Pre-Flight Planning
 

I'd make this a poll but I don't know how. I met a guy this weekend who asked me what all the activity on his (home) airfield was; I told him that it was the airshow that was promulgated by NOTAM and AIP SUPP. His response was "I never read those".

How many of you GA guys check NOTAMS before flying? How many of you don't? Was he the exception, or the norm?

Us "GA guy's" (well at least this one) check NOTAMS before EVERY flight. Why? Is that that priveledged only to you "airline guys"? What's your point? Someone misses their NOTAMS so we're all in the same boat? You've mentioned one single guy so that means we're all the same? We're not professional until we leave G.A? If so, I'm sorry to disturb your airspace.

Go ahead Cpt WEJ, make your poll if you have nothing better to do. Personaly, I'd rather read NOTAMS and AIC's.:ok:

Wawa :cool:

Captwawa. The guy was asking the question!! Dry your eyes, or call a padre mate. No need to get defensive.

I think this is an important topic - it is a shame to see so few responses.

To answer Capt WEJ yes I do read NOTAMS before every flight - it is easy because I have internet access at home/work and can get them all in 20 sec from the AIS/MET section of the Airservices website (not NAIPS).

For pilots without that access it is a lot harder - even by fax is difficult. Try calling a live briefing officer and asking for all HO, FIR and route NOTAMS and see how you go.

If I am in the field and call a live briefing officer, I usually ask for all HO, FIR, route NOTAMS which have been issued since the last print out from the net. It is my experience that briefing is less than accomodating, saying it is not possible to determine which have been issued since date or time X.

If you are airline and have NOTAMS etc spoon feed to you, then no problem. For the rest where access may be difficult, I think the problem may be a significant one.

Always, always, always before every flight via Airservices website or briefing office when I can't access the net.

If I'm in an area where a full NOTAM service is not available then I'll call the aerodrome operator or depending upon how remote it is, the Flying Doctor. You'd be surprised how willing and helpful they are.

AS

Generally I lick me finger and turn toward the breeze to ascertain wind. Then (if its a bright day) I squint upward to "check out" the cloud base. Once inflight (VFR with me GPS) I always take me bino's to "check out" if there's any airshows goin' down:}

Citation,
 

It's a bit much to say they're "less than accomodating" IMHO.
Briefing officers are like pilots I guess - some good, some bad, all human.
I always check NOTAM before flying, (and BTW have been laughed at by others for this reason), and have frequently had to request arfor(s), subFIR and HO over the phone, when no other method available. Generally I find you get what you need fairly painlessly. But beware the BO who wants to "paraphrase" the wx for you, or decide what NOTAM you need, and don't need. PLEASE just read what's there, and I'll sift it!!

Once found myself in the circuit at an ALA, with a PA31. The interesting thing was I never heard a thing from him. So after landing I asked politely what freq. he was on, and the answer was "area mate". Cool, except this ALA was right on the boundary (they put 'em on maps once upon a time ;) )
Yep, you guessed it, I was on the other freq, and, MULTICOM - which had been in use for about a [U]month.[U]

He'd never heard of it!!:sad:

But just to show I'm not perfect either (if there was any doubt!!), I recall the following exchange with ML CEN:

CR: " Centre g'day, no luck with FWatch VHF, request..."

CEN: "Ah, that freq. is NOTAMed US at the moment - go ahead your request..."

D'OH :\


Cheers,
CR;)

Capt. W.E. Johns
 

Are you Bill Johns of PX??. If so you would remember me ...(hoo doesn't)...the PX jeep freak.
You are correct...MOST don't read the Notams most of the time.
I see it all the time.....Best regards ..............................;)

well yes they do write them in that "funny" lingo, I mean who knows what it means. Its worse than the cryptic crossword:ugh: