Until 2004, Flight Service conducted most preflight briefings. Then self-briefing arrived. By 2017, 96 percent of all pilots self-briefed and 83 percent of flight plans were filed online. But many of us don't know how to get a thorough self-briefing. Between 2010 and 2013, the NTSB could find not weather briefing records in 32 percent of 5437 accidents. Consequently, the FAA is strongly stressing self-briefing, so it's time we explored how we might do that. There is no such thing. Part 91.103 makes no mention of a weather briefing. It casts a wider net to include "all available information concerning that flight." This includes, "for an IFR flight or a flight not in the vicinity of the airport, weather reports and forecasts." This is far from a well-executed standard briefing. The FAA considers the weather requirement met if the pilot gets a standard briefing within two hours of departure, then an abbreviated briefing thirty minutes before departure if the weather is questionable. Gaining a good idea of the big picture, a feel for trends, and all supporting weather reports is enough to make the goo-go decision.
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