason. Plus they keep track of all the calls so your butt will be covered if something out of the ordinary happens. I think that the FSS have been privatized at this point (I'm not totally up on current events) but I used to call Lansing Flight Service Station directly from where ever I was in the country so they could log the call. I had a briefer tell me that the kept track of calls and the more they got the better in order to stay in business. Not sure how that worked out.

 

[Airway]

I have my students call Flight Service prior to every flight. Why not? Full WX brief and TFR/NOTAMS. Also other pertinent info about the airport and surrounding areas a METAR or TAF wouldn't tell you.

I suggest you do the same, since you're asking for advice. Ask your CFI about Flight Service (he might not have gotten to it with you because you haven't done X/C work yet. A lot of CFIs wait till that point). Do that and you'll be covering (most) of your bases in the weather arena.

 

[User546]

Here's a great FAA-ran website to help you check for all current TFR's, to save you a call to FSS. It also has a map you can click on and see graphically where all of them are in place (great for x-country planning):

http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html

Also, I use this government ran website for checking all NOTAMs:

https://www.notams.jcs.mil/

 

[Stifler's Mom]

why is anyone seriously answering Mr. Unanswered.

I just realized his name is UnAnswered Resurrected. Too bad Tony C isn't around here anymore. I enjoyed watching the two of them go back and forth.

 

[sessman]

I call Flight Service for TFR notams for almost every flight now unless I know the Pres. is in another state. When I was learning I didn't, but the way TFRs pop up, I don't take any chances. Of course I live in Houston and you never know when he's going to show up a Ellington.