Taming Technology
‘Weather Tech and Automation’ Magazine Issue
By Robert Ruiz, former acting FAA Flight Standards Service executive director
As we welcome the warmer and sunnier days of spring, I’m sure many of you are eagerly returning to the skies to enjoy more routine flying. To help shake off the rust that may have accumulated during the colder months, it’s important to focus on sharpening our flying skills, of course, but also on the technology we regularly rely on to get us to our destination safe and sound.
The excellent weather tools and technology we have today would have been the envy of airline pilots not that long ago and are one of the many reasons why it’s such a great time to be in aviation. But even the best technology isn’t very helpful without clear thinking and correct actions. This issue of FAA Safety Briefing is one tool you can use to “tame” your technology and ensure you know how to properly use the information at your disposal.
A good example is your preflight weather briefing, which is essential to a safe flight. But are you getting the most out of your briefings? In the article, “Giving Color to Aviation Safety,” we explain some of the recent updates on the flight planning site 1800WxBrief.com that can help improve situational awareness of weather conditions, including the recent transition from text to Graphical AIRMETs (G-AIRMETs) and the addition of Graphical Forecasts to Aviation (GFAs) to their interactive map of the Continental US.
On the subject of weather, the FAA has been at the forefront of advancing weather data and research for nearly 20 years, including products that improve weather forecast capability and more accurately depict turbulence and icing potential. You can learn more about these various contributions, including future plans to advance weather technology, in the article “The Foundation of Forecasting.”
A recent study shows some exciting progress for the FAA’s Pilot Cognitive Assist Tool (PCAT), which aims to aid pilots with decision-making during flight. The feature “Just in Time Weather,” showcases the PCAT’s potential, particularly its ability to aggregate weather data and provide actionable insight to pilots regarding unexpected or adverse weather changes during flight.
As we stated, technology can be a great asset in the flight deck, reducing workload and enhancing safety. But there are risks when we depend too much on our devices to navigate or make aeronautical decisions, not the least of which is a degradation of manual flying skills and pilot proficiency. In the article “The Dangers of Overreliance on Automation,” we take a closer look at these technology pitfalls and some strategies we can use to avoid any unwanted surprises.
On a final note, many of you may have likely received an invitation to participate in this year’s General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey. A postcard is usually mailed out in late February to a random set of aircraft owners and fleet operators to capture what kind of flying activity you had the previous year. I understand the survey fatigue that often sets in with so many industries asking for feedback. Yet, I know many of you do take the time to carefully answer the questions asked of you, and for that, I say thank you. Data collected in this survey really does make a difference. For those who receive a survey request, but maybe have not yet had a chance to respond, I encourage you to do so. This issue’s article, “Appraising Aviation Activity” takes a closer look at the survey, its long history, and its direct impact on safety for NAS operations.
When it comes to technology, it all comes back to people and a commitment to staying current in every way. Thank you for making this publication part of your educational toolkit. Enjoy reading and I’ll look forward to meeting you again in the next issue.
Safe flying!
