Why is aviation weather so important?
Aviation weather plays a central role in aviation. Meteorology is already taught as one of the main subjects during pilot training. Later on, pilots are required by law to find out about current weather conditions before every flight - be it a short aerodrome tour or a longer cross-country flight. The weather situation has a direct influence on the safety and planning of a flight.
The essential information includes
- Weather reports (METAR): Current weather conditions at airports.
- Forecasts (TAF): Forecasts for the coming hours.
- Wind and temperature data: Relevant for route planning.
- Warnings: Information on thunderstorms, turbulence or other dangerous weather conditions.
Telephone counselling: what is changing?
Until now, pilots have been able to use the DWD service via chargeable 0900 numbers. The charges varied depending on the caller network, with a basic price of 1.24 Euro per minute from the fixed network and in some cases significantly higher costs from the mobile network. This non-transparent pricing is now a thing of the past.
From the 1 December 2024 every minute of a call is standardised 1,99 Euro costs. The Federal Network Agency wants to simplify pricing and reduce the high costs of mobile calls in particular.
The new service numbers can be found on the DWD website.
Aviation weather advice: Who is behind it?
Telephone advice is provided by qualified aviation weather consultants from the DWD. They are highly specialised and support pilots in assessing the weather conditions for the planned flight. However, they are not authorised to decide whether a flight should be carried out. This responsibility remains with the pilot. The service is available around the clock - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Personal advice on site
In addition to telephone counselling, the DWD operates five regional advice centres in:
- Berlin
- Food
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Munich
Pilots can take advantage of personalised advice on site. This is particularly helpful in complex weather situations where a detailed discussion is necessary.
Digitalisation: the website as an alternative
Despite the popularity of telephone counselling, more and more pilots are turning to digital services. The website flugwetter.de offers comprehensive meteorological information for self-briefing. Relevant data such as METARs, TAFs and map material can be accessed here for a fee.
How is the telephone counselling service used?
According to a report by the Aviation magazine in 2022, the DWD recorded around 24,500 calls in its five advice centres. This shows that telephone counselling is still important despite the growing number of online alternatives, especially for less digitally savvy users or in situations where a quick, individual consultation is necessary.
Significance for general aviation
The new regulations are part of a trend towards the simplification and modernisation of aviation services. Standardised costs ensure greater transparency, and the constant availability of advisors ensures that all pilots can obtain reliable information on weather conditions at all times.
Conclusion
The DWD's aviation weather advisory service remains an indispensable tool for general aviation in Germany. While the costs for telephone enquiries are rising slightly, users benefit from a clearer pricing model and the constant availability of qualified advisors. At the same time, the digital platform represents a modern alternative that is becoming increasingly important. For pilots, the following still applies: no aircraft will take off without a weather briefing - because safety is the top priority.
Source references:
Aerotelegraph
