The Aviation Weather Handbook (AWH) was updated this spring. Just as pilots should routinely get updated forecasts before flight, it’s advisable to refresh your basic weather knowledge, too. The AWH also covers the theory behind weather systems and the atmospheric structure.

The FAA is laying the groundwork for the resurgence of civil supersonic flights over the continental U.S. “Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, noise reduction, and new operational concepts will eliminate the old sonic boom,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while ensuring minimal noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports.”

The annual summer migration is underway. As millions of Americans head out for vacations, family visits, and long-awaited adventures, the FAA is working around the clock to keep the nation’s airspace safe, efficient, and moving.

Weather awareness is crucial in general aviation (GA) for several reasons, the primary being safety. Pilots must be mindful of potential hazards, such as thunderstorms, to make informed decisions that ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the aircraft.

While the mantra “don’t fly in bad weather” is sound advice in theory, the reality of the cockpit is often much more complex. Weather is dynamic; it evolves faster than the standard briefing cycle can refresh.

Flying under visual flight rules (VFR) is a great way to experience general aviation (GA). VFR offers a sense of freedom that many pilots prize. So long as the weather cooperates, pilots can fly VFR from one end of the country to another. VFR flying allows a more flexible, less rigid approach than instrument flight rules (IFR). In some cases, VFR flexibility can offer advantages over IFR, even when the weather deteriorates, and air traffic control (ATC) procedures may restrict operations. While they are edge cases, these circumstances do exist. And some pilots prefer to hold complete control...

Weather has a tricky tendency to show up unannounced and throw a continent-sized wrench in a pilot’s flight plans. It’s a scenario all too common within the general aviation (GA) community and can have risky consequences for unprepared pilots. So, what can pilots do to keep weather surprises from ruining their flight? A look at air masses and fronts could offer much-needed insight.

As it turns out, certain types of weather products are best suited to particular windows of time ahead of a flight. Here, just in time for the next “mail run,” is a time-to-flight guide to weather products.

Most pilots are great at planning the flight they intend to fly. Pilots look at the weather, choose a route and altitude that make sense, pick a reasonable departure time … and sometimes file a flight plan. But sometimes they don’t. If the weather looks marginal, pilots will glance through alternates and maybe even write down a few airport codes. Even if all looks good, they still check for the usual trouble spots — TAFs (terminal aerodrome forecasts), radar, NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), etc. It’s a familiar rhythm, and for most flights, it works just fine.

Originally from Vernal, Utah, Daniel Cohl Pope has a knack for taking things apart. His goal was always to fix it, whatever it was, broken or not. That hands-on mentality led Cohl to enlist in the Air Force in 1990 to repair and keep aircraft flying.