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Job Title:

Flight Service Station Briefer

Related Job Title:

Weather Station Briefing Associate, Flight Service Station Representative, Flight Weather Briefer

Job Description:

This position is usually found at each area's Flight Service Station which are maintained by the FAA. A Flight Service Station provides private pilots with the current and forecasted weather data and information they need to plan and make a safe flight. Private pilots call or stop in at the Flight Service Station in their area to update their weather information, submit their flight plan or gather pertinent flight information. Briefers must gather weather information and data for the area in which the Flight Service Station services, and be able to communicate that weather data, suggested routes and terrain details to pilots who call or come in. The work is quite varied and would also require radar scope monitoring, radio communications with private pilots, flight planning assistance as well as the weather data gathering and dissemination.

Areas of Expertise:

• Weather data research and information gathering
• Knowledge of weather charts, graphs and maps
• Flight planning and aeronautical chart reading

Interest and Abilities:

• Reading weather maps and charts is interesting
• Enjoy interacting with people and providing them useful information
• Love of aviation and flight
• Able to read aeronautical charts
• Excellent verbal skills and ability to provide clear, concise directions

Suggested subjects to study in school:

• Physics
• Aeronautics or the science of flight
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Meteorology
• Geography and mapping
• Speech
• Interpersonal communications

Education and Training Needed:

• Complete a 2-year or 4-year degree program before ATC training
• Pass an FAA aptitude test
• Air Traffic Control Training through the FAA

You might want to further explore this career by checking out the web sites given below.

What can I do right now?
Join a group like the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and participate in their activities.
Learn how to read all types of geographical maps, aeronautical charts and weather maps and charts.
Take a ground school course.
Get work experience where you have to deal with the public over the phone.
Review a preparation book for becoming an air traffic controller.
Volunteer to work at a Flight Service Station to get an idea of what the work is like.
View the NASA/FAA CD-ROM Gate to Gate to learn more about the air traffic management system.

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