Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
Aviation: a neophyte might believe a forecast as infallable.
So it is about critical forecast reading... that's what I had in mind to convey to my students as well, even more because I know from own experience how often one is uncertain and how limited the means are to tell the story to the end user: I still struggle with the idea that a change from FEW045 to OVC020 does not warrant a change group in a TAF.
Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
An experienced pilot, going to a place with abundant moisture, and seeing a forecast for calm winds and a temp/dewpoint spread of 1 or 0...yet a forecast of 6 miles viz would probably say "I want more fuel, and an alternate."
Don't you plan for alternates anyway? Or would you perhaps even call the forecaster and ask to double check (it may well be that he knows better and simply mistyped the visibility).
Have you ever discussed a TAF (or a METAR) with the forecaster?
Grille