5/19/22
AIM
of information that may provide this specific
guidance include manufacturer’s manuals, training
programs, and reference guides.
2.
FIS should not serve as the sole source of
aviation weather and other operational information.
ATC, FSSs, and, if applicable, AOCC VHF/HF voice
remain as a redundant method of communicating
aviation weather, NOTAMs, and other operational
information to aircraft in flight. FIS augments these
traditional ATC/FSS/AOCC services and, for some
products, offers the advantage of being displayed as
graphical information. By using FIS for orientation,
the usefulness of information received from
conventional means may be enhanced. For example,
FIS may alert the pilot to specific areas of concern
that will more accurately focus requests made to FSS
or AOCC for inflight updates or similar queries made
to ATC.
3.
The airspace and aeronautical environment is
constantly changing. These changes occur quickly
and without warning. Critical operational decisions
should be based on use of the most current and
appropriate data available. When differences exist
between FIS and information obtained by voice
communication with ATC, FSS, and/or AOCC (if
applicable), pilots are cautioned to use the most
recent data from the most authoritative source.
4.
FIS aviation weather products (for example,
graphical ground
−
based radar precipitation depic-
tions) are not appropriate for tactical (typical
timeframe of less than 3 minutes) avoidance of severe
weather such as negotiating a path through a weather
hazard area. FIS supports strategic (typical timeframe
of 20 minutes or more) weather decision
−
making
such as route selection to avoid a weather hazard area
in its entirety. The misuse of information beyond its
applicability may place the pilot and aircraft in
jeopardy. In addition, FIS should never be used in lieu
of an individual preflight weather and flight planning
briefing.
5.
DSPs offer numerous MET and AI products
with information that can be layered on top of each
other. Pilots need to be aware that too much
information can have a negative effect on their
cognitive work load. Pilots need to manage the
amount of information to a level that offers the most
pertinent information to that specific flight without
creating a cockpit distraction. Pilots may need to
adjust the amount of information based on numerous
factors including, but not limited to, the phase of
flight, single pilot operation, autopilot availability,
class of airspace, and the weather conditions
encountered.
6.
FIS NOTAM products, including Temporary
Flight Restriction (TFR) information, are advisory
−
use information and are intended for situational
awareness purposes only. Cockpit displays of this
information are not appropriate for tactical naviga-
tion
−
pilots should stay clear of any geographic area
displayed as a TFR NOTAM. Pilots should contact
FSSs and/or ATC while en route to obtain updated
information and to verify the cockpit display of
NOTAM information.
7.
FIS supports better pilot decision
−
making by
increasing situational awareness. Better decision
−
making is based on using information from a variety
of sources. In addition to FIS, pilots should take
advantage of other weather/NAS status sources,
including, briefings from Flight Service Stations,
data from other air traffic control facilities, airline
operation control centers, pilot reports, as well as
their own observations.
e.
FAA’s Flight Information Service
−
Broadcast
(FIS
−
B).
1.
FIS
−
B is a ground
−
based broadcast service
provided through the FAA’s Automatic Dependent
Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS
−
B) Services Univer-
sal Access Transceiver (UAT) network. The service
provides users with a 978 MHz data link capability
when operating within range and line
−
of
−
sight of a
transmitting ground station. FIS
−
B enables users of
properly
−
equipped aircraft to receive and display a
suite of broadcast weather and aeronautical informa-
tion products.
2.
TBL 7
−
1
−
2 lists the text and graphical
products available through FIS
−
B and provided
free
−
of
−
charge. Detailed information concerning
FIS
−
B meteorological products can be found in
Advisory Circular 00
−
45, Aviation Weather Services,
and AC 00-63, Use of Cockpit Displays of Digital
Weather and Aeronautical Information. Information
on Special Use Airspace (SUA), Temporary Flight
Restriction (TFR), and Notice to Air Missions
(NOTAM) products can be found in Chapters 3, 4 and
5 of this manual.
3.
Users of FIS
−
B should familiarize them-
selves with the operational characteristics and
limitations of the system, including: system architec-
Meteorology
7
−
1
−
21