Getting the Weather

Getting the Weather

Tony Verhulst CFI-G
Revision 5/20 construction

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Too many times I get into a glider with some one and get a puzzled expression when I ask “what are the winds doing aloft?”. This is understandable from a new student who still relies on the GIB (Guy/Gal In Back). When the pilot is close to solo or beyond, the instructor expects the pilot to at least have “the big picture”.

Sure, you can estimate the wind once aloft by observing the drift of the glider, cloud shadows on the ground, rising smoke, and the like. But, if you don’t know the forecast winds at altitude before you get into the glider, chances are that you don’t know where the fronts are either, or if any adverse weather is forecast. This is not good. Getting basic weather information is pretty simple – either by television, by telephone, or by computer.

Weather by television

For getting the “big picture”, it’s hard to beat the weather channel .

Weather by telephone

Around the country are hundreds of Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS) – computers that continually monitor the local weather and broadcast the information using a computer generated voice, often via both telephone and air band radio. The nearest AWOS facility to Sterling is at Fitchburg. Listen to it by dialing 978-343-9121 or in the air on 135.175 MHz (it’s on your sectional chart).

The traditional method of getting a weather briefing is by calling one of the many Flight Service Stations (FSS) in the country. One phone number 1-800-WXBRIEF (1-800-992-7433) will connect you to the nearest facility (The closest FSS to Sterling is in Bridgeport CT). You’ll be connected with a human briefer who can provide an official weather briefing and answer any questions you might have. Click here for more information. FSS can also advise you of any Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in your area.

Weather by computer

You’ve just gotta love the world wide web. There are an amazing number of websites out there that offer aviation weather.

Official weather briefing and much more is available at http://1800wxbrief.com. You'll need to sign up for a free account (you'll need a student certificate or higher).

Also excellent (and government funded) are NOAA’s Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) at http://adds.aviationweather.gov/ and http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/osd/portal.shtml .

If you’re an AOPA member, you’ll have access to their weather services at http://www.aopa.org/members/wx/. You get a lot for your $39 per year.

Glider pilots need more that the traditional basic weather services – we need to know if it will be soarable. The first and easiest step is right on the club website home page. Click on Thermal Index Forecasts – Today in Sterling . The TI is also the most convenient way to get forecast winds aloft information as well as general soaring conditions. Learn more about interpreting the TI at http://www.soargbsc.com/G-Tindex-info.html. The TI is very useful. Let me repeat, the TI is very useful.

Dr Jack Glendening, a retired weather researcher and glider pilot, has created a most amazing website that reports data on the earth’s boundary layer (where all the good stuff happens). He calls these “BLIPMAPS - short for Boundary Layer Information Prediction MAPS. Some of the web site content is free but access to most requires a modest (but well worth) annual contribution. See http://www.drjack.info/BLIP.

Skew-t/log-p

3 day

https://rucsoundings.noaa.gov/gwt/?data_source=GFS&latest=latest&n_hrs=72&fcst_len=shortest&airport=korh&gwt=Interactive%20plot&hydrometeors=false&start=latest

10 hour

https://rucsoundings.noaa.gov/gwt/?data_source=Op40&latest=latest&n_hrs=10&fcst_len=shortest&airport=korh&gwt=Interactive%20plot&hydrometeors=false&start=latest

Several club members (Fred Looft and Michael Newman) maintain some excellent weather related sites:

http://ece.wpi.edu/~fjlooft/weather.htm
http://www.dragonnorth.com/weather/

Lastly, a few miscellaneous sites:

http://www.flightprep.com/rootpage.php?page=nexradgraphic
http://weather.unisys.com/index.html
http://www.wunderground.com (particularly good for getting extended wind forecasts)
http://www-frd.fsl.noaa.gov/mab/soundings/java/plot_soundings.cgi?airport=orh (skewT logP}

http://www.angelfire.com/id/piccolo/Emae.htm