Met Office Courses
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Met Office Courses
Has anyone done or considered doing the following courses? And if so can anyone offer any feedback or insight otherwise
The courses are:-
Met for Aviators
Weather decision making
To be honest having looked at the descriptions, I personally think that they are an excellent idea. They are held in Exeter but the courses can be held at flying clubs if there is reasonable interest (spoke to a MET office rep the other day)
These courses are obviously not free and do come at a price, but surely the better understanding a pilot (at all levels) has of weather phenomena the better. Particularly in the Highlands where the combination of rising high ground and variable weather is a reality unless you only go flying the very few "CAVOK" days.
One final but important point, I'm not suggesting that these weather courses in any way replace the need for IMCr or instrument training,but that they would perhaps compliment them well.
Any Feedback welcome
The courses are:-
Met for Aviators
Weather decision making
To be honest having looked at the descriptions, I personally think that they are an excellent idea. They are held in Exeter but the courses can be held at flying clubs if there is reasonable interest (spoke to a MET office rep the other day)
These courses are obviously not free and do come at a price, but surely the better understanding a pilot (at all levels) has of weather phenomena the better. Particularly in the Highlands where the combination of rising high ground and variable weather is a reality unless you only go flying the very few "CAVOK" days.
One final but important point, I'm not suggesting that these weather courses in any way replace the need for IMCr or instrument training,but that they would perhaps compliment them well.
Any Feedback welcome
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It's probably a good idea to go to it, if you are a PPL.
I just hope they make an effort to give it a practical slant. It is trivial for a wx forecaster to rant on about Hadley cells and the other theoretical stuff...
I went to a weather course a few years ago (not the UK MO one) and found it sort of OK at a very basic VFR level, but did not manage to take much home from it.
The weather courses in those are pretty naff and almost irrelevant to real flying 
If you can learn how to build a picture from a variety of websites, that is the real game nowadays.
I just hope they make an effort to give it a practical slant. It is trivial for a wx forecaster to rant on about Hadley cells and the other theoretical stuff...
I went to a weather course a few years ago (not the UK MO one) and found it sort of OK at a very basic VFR level, but did not manage to take much home from it.
I'm not suggesting that these weather courses in any way replace the need for IMCr or instrument training
If you can learn how to build a picture from a variety of websites, that is the real game nowadays.
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I'm sure there is little harm in attending and one may learn something. However there are other courses out there which I hear are very good. Of the top of my head - flaps podcast done an article a while back about one such course but I can't remember the name of the guy who ran it 
As far as the Met Office go - personally, I would like to see them give some decent forecasts before I start paying them to teach me how to read the weather. They rarely get forecasts correct in my neck of the woods 24 hours in advance!! (Always seeming to err on the crap wx side). One generally does a better job by looking at the 'raw' information and work out what the weather wants to do and when its likely to do it. Failing that, take about 4/5 different sources and take an average
As far as the Met Office go - personally, I would like to see them give some decent forecasts before I start paying them to teach me how to read the weather. They rarely get forecasts correct in my neck of the woods 24 hours in advance!! (Always seeming to err on the crap wx side). One generally does a better job by looking at the 'raw' information and work out what the weather wants to do and when its likely to do it. Failing that, take about 4/5 different sources and take an average
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Forecasts will always throw in everything including the kitchen sink.
The ICAO limitation for only PROB30 or PROB40 makes a lot of it worthless. Basically if anything might even remotely happen (1% chance) it has to go in as a PROB30. A PROB40 is shorthand for "we think it will happen".
The best weather forecast is an IMCR or an IR Then you have options..
The ICAO limitation for only PROB30 or PROB40 makes a lot of it worthless. Basically if anything might even remotely happen (1% chance) it has to go in as a PROB30. A PROB40 is shorthand for "we think it will happen".
The best weather forecast is an IMCR or an IR
Then you have options..
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Must say I do agree with you as Im sure most others do with regards to the Prob30 Prob 40 lark which I do largely ignore and I do definately intend on doing an IMCr in fact I would do the IR if it wasnt so damned expensive like everything else aviation in the UK.
On the weather side of things I would like to be much more skilled at interpreting weather using pressure charts, precipitation radar along with forms F214 and F215.
also
In the air:- Ideally proficient at recognising all cloud types and associated hazards, such as icing and turbulence.
Whilst as a licence holder I have obviously demonstrated the above before, I would certainly like to be more proficient at it.
On the weather side of things I would like to be much more skilled at interpreting weather using pressure charts, precipitation radar along with forms F214 and F215.
also
In the air:- Ideally proficient at recognising all cloud types and associated hazards, such as icing and turbulence.
Whilst as a licence holder I have obviously demonstrated the above before, I would certainly like to be more proficient at it.
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Considered doing one last year but found the cost a bit rich for my pocket, think it was the thick end of £400 from memory. Also I had to factor in hotel and travel costs too as they are held in Exeter I believe. Would still like to do a decent wx course (have studied books on the subject but nothing like a useful as a properly designed course) for safety and general interest but it'd need to be a bit cheaper. Although like most PPL's, if I don't like the way the wx is now/is going to be, I stay on the ground!
