Priorities of Weather Information in Various Phases of Flight

Questionnaire data were obtained from 71 pilots, some categorized as novice pilots and others as experienced pilots according to overall flight hours. The form required the participants to rank various items of weather information by phase of flight on a scale of relative importance. Responses indicated that both novice and experienced pilots rank weather factors similarly with a few exceptions, that many factors' ratings vary considerably by phase of flight, and pilots having more experience tend to rate weather information factors as being more important overall than do those having less experience. The data may be useful in establishing prioritization schemes for the presentation of weather data in the cockpit, particularly in the context of multifunction displays.