L6 Weather Information for Pilots

Weather Information

In-Flight Weather Broadcasts

• Weather is a critical variable for VFR flights, influencing the flight's conduct and outcome.

• Proficient pilots check weather forecasts and actual conditions during flight planning.

• Multiple resources exist for in-flight weather checks.

Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

• ATIS is an automated, recorded broadcast of weather information for a specific airfield.

• It includes current weather, runway in use, and equipment unserviceability.

• Busy airfields may have separate ATIS broadcasts for arriving and departing aircraft.

• ATIS is updated with each new weather report (usually every 30 minutes).

• The broadcast includes the time of weather observation and a code letter.

ATIS Usage

• When departing, check ATIS before contacting the Air Traffic Service Unit (ATSU).

• Pilots can confirm ATIS receipt and altimeter pressure setting in the initial contact.

• When arriving, check ATIS before contacting ATSU to aid planning.

• ATIS is useful en-route to check weather at airfields along the route and potential diversion airfields.

ATIS Details

• ATIS frequencies are in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and commercial flight guides.

• ATIS is updated during the airfield's published hours of operation (or as specified in AIP).

• Carefully check the time of the ATIS broadcast to ensure it isn't outdated.

Example: United Kingdom AIP - EGJJ (Jersey Airport)

• Lists various communication facilities, including:

  • Air Traffic Control (ATC)

  • Approach (APP)

  • Tower (TWR)

  • Ground (GMC)

  • ATIS

  • Information

  • Fire

• Frequencies, callsigns, hours of operation, and remarks for each service are provided.

• Example frequencies:

  • JERSEY CONTROL: $125.200$ MHz

  • JERSEY APPROACH: $120.450$ MHz, $120.300$ MHz, $118.550$ MHz

  • JERSEY TOWER: $119.450$ MHz

  • JERSEY GROUND: $121.900$ MHz

  • JERSEY INFORMATION: $134.675$ MHz

  • JERSEY FIRE: $121.600$ MHz

• ATIS message phone number is also provided for Jersey Airport: $01534-446301$

VOLMET Broadcasts

• VOLMET combines "VOL" (French for flight) and "METeo" (weather).

• It provides meteorological information for aircraft in flight.

• VOLMET is an automated recorded broadcast of weather reports and forecasts.

• It covers a group of airfields in the same geographical area or Flight Information Region (FIR).

• Examples of VOLMET broadcasts:

  • London VOLMET (South)

  • Scottish VOLMET

  • Barcelona VOLMET

  • Stockholm VOLMET

  • Zurich VOLMET

Broadcast Content

• Each VOLMET broadcasts weather information for around 10 airfields.

• Airfields are sometimes listed in alphabetical order.

• The entire broadcast can be lengthy.

• A common experience is that the desired airfield information has just been transmitted when tuning in.

• A key advantage: VOLMET provides airfield weather information even when out of ATIS range.

• VOLMET can provide weather for en-route, destination and diversion airfields from a single broadcast, however, ATIS should still be checked upon arrival at the airfield.

VOLMET Details

• Details (hours of operation (usually 24 hours - H24), radio frequency, content, airfields covered, order) are in the AIP and commercial flight guides.

Alternative Weather Information Sources

• If ATIS or VOLMET is unavailable, request weather information from a Flight Information Service (FIS) unit or other ATSU.

• The ability of FIS units to provide this information depends on controller workload.

• Controllers will try to assist, but capacity constraints may limit non-urgent requests.

• ATSU's provide information or assistance to pilots- so it is worth asking.