How General Aviation Pilots Use Weather Information Providers and Products

Data obtained from 221 general aviation (GA) pilots were examined to determine usage patterns for weather information. Weather products, providers, and en-route information sources were ranked according to relative use and rated by perceived information value, frequency of use, and time invested per usage. The measures were highly correlated. Conclusion #1: A small fraction of pilots show sparse use patterns, and these may be at risk for flying with inadequate preparation. Conclusion #2: There seems to be a strong tendency for many pilots to prefer relatively simple forms of information (e.g. METARS). This may present a problem, given the often-complex nature of weather