Refresher - P-12820238

T-45C TS INav-08

Fuel, Weather, and Alternate Airfield Planning

REFRESHER

Be prepared to combine your knowledge of regulations and your meteorological data interpretation skills

in order to solve flight planning problems. In particular, recall:

METAR code used in Terminal Aerodrome Forecast printouts

OPNAVINST 3710.7 regulations from both your T-34 training and T-45C FRR lessons

PRESENTATION

DETERMINING WEATHER MINIMUMS AND ALTERNATE ROUTES/AIRFIELDS 1.1.1.1, 2.1.8.2

As part of your flight planning activities, you need to prepare yourself to make early and rapid decisions in

the event that emergency situations arise or weather conditions change while you are in flight. To be

prepared, you should examine the forecast weather conditions at your proposed destination and possible

alternate and use the OPNAVINST 3710.7 (series) weather criteria governing your selection of a

destination and alternate to develop a plan of action.

To file your IFR flight plan, you must ascertain that the actual and the forecast weather meet the

minimums required for flight.

Existing Weather

The plan you file must be based on the existing weather at the point of departure at the time of clearance

and the existing and forecast weather for the entire route of flight.

Forecast Weather

You obtain this information by reviewing the Flight Weather Briefing (DD Form 175-1) and Terminal

Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) for both your destination and probable alternate. Remember to consider

forecast surface winds so that you may employ your best judgment to determine the runway in use on

arrival. (See OPNAVINST 3710.7, para 4.6.3.2.)

Your destination forecast is based on the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast at civilian and military airfields.

From these reports you can determine the forecast ceiling and visibility for your ETA +/- 1 hour. This

teletype information will aid in planning for an IFR flight, identifying the type of approach required,

determining if an alternate is required, and selecting the best alternate, if one is required. (A reminder,

CNATRA requires an alternate on all Training Command cross-country flights.)

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