Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How should you actually brief the weather before a flight? In this safety seminar, we break down the three types of FAA weather briefings (Outlook, Standard, and Abbreviated), three sources to get them (AviationWeather.gov, 1800WxBrief.com, and ForeFlight), and walk through live demos of each — including tools most pilots don't know exist.
We cover:
• The briefing timeline every pilot should follow (AC 91-92)
• Why AviationWeather.gov doesn't create a briefing record — and what does
• The 1800WxBrief ACAS alert system that texts you when conditions change
• How to check ATC delays and EDCTs before you even start the engine
• The correct order to set up a ForeFlight briefing (and the common mistake that leaves out your alternate)
• Why METAR flight category colors aren't legally binding
• The FAA's updated Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)
• A free interactive preflight briefing companion tool
Website used during demonstration:
arflightsafety.com/preflight-briefing-companion
Resources mentioned:
→ AC 91-92: faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_91-92.pdf
→ AviationWeather.gov: aviationweather.gov
→ 1800WxBrief.com: 1800wxbrief.com
→ NAS Status / ATC Delays: nasstatus.faa.gov/map
→ EDCT Lookup: fly.faa.gov/edct
→ FAA FRAT Tool: explore.dot.gov/t/FAA/views/FRATTOOL/FRATTool
→ TFR Map: tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=map
This presentation is part of the Arkansas Flight Safety Cooperative (AFSC) free safety seminar series.
#aviation #weatherbriefing #pilottraining #flightsafety #foreflight #generalaviation #pilottips #avwx #faa #vsl
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction & What We'll Cover
1:03 AC 91-92 — The FAA's Briefing Guide
1:36 Outlook Briefing (6–48 Hours Out)
3:01 Standard Briefing (Within 6 Hours)
3:39 Abbreviated Briefing & ADS-B In
4:37 Briefing Timeline — Using All Three
5:36 Source 1: AviationWeather.gov
7:11 Source 2: 1800WxBrief.com (Flight Service)
9:37 Source 3: ForeFlight
10:14 Source Comparison Table
10:44 Putting It All Together
11:51 Key Takeaways & QR Code
12:55 Live Demo — Self-Briefing Checklist Tool
14:17 Live Demo — AviationWeather.gov GFA & Prog Charts
18:42 Reading Prog Charts — Fronts, Pressure Systems & Analogies
22:28 Live Demo — Weather Discussions
23:32 Live Demo — ATC Delays & EDCT Lookup
26:57 Live Demo — 1800WxBrief Account & Area Briefing
30:52 ACAS Alerts — Text & Email Weather Updates
34:06 Live Demo — 1800WxBrief Plan & File
36:22 TFRs & Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)
39:41 METARs, TAFs & Temp/Dewpoint Spread
46:01 Live Demo — ForeFlight Briefing Setup
51:01 ForeFlight EFB Pre-Flight Checklist
53:07 ForeFlight Briefing Walkthrough & PDF Export
56:18 ForeFlight Performance Profile — Garbage In, Garbage Out
58:30 Adding an Alternate Before Briefing (Common Mistake)
1:01:30 METAR Flight Category Colors — Not Legally Binding
1:03:06 Briefing Record Retention (20 Days)
1:04:51 Resources, Videos & Wrap-Up
How should you actually brief the weather before a flight? In this safety seminar, we break down the three types of FAA weather briefings (Outlook, Standard, and Abbreviated), three sources to get them (AviationWeather.gov, 1800WxBrief.com, and ForeFlight), and walk through live demos of each — including tools most pilots don't know exist.
We cover:
• The briefing timeline every pilot should follow (AC 91-92)
• Why AviationWeather.gov doesn't create a briefing record — and what does
• The 1800WxBrief ACAS alert system that texts you when conditions change
• How to check ATC delays and EDCTs before you even start the engine
• The correct order to set up a ForeFlight briefing (and the common mistake that leaves out your alternate)
• Why METAR flight category colors aren't legally binding
• The FAA's updated Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)
• A free interactive preflight briefing companion tool
Website used during demonstration:
arflightsafety.com/preflight-briefing-companion
Resources mentioned:
→ AC 91-92: faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_91-92.pdf
→ AviationWeather.gov: aviationweather.gov
→ 1800WxBrief.com: 1800wxbrief.com
→ NAS Status / ATC Delays: nasstatus.faa.gov/map
→ EDCT Lookup: fly.faa.gov/edct
→ FAA FRAT Tool: explore.dot.gov/t/FAA/views/FRATTOOL/FRATTool
→ TFR Map: tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=map
This presentation is part of the Arkansas Flight Safety Cooperative (AFSC) free safety seminar series.
#aviation #weatherbriefing #pilottraining #flightsafety #foreflight #generalaviation #pilottips #avwx #faa #vsl
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction & What We'll Cover
1:03 AC 91-92 — The FAA's Briefing Guide
1:36 Outlook Briefing (6–48 Hours Out)
3:01 Standard Briefing (Within 6 Hours)
3:39 Abbreviated Briefing & ADS-B In
4:37 Briefing Timeline — Using All Three
5:36 Source 1: AviationWeather.gov
7:11 Source 2: 1800WxBrief.com (Flight Service)
9:37 Source 3: ForeFlight
10:14 Source Comparison Table
10:44 Putting It All Together
11:51 Key Takeaways & QR Code
12:55 Live Demo — Self-Briefing Checklist Tool
14:17 Live Demo — AviationWeather.gov GFA & Prog Charts
18:42 Reading Prog Charts — Fronts, Pressure Systems & Analogies
22:28 Live Demo — Weather Discussions
23:32 Live Demo — ATC Delays & EDCT Lookup
26:57 Live Demo — 1800WxBrief Account & Area Briefing
30:52 ACAS Alerts — Text & Email Weather Updates
34:06 Live Demo — 1800WxBrief Plan & File
36:22 TFRs & Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)
39:41 METARs, TAFs & Temp/Dewpoint Spread
46:01 Live Demo — ForeFlight Briefing Setup
51:01 ForeFlight EFB Pre-Flight Checklist
53:07 ForeFlight Briefing Walkthrough & PDF Export
56:18 ForeFlight Performance Profile — Garbage In, Garbage Out
58:30 Adding an Alternate Before Briefing (Common Mistake)
1:01:30 METAR Flight Category Colors — Not Legally Binding
1:03:06 Briefing Record Retention (20 Days)
1:04:51 Resources, Videos & Wrap-Up
