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Originally Posted by Matt13C  I was on my long cross country today and I had some unexpected weather. I got a detailed briefing from DUAT and also looked over the maps on Aviationweather.noaa.gov before I departed and all signs pointed to a go. Winds calm, scattered at 8000 for the whole area and nothing pointed to weather moving into my path.
As I was flying the clouds started to close in on me, they were down around 4000. Certainly did not expect this. I tuned in the AWOS for the landing airport but was too far out to pick it up. I was already talking to approach control for flight following but he was kind of busy and I have heard they do not like when you ask for a weather update.
I went on a bit further and conditions continued to deteriorated, got good and turbulent, clouds got darker and they looked like they were down below my altitude up ahead so I decided to turn back and try another day.
How would you have handled the situation? Would you have asked approach for a weather update or ask to change frequency to contact FSS for a weather update? I am not exactly sure how they work, will they give me the current situation or just read me the metar? |
I might have just landed somewhere close to where you were to either wait out the weather and/or call FSS for an update. No reason to waste the time and money and not even try to complete the mission (unless of course FSS gives you some bad news when you land). As long as you eventually make it to your intended destination and back you can still log the whole flight as cross county, and even make a note in your logbook about the diversion. That'll demonstrate good judgement to anyone looking through your logbook, such as an examiner or prosepective employer. On the other hand, if you are a student pilot you can't land somwhere you aren't endorsed unless you have an emergency. If that is your case, you handled the sitaution perfectly. One thing to keep in mind is, even if you call Flight Watch and they tell you its good up ahead but you look out the window and don't feel good about it, get out of there. Either way I think you made a good choice to turn back. That's always your safest option, and its always better to be conservative if you are ever unsure.