In an period the place smartphones and tablets have revolutionized aviation, pilots have entry to a wealth of climate data at their fingertips. Apps like ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, iFlightPlanner, and others supply real-time METARs, TAFs, radar overlays, and flight planning instruments, making preflight preparation quicker and extra environment friendly than ever. But, amid this technological growth, an important ability is fading into obscurity: the artwork of calling a human climate briefer for a personalised briefing.
As a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) with years of expertise administering sensible assessments, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this shift is affecting new generations of pilots. Many more recent aviators have grow to be overly depending on digital instruments, shying away from the cellphone in favor of fast app glances. Typically, they solely test a few objects, just like the native METAR and the TAF on the airport they’re working from, and nothing extra.
The reluctance to name for a cellphone briefing not solely limits their understanding of climate contexts but additionally fosters a superficial strategy to flight security. It’s time we revive this “misplaced artwork” by encouraging Licensed Flight Instructors (CFIs) to combine conventional briefings into coaching operations.
Traditionally, pilots relied on Flight Service Stations (FSS) for climate briefings operated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
To know the issue, let’s hint the evolution of climate briefings typically aviation. Traditionally, pilots relied on Flight Service Stations (FSS) operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or contractors like Leidos, which runs the 1-800-WX-BRIEF service. Earlier than the widespread adoption of the web and cellular apps, acquiring a climate briefing meant choosing up the cellphone or visiting an FSS in individual. Briefers—licensed specialists skilled in meteorology and aviation—would offer tailor-made data primarily based on the pilot’s flight plan, together with adversarial situations, NOTAMs, and forecasts alongside the route. This course of was interactive; pilots may ask questions, make clear ambiguities, and achieve insights that uncooked information couldn’t convey. Typically, briefers would supply further data even when the pilot didn’t particularly request it, giving hints about what to guage or offering a broader image of regional climate.
The arrival of digital flight luggage (EFBs) has modified a lot—principally for the higher, although a couple of issues have suffered. EFB-based flight planning has shortly grow to be a staple for its intuitive interface, integrating sectional charts, climate layers, and flight submitting. Plus, printed charts at the moment are exhausting to search out. These instruments have simple advantages: they save time, cut back paperwork, keep simply up-to-date, and permit for self-briefing, which the FAA more and more encourages as a part of its transition away from necessary call-in companies. In keeping with FAA pointers, pilots at the moment are anticipated to make use of quite a lot of sources for preflight data beneath 14 CFR 91.103, which requires familiarity with all out there information in regards to the flight. Apps make this compliance simpler, providing the whole lot from satellite tv for pc imagery to winds aloft in a single place—assuming the pilot goes deeper than simply the native METAR and TAF.
Nonetheless, this comfort has bred dependency, notably amongst pilots in coaching. Too typically, newer pilots deal with apps as the only real supply of fact, bypassing deeper evaluation. This isn’t simply anecdotal; the FAA’s personal advisory circulars, like AC 91-92 (Pilot’s Information to a Preflight Briefing), emphasize that whereas self-briefing is effective, it ought to complement—not change—skilled enter when wanted.
Why are youthful pilots so reluctant to name a briefer? The explanations are multifaceted. First, generational consolation with know-how performs a task. Millennials and Gen Z pilots, raised on apps and on the spot gratification, view calling as antiquated and time-consuming. Why dial a quantity when an app can pull up a TAF in seconds? Second, there’s a component of intimidation. Chatting with an authorized briefer requires articulating a flight plan clearly and fielding questions, which might really feel daunting for college students nonetheless constructing confidence. CFIs want to assist pilots develop this ability throughout preliminary coaching.
Millennials and Gen Z pilots, raised on apps and on the spot gratification, view calling as antiquated and time-consuming—why dial a quantity when an app can pull up a TAF in seconds?
In my expertise as a DPE, this reluctance typically reveals up throughout checkrides. Ceaselessly, once I textual content an applicant within the morning asking, “Are we nonetheless good to go for the checkride as we speak?” the response is one thing like, “The present METAR is OK.”
However when a DPE texts at 6:15 a.m., it is perhaps a touch that one thing within the climate may make the day questionable. The present METAR could also be wonderful at one airport, however close by airports might be reporting 300-overcast ceilings with one-mile visibility and mist. Does the TAF point out thunderstorms at 8am? Have you ever checked radar for approaching precipitation? These are precisely the questions pilots want to contemplate earlier than a checkride—or any flight. Generally it’s a matter of timing: climate could enhance by departure, requiring a mixture of floor prep and in-flight reassessment.
The app-centric strategy results in incomplete briefings and potential security gaps. METARs present present situations, and TAFs forecast terminal climate, however they don’t at all times seize the complete story. With out context from a briefer, a pilot may overlook a creating squall line or widespread low ceilings en route. The FAA’s Common Aviation Pilot’s Information to Preflight Climate Planning stresses the significance of acquiring a “normal briefing” that features adversarial situations—one thing apps can show however typically require guide cross-referencing. Many candidates battle to interpret past surface-level information, counting on app-generated “go/no-go” indicators with out understanding the underlying meteorology. This superficiality will be harmful; weather-related accidents typically stem from insufficient preflight planning.
You possibly can dig deeper on apps by reviewing forecast discussions, prog charts, radar summaries, and normal METAR/TAF information, however it takes extra effort. A greatest apply is to do this self-study after which name a briefer. This strategy offers you context, permitting you to focus and perceive what the briefer communicates.
Briefers assist pilots type a broader understanding of traits. They may say, “The TAF reveals [this], however it’s 4–5 hours previous, and the forecasted clearing isn’t creating as anticipated.” These insights come from years {of professional} expertise that pilots can leverage to reinforce their preflight decision-making.
Furthermore, calling a briefer offers authorized and sensible safeguards. A recorded cellphone briefing serves as proof of compliance with 14 CFR 91.103, invaluable if points come up, resembling an surprising TFR (Non permanent Flight Restriction). Briefers may present region-specific recommendation, resembling emphasizing microclimates across the Nice Lakes or Pacific Northwest that apps generalize. Customary briefings cowl the whole lot: synopsis, present situations, en route forecasts, vacation spot climate, winds aloft, NOTAMs, and extra—serving to pilots construct a psychological mannequin of the flight and increase confidence.
The advantages prolong past information acquisition. Human briefers interpret traits algorithms may miss, resembling delicate shifts in strain programs or latest PIREPs. A 2024 FAA presentation really useful combining self-study with normal briefings, monitoring patterns as much as seven days prior. Most pilots don’t do this—however briefers do.
CFIs play a important function. Begin early in coaching by requiring college students to name for briefings throughout twin instruction. Sit with them as they dial 1-800-WX-BRIEF, guiding them by means of offering plane sort, departure time, route, and altitude. Debrief afterward—what did the briefer spotlight that the app didn’t? Palms-on apply demystifies the method and builds communication expertise important for ATC interactions.
Reviving the misplaced artwork of calling for a climate briefing isn’t about rejecting know-how; it’s about enhancing it. App-based data is the appetizer—it will get you began. The cellphone briefing is the primary course, filling in context and depth.
As aviation evolves and extra pilots take to the skies, fostering complete climate literacy is paramount. CFIs, get your college students calling extra ceaselessly and demystify the expertise. Most briefers welcome the interplay—they wish to discuss climate!
Pilots who’ve by no means known as a briefer: attempt it earlier than your subsequent flight. Rip the band-aid off—it received’t harm. The briefer received’t chunk or yell.
A NAFI Grasp Flight Teacher and 2023 Michigan FAA Security Crew Consultant of the 12 months, Jason has over 30 years of flying expertise and 20 years as a flight teacher. He was named 2016 Michigan CFI of the 12 months and has served as Govt Director of the Nationwide Affiliation of Flight Instructors. His service contains nationwide committees such because the FAA’s Runway Security Council, the Common Aviation Joint Steering Committee, and the TSA Aviation Security Advisory Council.
Along with examiner duties, Jason works with aviation associations and corporations as a marketing consultant and author, specializing in pilot coaching, testing, and security. He holds undergraduate levels in Human Useful resource Administration and Worldwide and Comparative Politics, plus a grasp’s diploma in Improvement Administration from Western Michigan College. Initially from Michigan’s Higher Peninsula, he’s an avid outdoorsman who enjoys scuba diving, snowboarding, searching, fishing, mountain biking, and {golfing}.
