Receive a good weather briefing and file your flight plan on the Internet

OK, most everybody is on the Internet and most pilots have a computer, but how do you work the darn thing to get weather briefings? How do you file your flight plan on-line? Discover the ease and excitement of the Internet.

The Direct User Access Terminal (DUAT) program has been around since 1989. Fully sponsored by the FAA, DUAT is a toll-free, telephone-based, commercial-off-the-shelf system that lets users with personal computers access weather and aeronautical information and to file, amend, cancel or close flight plans.

The two vendor companies who provide this service are Data Transformation Corporation (DTC), Silver Spring, Md., and GTE Government Systems, Inc., Chantilly, Va.

The DUAT system originally utilized Telnet protocol, where a pilot would dial-up (using a modem on his/her computer) one of the above companies. This type of protocol had its limitations in that most information returned to your computer was just textual. Weather graphs and/or satellite images were either sparse, non-existent and/or cost an additional subscription fee.

Now enter the World Wide Web, the graphic side of the more commonly known term "The Internet." The two vendor companies DTC & GTE have incorporated excellent graphics, weather charts, and satellite images into their respective web pages. Additionally, they both provide an excellent "flight planner" section, where a pilot may input his/her aircraft’s technical data, his route of flight, estimated time of departure, etc. and vavoom, spit out a most respectable ‘navigation log’.

Naturally, both companies (and this editor), state important disclaimers, i.e. The flight planner can only assist you in planning a safe flight. You must

• verify that the performance data you supply to the flight planner is correct for the particular aircraft and conditions
• obtain a thorough weather briefing and understand how any enroute weather may affect the planned route of flight
• verify that the planned route of flight does not encroach on any airspace restrictions, either charted or issued by NOTAM
• check that navigational aids or airways which you will be using are not affected by NOTAMs
• ensure that the planned altitudes will provide adequate terrain separation, and, in the case of instrument flights, that they are above required minimum altitudes
• add appropriate reserve amounts to the fuel you carry for the flight -- the flight planner does not include any reserve fuel in its computations

Each requested flight will be planned at the altitude specified by you. The flight planning module DOES NOT take into account obstacles, terrain, controlled airspace (Class A,B,C,D), and special use airspace (prohibited areas, restricted areas, alert areas, warning areas, military operation areas, etc.). The pilot MUST verify the suggested route against current aviation charts to ensure that it can be flown safely.

The flight planner computes the fuel burn based on known distances and winds and does NOT include reserve fuel in its calculations. It is the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that reserve fuel adequate for the flight is available -- both to meet the minimum FAR requirements, and to meet potentially unanticipated conditions such as stronger headwinds or re-routings by air traffic control.

Back in his industry days, this editor, took great advantage of this excellent service. For point to point navigation, this service became an excellent tool for me to pre-plan the company's flight the night before in the comfort of my own home and to actually have a flight plan on file for the estimated time of departure (ETD). Logically, I could get up in the morning and download the latest sequence reports and terminal forecasts to my printer. This procedure provided me with a ‘hard’ printed copy of the latest weather reports for continued reference during the mission.

Today with the expansion of the web, gathering weather data via DUAT is much easier and improved.

For example, let’s say you desire the latest Weather Depiction Chart. Well, they have that image available for you to print out, and in color too! From this we see that LA is its usual, i.e. marginal VFR.

Then we can look at the Surface Forecast Chart to get an overview of frontal activity.

Also, we now have the ability to look down from the satellites and really observe the weather.  How about a radar summary chart?

Having difficulty remembering what the three letter identifier is for Santa Rosa? Well, DUATS even has a coding and decoding section to assist you.

Finally, let’s take a look at their ‘flight planner’ section and see what it gives us for our upcoming trip in your C-182 from Fresno (FAT) to Santa Rosa (STS).

Flight Plan FAT-STS

From: FAT -- Fresno CA (Fresno Yosemite International)
To: KSTS -- Santa Rosa CA (Sonoma County)

Alt.: 6,500 ft. Profile: Skylane; C-182
Time: Sun Jun xx 06:28 (UTC)
Routing options selected: Automatic low altitude airway.
Flight plan route: BEREN V23 SAC V494 STS
Flight totals: fuel: 19 gallons, time: 1:31, distance 192.5 nm.
NOTE: fuel calculations do not include required reserves.
Average groundspeed 126 knots.
Great circle distance is 180.1 nm -- this route is 7% longer.

The flight planner then displays an actual navigation log (for print out)
listing each ‘checkpoint’ for your mission.

 

Then, there is even a box to click on to ‘file’ your flight plan! This flight plan goes to the nearest FSS to be activated by you upon your departure. What a great way to plan and file!

Want to know more? Attend this month's Fresno seminar series and GET ON THE WEB WITH DUAT!

The Caltrans Aeronautics Program

Many of our readers are not aware of an extremely valuable source of laws, information, and assistance for flyers and aviation entities within the State of California. The Caltrans Aeronautics Program is an organization which you should keep in mind for future reference. They are the point of contact for many of the aviation-oriented matters of the State.

Caltrans Aeronautics is responsible for Sections 21001 through 21707 of the California Public Utilities Code. These statutes are written for the welfare of the citizens of California. The Caltrans rules, regulations, procedures, and minimum standards do concur with Federal Aviation Regulations. However, there are many sections in the Public Utilities Code pertaining to California aviation that you won’t find in the Federal legislation.

Caltrans Aeronautics handles many airport issues. They are involved with airport improvement projects (grants, loans…), land use issues, on and off airport noise and environmental pollution, pavement restoration, helicopter landing sites and other aviation site issues.

They are an excellent source for aviation educational material with handouts and programs for grade levels ranging from kindergarten through high school. They can provide guidance material for aviation-related careers. Caltrans also has contacts with other aviation educational groups throughout the country that can be made available to you. Please pass this information along to an educator!

They provide a statistical fact sheet which shows the economic impact of aviation, airports, pilots, aircraft, operations, revenues and needs of the air transportation system in California. Caltrans also publishes a California State Aeronautical Chart every two years. It’s about two feet by five feet in size and shows California on one unbroken (as opposed to sectionals) representation. (It looks great on my office wall).

I have only touched on the tip of the iceberg. The good folks at Caltrans Aeronautics can direct you to the many other services they provide. To contact the California Department of Transportation - Aeronautics Program: Web Site http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/planning/aeronaut

Mail Caltrans Aeronautics Program
Mail Station #40
P.O. Box 942873
Sacramento, CA 94273-0001
Phone (916) 654-4959

BAKERSFIELD MUNICIPAL PILOTS

This district office has recently received some disturbing reports concerning aircraft based out of L45 that have caused air carrier aircraft to take evasive action while on approach to BFL. Such activity is not only illegal, but it’s downright deadly. There are, unfortunately, some individuals out there who can ruin the barrel. Don’t be one of them!

Sec. 91.111 Operating near other aircraft.

(a) No person may operate an aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard.

Sec. 91.13 Careless or reckless operation.

Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

Fresno Aerial Applicators

Remember that all of the FAA ‘Wings’ seminars in this District have been approved by the Calif. Dept. of Pesticides for ‘Continuing Education Credit’. Please attend!

Sacramento

If your companion doesn't share your love of flying or would like to learn more -- send him or her to the Sacramento Valley 99’s for a comprehensive introduction to companion flying. This seminar is an excellent opportunity for the reluctant flier to learn about the joys of flying.

The seminar will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, in the Sacramento Executive Airport Conference Room, 6151 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento.

The topics covered in the seminar are:

• Why preflight an airplane,
• chart reading & navigation
• aerodynamics,
• understanding weather,
• communications,
• how to handle emergencies,
• and much more.

Advance registration is required. For more information contact Lucy Sakakihara at (916) 395-9542 or Shirley Lehr at (916) 395-7735, e-mail slehr@jps.net, or 99s Voice mail 916 863-3015.

 

End of Oakland Area Seminars

End of Sacramento Area Seminars

WINGS PROFICIENCY
AWARD PROGRAM