Chapter 3. Pilot Briefing
Section 1. General
3-1-1. DEFINITION
Pilot weather briefings
are defined as "The translation of weather observations and forecasts, including
surface, upper air, radar, satellite, and pilot reports into a form directly
usable by the pilot or flight supervisory personnel to formulate plans and make
decisions for the safe and efficient operation of aircraft." These briefings
shall also include information on NOTAM, flow control, and other items as
requested.
3-1-2. PREDUTY
REQUIREMENTS
Before assuming pilot
briefing duties, familiarize yourself sufficiently with aeronautical and
meteorological conditions to effectively provide briefing service. This
includes:
a. General
locations of weather causing systems and general weather conditions for the
entire contiguous United States and/or other briefing areas, as appropriate;
e.g., Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico.
b. Detailed
information of current and forecast weather conditions for the geographical area
deemed significant by the facility air traffic manager.
c. Other pertinent
items; e.g., NOTAM, MTR/MOA activity.
REFERENCE-
Accomplish this in accordance with FAAO JO 7110.10, Para 1-3-3 and
pertinent facility directives.
3-1-3. PREFLIGHT BRIEFING
DISPLAY
Provide a preflight
briefing display for specialist/pilot use. The contents and method of display
shall be based on individual facility requirements; e.g., available equipment,
space. Additional displays, as required, shall be provided to ensure
availability of information at all inflight and preflight positions. At the
discretion of facility management, provide a separate display for pilot use. All
material in such displays shall be kept updated.
REFERENCE-
Enhance facsimile charts in accordance with FAAO JO 7110.10, Para
3-1-4.
3-1-4. WEATHER DISPLAY PRODUCTS
a. The weather
graphic display should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following
analysis, prognosis, and data products:
1. Weather
Depiction.
2. Surface
Analysis.
3. Forecast Winds
Aloft.
4. Current Winds
Aloft.
5. National Radar
Summary.
6. 850 MB.
7. 700 MB.
8. 500 MB.
9. 300 MB.
10. 200 MB.
11. Composite
Moisture Stability Chart (Lifted Index, Precipitable Water, Freezing Level-Mean
Relative Humidity).
12. 12- and 24-hour
low level significant weather prognosis.
13. High level
significant weather prognosis.
14. 36- and 48-hour
surface prognosis.
NOTE-
Because of presentation limitations and techniques, some interim system products
may not take on the same appearance as conventional facsimile products. During
the transition into a national graphic weather display system (GWDS) program,
some flexibility of product display, format, and content may be authorized.
b. The utility of
charts is greatly enhanced by coloring and shading. Use the symbols and colors
shown in subparas 3d and e, on all weather chart displays. Facsimile products
used for closed circuit television (CCTV) may be highlighted to accentuate the
displays. In addition, to allow for the greatest contrast between shaded areas
and symbology, different colors may be required to enhance color weather graphic
systems.
c. Map features.
(See FIG 3-1-1.)
d. Precipitation
and obstruction to vision.
(See FIG 3-1-2.)
FIG 3-1-1
Map Features Chart
FIG 3-1-2
Precipitation and Obstruction To Vision Chart
e. The facsimile
products which cannot be displayed shall be retained for specialist/pilot use.
f. Interpret and
summarize weather radar video displays and issue pertinent information on
observed/ reported weather areas.
1. Use all
available radar data and PIREPs to determine intensity, tops, area of coverage,
movement, etc.
REFERENCE-
Pilot/Controller Glossary, Radar Weather Echo Intensity Levels.
2. Identify data
obtained from sources other than radar video display by source and time of
observation.
3. To the extent
possible, define area of coverage in relation to VORs or airways for the route
structure being flown. Airports or geographic points may be used to assist the
pilot in relating coverage to route of flight or destination.
EXAMPLE-
"A broken line of weak to intense echoes covers an area along and three zero
miles east of a line from the Crazy Woman V-O-R to the Riverton V-O-R. Average
tops between two-six thousand and three-four thousand. This line is increasing
in intensity. Movement has been from northwest to southeast at three zero knots.
The line includes an intense echo one five miles in diameter on Victor Two
Ninety-eight forty-eight miles southeast of the Worland V-O-R, tops four three
thousand. There are no known echoes within three-zero nautical miles of Victor
Eight-five or Victor Two Ninety-eight south at this time."
3-1-5. FORECASTS, WARNINGS, AND ADVISORIES
a. Use only weather
forecasts, warnings, and advisories issued by an NWS office (including CWSUs),
the U.S. military, foreign governments, or FAA owned or leased graphics systems.
b. Use the
information in the Meteorological Impact Statement (MIS) for preduty briefings,
background, and supplemental information only. The MIS is a traffic flow
planning product and is not to be used as an integral part of a briefing
presentation.
c. The OUTLOOK
section of WSTs includes meteorological discussion information. Extract
pertinent forecast data concerning convective activity location, movement, and
intensity for briefing purposes. Do not provide discussion type information
unless requested by the pilot.
d. When an NWS
forecast meets amendment criteria, request assistance from the appropriate NWS
office.
3-1-6. UNAVAILABILITY OF
DATA
Use all available means to
obtain the data required to brief pilots to their destination. If a complete
briefing cannot be provided due to circuit problems or missing data, inform the
pilot of this fact. Brief to the extent possible. As appropriate, furnish the
pilot with the telephone number of another AFSS/FSS, or advise the pilot of the
time you expect the data to be available.
3-1-7. TYPE OF BRIEFING
TO BE CONDUCTED
Provide the pilot with the
type of briefing requested; i.e., standard, abbreviated, or outlook. When it is
not clear initially which type briefing is desired, provide the first one or two
items requested, and then ascertain if the pilot would like a standard briefing.
If a standard briefing is requested, conduct the briefing in accordance with
para 3-2-1. If
the pilot does not desire a standard briefing, provide either an abbreviated
briefing in accordance with para 3-2-2, or
an outlook briefing, in accordance with para 3-2-3.
3-1-8. RECORDING PILOT
BRIEFINGS
a. FSS. Use FAA
Forms 7233-1, 7233-2, 7233-5, and 7230-21 for recording pilot briefings.
Document the briefing by one of the following methods:
1. FAA Form 7233-2.
Use a separate form each day. Two or more forms may be used simultaneously at
different operating positions. Complete boxes 1 through 3 on each form. Enter
appropriate data in columns 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (if pertinent), and 9. The pilot's
name may be substituted for the aircraft identification if unknown. As
applicable, enter OTLK (outlook briefing), AB (abbreviated briefing), and/or VNR
in column 8.
2. FAA Form 7233-1.
Check the "pilot briefing" block, fill in specialist initials, and time started.
As applicable, also enter AB, OTLK, and/or check the VNR block.
3. FAA Forms
7233-5/7230-21. Enter PB in block 14 if a briefing is provided. As applicable,
also enter AB, OTLK, and/or VNR in the same block.
b. M1. Pilot
briefings are logged and stored on the DD file for accountability. The required
elements are: PB (DESTINATION), (ACID), REMARKS.
NOTE-
If current partial exists for the proposed flight, DESTINATION and ACID are
optional.
EXAMPLE-
PB Preflight Briefing logged using
current partial.
PB DSM Preflight Briefing logged bypassing
destination in current partial.
PB ,,VNR Preflight Briefing logged using
current partial, with remarks added.
PB DSM,, VNR Preflight Briefing logged bypassing
destination in current partial, with
remarks added.
PB DSM,N1,VNR Preflight Briefing logged bypassing
destination and ACID in current
partial, with remarks added.
c. OASIS. Pilot
briefings are logged using the Briefing Log dialog box and stored in a history
file for retrieval. The required elements for OASIS logging acceptance for a
pilot weather brief are ACID and flight rules. As applicable, enter OTLK
(outlook briefing), AB (abbreviated briefing), and/or VNR in the "Remarks" text
box.
NOTE-
Data used in the briefing request and contained in the Briefing Menu (Area,
Region, Route, Selected Location), Flight Plan, or Flight Workspace dialog boxes
will be automatically populated into the Briefing Log dialog box. Additional
data to complete the Briefing Log may be entered directly into the Briefing Log
dialog box. Detailed instructions are contained in the WINGS online help and the
WINGS System Users Guide.
d. Where recorders
are used, facility management may limit entries on pilot briefing records to
those required for facility use.
e. Where fast-file
recorders are used and the pilot states the source of a briefing on the
recorder, it shall be entered in the remarks field of the flight plan.
EXAMPLE-
PB/DCA PB/DUATS
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