EFAS no longer tested on private pilot knowledge test

[ryoder]

I admit I have never called FlightWatch even once. Do you think the Feds will discontinue it since people have iPads and panel mounted avionics with datalink weather?

For my short trips having Garmin pilot download the latest weather while taxiing has been good enough.

I have never used anything other than atis or asos for in flight weather.

http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/February/05/FAA-explains-deletion-of-EFAS-questions-from-a-knowledge-test?WT.mc_id=150206eftrng&WT.mc_sect=ftn

[midlifeflyer]

I don't think the Feds will cancel Flight Watch for some time. Even today, not everyone flies with an EFB and of those that do, ot everyone is shelling out an extra $600-$1200 for datalink weather.

[Marauder]

I admit I have never called FlightWatch even once. Do you think the Feds will discontinue it since people have iPads and panel mounted avionics with datalink weather?

For my short trips having Garmin pilot download the latest weather while taxiing has been good enough.

I have never used anything other than atis or asos for in flight weather.

http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/February/05/FAA-explains-deletion-of-EFAS-questions-from-a-knowledge-test?WT.mc_id=150206eftrng&WT.mc_sect=ftn

Flightwatch was the mainstay for years to get updated in flight route weather updates. With the ADS-B in capability some of that service is redundant but others are not. It is also nice to talk to someone who can confirm the weather is not behaving as forecast and offer suggestions.

[MB65E]

I still love flight watch. It's a real person, real time that looks at weather all day long! I don't know how many times I have looked at a 496 XM screen and it says "Waiting for Data." It's great for long XC, or mutiple legs where you don't have a chance to see a radar picture. I'll me bummed when it goes away.

-Matt

[N601RX]

I was in in a situation last fall where I would not have continued on if I had not been able to talk to them. I was VFR between 2 layers. Without talking to them I was not comfortable remaining there and was about to backtrack and land. They talked to someone at my destination and verified that it was clear and told me the bottom layer should disappear in about 20 minutes.

[slowflyin]

I don't call them for weather in flight but I check the pireps before most flights.   Every flight that has some nasty weather before and while in route.   I'm sure some of these pireps come through these friendly folks.

[Robert C.]

They're also a good source for TFRs and of course you're on record has having had a weather briefing.

 

That said, I call them about 1 in every 10 flights on the ground and once every 50 flights in the air.

[ryoder]

I was in in a situation last fall where I would not have continued on if I had not been able to talk to them. I was VFR between 2 layers. Without talking to them I was not comfortable remaining there and was about to backtrack and land. They talked to someone at my destination and verified that it was clear and told me the bottom layer should disappear in about 20 minutes.

Sounds like a great use for EFAS.