Standard Briefing
A Standard Briefing includes complete weather and aeronautical information for flight planning. Pilots request
a Standard Briefing when the flight will occur within six hours of the briefing. A Standard Weather Briefing includes:
Adverse Conditions
Current or forecast conditions which may adversely affect a planned flight, such as Convective SIGMETS, SIGMETS,
AIRMETS, and Center Weather Advisories. Adverse conditions include (but are not limited to) icing, turbulence,
thunderstorms, mountain obscuration, and instrument flight conditions.
VFR Flight Not Recommended (VNR)
When VFR flight is proposed and the actual or forecast conditions, surface based or aloft, in the briefer's judgment,
make visual flight doubtful. Remember, the final go/no-go decision always belongs to the pilot.
Synopsis
A brief statement describing the type, location, and movement of weather systems affecting the flight.
Current Conditions
A summary of the current weather along the proposed route. The current weather is omitted when the estimated time
of departure is more than two hours from the time of the briefing, unless requested by the pilot.
En Route Forecast
Summarized from various sources, to provide forecast conditions along the proposed route of flight.
Destination Forecast
A destination forecast including significant changes one hour before and after the estimated time of arrival.
Winds Aloft Forecast
Available at 3,000; 6,000; 9,000; 12,000; 18,000; 24,000; 30,000; 34,000 and 39,000 feet.
Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
NOTAM D, NOTAM L, and non-published FDC NOTAMS.
ATC Delays
Information on known ATC delays (IFR only). Information on military training activity and published NOTAMS are
provided upon request.
Abbreviated Briefing
Pilots request an Abbreviated Briefing to supplement or update previously received information. Here are three
examples of situations where an Abbreviated Briefing will work to a pilot's advantage:
The pilot received a Standard Briefing earlier in the day. An Abbreviated Briefing could be requested for those
items that have changed, such as current weather or updated forecasts. The briefer will need the background information
and the time of the earlier briefing.
Weather information was received from one of the other briefing outlets, such as the Telephone Information
Briefing Service (TIBS) menu received by dialing 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-992-7433), or other sources. Supplemental
information is needed to complete preflight planning, such as NOTAMS, air traffic delays, or an updated destination
forecast. The briefer needs the background information and the time the earlier information was received.
When the pilot wants only one or two items, the pilot requests an Abbreviated Briefing and state the specific
aviation weather products they need. "This is N12345, I would like an Abbreviated Briefing, the current and
forecast weather at Roanoke, VA." The pilot must provide the briefer with enough information to complete the
request. In this example, Estimated Time of Arrival/Departure at Roanoke would be required.
The important point about an Abbreviated Briefing is what it does not do: it does not provide a complete weather
picture of the route of flight. It should never be used as a shortcut for a standard briefing. An Abbreviated Briefing
can save time if the pilot received a Standard Briefing.
Outlook Briefing
When the Estimated Time of Departure is more than six hours away, the pilot should request an Outlook Briefing.
After receiving the background information, the briefer will provide forecast data applicable to the proposed flight.
If any portion of any briefing is unclear to the pilot, The pilot should stop the briefer and get the point
clarified. General questions should be saved until the end of the briefing.
Before the flight a flight plan is filed with the FSS or AFSS.
If the flight plan is for VFR flight the pilot must close the flight plan on arrival.
Click image for a closer view of a flight plan form
