If you are a pilot in Canada and you wish to speak to Nav Canada for a weather briefing or to file a flight plan there is a simple number to remember. It’s 1-866-WX-BRIEF. If you call this number it allows you access to all sorts of information. Not being a “Real Pilot” yet I never gave a second thought to what they offered at the other end of this line. That is until today. I had never called for a weather briefing as I always obtained it on the internet beforehand at http://flightplanning.navcanada.ca where they have all sorts of wonderful tools to give you everything you need to plan your flight. While I was painstakingly decoding METAR’s and GFA’s all I had to do was pick up the phone?!! I feel pretty silly now.
I created a flight plan to Cornwall, CYCC. The flight would be done today in a Cessna 172. The guy who answered gave me a great briefing and he offered that it was very nice day to fly. I can’t believe how easy that was and it didn’t cost me anything. (I’m sure it cost someone something but…) I will likely call them more often now as it gives me a quick outlook and with minimal fuss I can get the outlook as well as winds aloft and any warnings in one quick session.
Like all times flying, it pays to communicate. Just have to open your mouth!