Author: admin

A couple of updates.

First the quick one: error checking.

Sometimes things go wrong. If they do, I’d rather you didn’t get incorrect data, particularly given how this data is used. A new system now checks all output, particularly Pre-flight Briefings as they are proximal to the flight and more likely to inform the actual execution.

(We can have a good chat about recency bias another time.)

If the output isn’t to standard, it’s quarantined until a human has had a look.

Second update: Surprise me is now available.

Surprise me generates destination suggestions along with some narrative as to why you might visit.

It’s designed to help you push beyond your regular loops or sausage sandwich runs.

All AIP aerodromes are considered as well as plenty of unregulated options but obviously these are just ideas – not full briefings.

If you want a proper briefing for any of the options then each one has a quick link which will take you to the Request form so you can immediately generate a Pre-flight Briefing or Window Recommendation with minimal form filling.

Quick update to say that weekly forecasts will now run multiple times per week, so for example Thursday morning you’ll find a new forecast for that day through to the following Friday.

This both keeps the forecasts up to date and more accurate.

You’ll also see a new meteorological and NOTAM synopsis at the top. Obviously this is not exhaustive, but it may surface something relevant.

(The only downside is when it says “this week…” it means the week from when the forecast was done, not Monday to Sunday.)

Last week the 7-day UK regional forecast went live, which is proving useful for folks putting together their plan for the week ahead.

Particularly useful if you have multiple flights to plan – which was the discussion at the Barton Pilots’ Curry on Sunday.

Of course the current forecast regions are huge:

I know the training areas pretty well having trained for PPL through IMCR with LAC Flying School, SEIR with Westair, then MEIR/CPL with Ravenair.

I defined the following training regions for which forecasts will be created (naming conventions are mine, not official):

That pretty much covers where a lesson will get you.

The forecast is live here.

Caveats:

• Still debugging it and teaching the AI some lessons so bear with me
• Some IR lessons go further in search of a friendly airport which will give you an IR approach
• Airspace is not shown because this tool informs your flight planning you do using regulated sources
• Forecasts are always wrong, so obviously don’t use this weekly forecast as your only pre-flight planning tool

Every Sunday night at 1800z, Tom will run a weekly regional forecast. The idea is that you can sort your plans for that week – perhaps you’ll reconsider the trip to Cardiff and go to Glenforsa instead.

The output is a table here.

Each big block of colour gives the average flight category for that period and region. Trends or mitigating conditions are highlighted, along with probable cloud base and visibility.

Tom takes into account the following:

• VFR, IFR, MVFR or LIFR rules.
• Icing risk, with the logic including freezing levels, cloud cover, precipitation.
• Density altitude.
• Wind at surface and probable cruise altitudes.
• Atmospheric stability.
• Specific mountain weather logic to identify unstable air masses, orographic lift, inversions, or valley fog.
• NOTAMs filtered appropriately

Tom is alive here.