List of Weather and Aviation-Related websites. (Last updated 02/14/2010)

Warning: This table is incomplete, out of date and rife with errors. Use at your own risk.

WEATHER:

USairnet – Tired of decoding metars and tafs, and even tired of reading the plain English versions available on many websites? Well, these people have figured out a way to present all the details in pictures, minimal reading or thinking required! Take a look at http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi

or the home page at http://www.usairnet.com .

Aviation Weather Center (AWC)...Weather Information of All Sorts - METARS, TAFs, etc... translated and code form. This site has it all.

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/ or http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/ or

http://www.weather.noaa.gov/

Some features of the AWC site are individually listed below.

Don't forget 1 800 WXBRIEF... 1 800 992 7433 for telephone access to weather information, and closing flight plans.

Another Source of NOTAMS -

http://www.aviationweatherbrief.com/na.notam.html

National Hurricane Center

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Local City Forecasts & Reports, by name or zip code -

http:// www.weather.gov

500 MB Constant Pressure Chart shows weather features that are roughly 18,000 feet above sea level. Everywhere on this chart the pressure is 500 mb. What is changing is the mean sea level "height" of the 500 mb surface.

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/

Convective Outlooks are prepared by the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) in Kansas City and are valid for a six hour period. These areas outlined in orange are regions that are likely to see an issuance of one or more convective SIGMETs (shown in red) within the six hour valid period. Convective SIGMETs are not a forecast for thunderstorms. Instead, they represent a nowcast of thunderstorm activity. That is, active convection meeting specific criteria must exist before a convective SIGMET can be issued. Therefore, scattered or isolated activity may not be protected by a convective SIGMET. Convective SIGMETs are issued hourly for a well organized line or area of thunderstorms, severe thunderstorm or embedded thunderstorms.

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/data/airmets/airmets_CB.gif

Current Icing Product (CIP) which offers an hourly analysis of cloud top heights in thousands of feet. If the cloud tops are low, generally clouds are not vertically developed and will not likely contain convective turbulence.

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/icing/cip/loop_cip_ctz.html

Enhanced Infrared Satellite Image uses cloud top temperatures to estimate cloud heights. The grey regions show fairly low clouds and any clouds with a significant height will be color enhanced.

http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconusir.html

Enhanced T Storm Outlook The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK issues an enhanced thunderstorm outlook and is often a good way to identify where convective activity is likely.

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/exper/enhtstm/

High Resolution Infrared Satellite Image shows the cloud top temperatures. Colder cloud top temperatures imply higher cloud tops. When the cloud top temperatures are colder than 35 degrees, vertically developed clouds and convective turbulence are much more likely assuming the higher clouds are not just thin, wispy cirrus clouds.

http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/satellite/displaySat.php?region=US&itype=ir&size=large&endDate=20070301&endTime= 1&duration=0

IFR and Mountain Obscuration AIRMETS

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/data/airmets/airmets_IF.gif

Lifted Index A positive lifted index shows regions of stability and a negative lifted index shows regions of instability.

http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/namsvrfcst/lift.animate.html

Lowest Level Freezing Analysis

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/icing/frzg_nav.php

Nexrad Image

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_lite.php

Short Range Surface Forecast The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) issues short range surface forecasts that includes an isobaric forecast along with surface high and low pressure centers, frontal systems and troughs. Also included on this forecast is a prediction for areas of precipitation that is expected at the valid time of the forecast.

Chart http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/cgi bin/get_basicwx.cgi

Symbols http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/pcpnsymbs2.shtml

Simulated reflectivity a model based precipitation product that shows what the Nexrad image might look like at a specific time.

http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/mmbpll/cent4km/v2/nmmwrf.refd_animate_1h.html

Skew T Diagram provides a wealth of, perhaps too much, information based on data collected from balloon launches at regular locations and intervals. http://rucsoundings.noaa.gov/

For more information on how to interpret the Skew T Diagram:

http://aviationweather.gov/general/pubs/front/docs/feb 04.pdf

Surface Analysis produced by the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center or HPC. This product provides an isobaric analysis (lines of constant pressure) and the locations of areas of high and low pressure as well as fronts, dry lines, squall lines, surface pressure troughs and outflow boundaries. This is all superimposed on surface observations showing the present weather at the various reporting stations or airports.

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/sfc2.shtml

Surface Analysis Loop shows surface analysis loop in 3 hour increments. Helps uncover weather trends.

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/sfcloop/namus_wbg.html

Terminal Area Forecasts or TAFs

http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/tafs/

Flight Planning - Aeroplanner - a fee-based service, that graphically shows weather along path, allows storage of routes, prints maps, provides MOA details, etc.

http://www.aeroplanner.com User: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: wwinston (subscription expires in Nov. 2010)

Flight Planning - Duats - a FAA-based service provided through subcontractors. (We pay for it in taxes.) I use the CSC Direct User Access Terminal System provider.

http://www.duats.com User: 10651036 Password: askWAW

Flight Planning - Fuel Costs - fuel prices can be a handy thing to know. I suggest confirming them and availability with the FBO by telephone. http://www.100LL.com

Plates and fresh GPS Data Source - a fee-based service installed on my Dell laptop. Approach Systems, Inc.

http:// www.approachsystems.com email: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: glenarvon User name: William Winston

The plate subscription is updated every 28 days by download. The GPS aviation data is updated every 56 days by download.

Dial up and Hughes satellite connections (with their “speed limit”) should not try to download all the plates. You need a

DSL connection to get the job done.

Freeware/Low fee Plates & AFD – http://www.pdfplates.com

This source also offers DVDs for a reasonable cost for users who do not have high-speed internet access.

Miscellaneous Flight Planning -

http://www.klsa.com (quick great circle mapper, distance calculator)

http://www.airnav.com (facility information, approaches in PDF, etc.)

http://www.myafd.com (airport facility info. not quite as good as airnav.com)

SOME CLUBS:

AOPA - WAW membership # 01502309

http://www.aopa.org User: 01502309 Password: wwinston

AOPA Online Courses -

http://www.aopa.org/asf/online_courses/ (note space between “online” and “courses”, entered by the underline key)

Shortwing Piper Club -

http:// shortwing.org User: glenarvon Password: 6340

Cessna Pilot's Assn. -

http:// www.cessna.org Member No. 54103 Password: winston

SOME FAA-Related Sites:

http://www.faa.gov (TCDS, ADs, pilot info, N number info., etc.)

http://www.faasafety.gov User: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: askWAW SOG is signed up also, User: sog@ceva.net and Password: askWAW.

http://faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/lib_main.aspx (various study courses available)

https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html This is part of the FAA Regulatory and Guidance Library service where I sign up for e mail delivery of new ADs, SAIBs, etc.

http://avn.faa.gov Digital Terminal Procedures publication online

http://www.faa.gov/avr/AFS/FARS/far_idx.htm Federal Aviation Regulations

http://forms.faa.gov/forms/faa337.PDF Form 337. Other standard forms are available at nearby addresses.

http://www.naco.faa.gov (A source of digital Airport Facility Directories... AFDs. The site often seems to have technical problems?)

http://www.registry.faa.gov

For SOG User: sog@ceva.net Password: askWAW

For WAW User: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: askWAW

(online update of airman cert., address, etc.)

http://www.amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/amsrvs/Logon.asp

WAW Password: zff4vg3q e mail, sog@ceva.net

http://www.flightaware.com User: wwinston Password: glenarvon

This website tracks commercial and private aircraft, and displays altitude, speed and route. It can be used to track all aircraft in the system and past flights, and may be useful for anticipating the actual arrival of a commercial flight you intend to meet. The airline information is unreliable.

ADs, Accidents, Aircraft Registration:

http://av info.faa.gov/ad/AD.htm US ADs. I have found consulting foreign ADs occasionally useful. Although they usually track the FAA AD, sometimes they don't. Other times, such as now with the Cessna 400 series wing rebuild AD in Australia, they provide an idea of where the US regulations might be headed.

http://www.casa.gov.au/ (Australian ADs)

http://www.caa.govt.nz (New Zealand ADs)

http://www.airresearch.com (STC database)

http://www.ntsb.gov (accident database) Yes, some rare dealers claim 'NDH' while a trace of the NTSB records and the N number history shows significant damage and perhaps a change of name to cover it up. Buyer beware.

http://www.aircraftone.com (search aircraft by name, N#, model) This is easily done on the main FAA site too.

Aircraft, Engine, & Component Makers -

http://www.newpiper.com/company/publications/sb Some Service Bulletins and information for the Piper fleet.

http://www.tcmlink.com Continental engines, SBs, etc.

http://www.lycoming.com Lycoming info., SBs, etc.

http://www.hartzellprop.com re: Hartzell props.

Cessna's website is directed at selling new aircraft, not assisting the owners of old ones. Cessna does sell libraries of Service Bulletins at high prices. See http://www.cessna.org, the Cessna Pilot's Assn. club site, for reprints of many Service Bulletins and SAIBs.

Avionics Sources -

eBay.com is a good place to begin looking for odds and ends, manuals, etc.

http://www.seaerospace.com (avionics info.)

http://www.a3avionics.com (avionics info.)

Various Vendors -

http://www.aircraftspruce.com glenarvon wwinston customer # 251649

http://www.wagaero.com email: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: glenarvon

http://www.ceebaileys.com (best windshields, aircraft and prop covers & accys.)

http://www.texair.com (Fort Worth part supplier)

http:// www.mypilotstore.com Customer: William A Winston, using Visa ending 4100, Password: 12345

There are MANY other aviation vendors on the internet, and I suggest looking at eBay.com first.

Aircraft Buy - Sell Sites:

http://www.trade a plane.com User: wwinston Password: wwinston

http://www.aviongoo.com email: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: wwinston This website contains a gigantic listing of aircraft for sale, and fast access to ownership info.

http://www.airplanesdirect.com This is a free listing site, but slow on a dial up connection.

http://www.globalplanesearch.com

http://www.greatscotsaircraft.com (A used plane dealer, with nice people. They listed a NDH Aztec that had suffered a big crunch under an earlier N number. Beware.)

http://www.laneaviation.com A big dealer in Columbus, OH, that seems to consistently have good aircraft at reasonable prices.

http://www.rivannaaircraftsales.com (A local consignment seller, based at KCHO)

http://www.controller.com

http://www.aircraftdealer.com

http://www.traderonline.com

http://www.ipilot.com

http://www.aso.com email: wwinston@glenarvon.com Password: glenarvon Code: plantation ASO = Aircraft Shopper Online

Manuals, Parts & Service CDs & books -

Start by searching eBay.com. Odd things turn up at low prices.

http://www.esscoaircraft.com sells manuals, reprints

http://www.eflightmanuals.com sells manuals, reprints

http://www.micro tools.com/pdf/cessna selected Cessna manuals for free download