Flight Training - September/October 2022 - 24

PREFLIGHT WEATHER
BY LILLIAN GEIL
PLEASE USE PIREPS
LATEST SURVEY SAYS PILOTS SHOULD FILE MORE WEATHER REPORTS
AOPA'S SIXTH ANNUAL WEATHER SURvey
indicates more work is needed to
encourage filing pilot reports, and to be
familiar with the FAA advisory circular
on self-conducted weather briefings.
The survey is designed to better
understand how pilots obtain and use
weather data when planning and conducting
their flights. The 2022 survey
was sent by email to more than 30,000
AOPA members across the country
including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, and Guam. Nearly 2,500 survey
responses were collected.
" The Weather Survey data is primarily
used to inform our advocacy, " AOPA
said, " but is also shared with government
and industry stakeholders to allow
them additional insight into how the
products and services they provide are
being utilized. "
One category explored in the survey
where pilots get their preflight
weather information. While there have
been advancements in weather service
products launched in recent years, the
2022 report found that there has been
little change in the resources pilots turn
to for weather data in initial briefings,
immediately prior to flight, and during
the cruise phase. Pilots in the continental
United States primarily use aviation
apps and flight service more than any
other resources-although the latter's
popularity has decreased 20 percent in
the past five years. Conversely, pilots in
Alaska turn to FAA weather cameras and
flight service specialists for their preflight
ai165411578411_AOPA_FT Magazine_Jul 2022_bleeds.pdf 1 6/1/2022 1:36:26 PM
weather information. The popularity of
weather cameras is increasing as they
spread to other parts of the country.
" The results of this survey help us
understand how pilots obtain their
weather data and give us feedback on
ways we can improve in the future, " said
Jim McClay, AOPA's director of airspace,
air traffic, and security. " This is information
we can use when working with the
FAA and other organizations to advocate
for more data acquisition and better
delivery to the general aviation community.
The insight this report provides
is invaluable to AOPA and our aviation
industry partners. "
lillian.geil@aopa.org
aopa.org/ft/2022weathersurvey
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Flight Training - September/October 2022

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