FAAST Blast — Week of Sep 23, 2019 – Sep 29, 2019
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
Flight Service Welcomes Aviation Weather Camera Program
The Aviation Weather Camera Program is increasingly popular in Alaska as a primary source for pilots to obtain preflight weather. The goal is to reduce weather-related aviation accidents and flight disruptions by making images available free to the public on the weather camera websites. The images allow pilots to see real-time weather between the point of departure and arrival at 230 locations throughout Alaska and 178 in Canada. The program recently moved to the FAA’s Flight Service. Since the program began in 2007, there has been a reduction in the number of weather-related aviation accidents in Alaska.
The weather cameras are considered advisory and the team is looking at ways to enhance the website to incorporate additional data and give a more comprehensive picture. The experimental enhanced website includes both official weather information such as Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs) and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), and advisory weather information that comes from sensors installed at various locations in Alaska. Go to https://AvCamsPlus.FAA.gov to view the camera network and see the new website. (Google Chrome browser preferred)
Advanced Preflight After Maintenance
As the final authority for your aircraft’s fitness for flight, it is important you know how to properly preflight your aircraft after maintenance. For tips on how to conduct an advanced preflight after maintenance, check out our latest FlySafe fact sheet here: http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2019/media/SE_Topic_19-09.pdf.
Watch FAA Safety Briefing Live!
Did you miss the latest FAA Safety Briefing Live broadcast? We got you covered. Just go to https://www.faasafetybriefing.com/September-October2019.html to view an archived version of the broadcast. The latest edition introduces the September/October 2019 issue, which focuses on aviation emergencies. You can also earn WINGS credit by completing a quiz after viewing the presentation. Just click the “Earn WINGS Credit” button in the presentation window.
(Un)Holy Smoke!
What’s the one thing in general aviation (GA) that scares you — I mean really scares you? For many pilots, it’s the nightmare of facing an aircraft fire during a flight. For James Williams, a pilot, ground instructor, and author of “(Un) Holy Smoke, The Nightmare of Smoke, Fire, and Deadly Gas,” just the thought of an aircraft fire unnerves him too. In his piece, you’ll not only find strategies to prevent fires, and many other in-flight emergencies, but also helpful tips on what to do if these nightmares happen to you, at https://adobe.ly/34ckY59. To learn more about the kind of events that can cause an emergency in flight, and how you might prevent and react to them, check out FAA Safety Briefing’s emergency-focused Sep/Oct 2019 issue at www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.
Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors, www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.
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