Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B) - New Version Available

Posted by BeechDude@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 13 comments

Just a quick FYI, the Aviation Weather Handbook has been updated to 28B and is now posted on the FAA website. If you’ve got a checkride coming up, make sure you’re using the current version.

Overall, there don’t appear to be any major changes. It’s about 25 pages shorter, and several figures have been updated.

Summary of Changes

This handbook cancels and supersedes FAA-H-8083-28, Aviation Weather Handbook, dated November 25, 2022, and contains several changes and updates. While this revision contains updated information, it retains the organization and same order of presentation in earlier editions. Some updates to graphics and editorial wording changes have been made for clarity or consistency. We suggest that the content changes, which are listed below, be thoroughly reviewed.

• Updated the Preface.

• Added a new Section 3.2.1, Understanding Weather Forecasts, which describes the differences between deterministic and probabilistic forecasts.

• In Table 3-23, Weather Element: Pressure, added “RTMA” to the “Observations” column for the “T, G, V” Type row.

• In Table 4-1, Approximations of the Composition of a Dry Earth’s Atmosphere, changed the percentages to reflect the change of the carbon dioxide (CO2) content (by volume) from “0.033%” to “0.042%.”

• Added a new Section 13.6, Convection, which defines convective weather.

• In Section 16.2.6.3, Intense Vertical-Axis Vortices, added a new Section 16.2.6.3.1, Dust Devils, added a new Figure 16-13, NWS Dust Devils: A Life Cycle, and new Figure 16-14, Accident Damage Caused by a Dust Devil.

• Added a new Figure 20-3, Carburetor Icing.

• In Section 22.8.2, Thunderstorm Avoidance Guidance, item 3 of the list beginning with “If unable to avoid penetrating a thunderstorm,” changed the penetration altitude’s freezing level from “15 °C” to “-15 °C.”

• In Section 24.3.1.2, ASOS Reporting, in the last sentence of the note under the fifth bullet, changed the wording from “FG” to “BR.”

• In Table 24-2, SPECI Criteria, fourth row, second column, added the words “or Dust/Sand Whirl (Dust Devil).”

• In Section 24.4.3.13.2, Funnel Cloud, added the words “DUST/SAND WHIRL (DUST DEVIL).”

• In Section 24.5.1.1.1, Urgent PIREPs, added the words “or dust/sand whirls (dust devils).”

• In Section 24.5.1.7, Flight Visibility and Weather (/WX), third paragraph, and Section 24.5.1.12.2, Funnel Cloud, Tornado, Waterspout, and Dust/Sand Whirls, added information to include dust/sand whirls (dust devils).

• In Table 24-8, WSR-88D Weather Radar Precipitation Intensity Terminology, changed the Reflectivity (dBZ) Ranges for the “Light” and “Moderate” rows.

• In Section 25.7, Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA), added verbiage to account for altimeter setting being approved for use through Information for Operators (InFO) 24001, National Weather Service (NWS) Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA).

• In Figure 25-28, RTMA Surface Temperature and Altimeter Setting Example, replaced the previous RTMA table and updated the figure title.

• In Section 27.1, Introduction, added the phrase “Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS) and Consolidated Storm Prediction for Aviation (CoSPA)” to the list of “Additional Convection Products.”

• In Section 27.3.2.10.2, Temporary (TEMPO) Group, fourth paragraph, corrected the verbiage from “the 17th day of the month” to “the 22nd day of the month.”

• Added a new Section 27.16.5, Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS) and Consolidated Storm Prediction for Aviation (CoSPA).

• Added new Figure 27-41, CIWS and CoSPA.