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Non-controlled operations

Weather and forecasting

Flight planning

Controlled aerodromes and operations

Explaining the rules – Understanding icing conditions

Planning a flight at 10,000 feet or below? Don’t overlook the year-round risk of icing.

Our latest animation offers practical tips on recognising icing conditions, interpreting forecasts, and understanding icing probability – drawn from CASA’s Visual Flight Rules Guide.

Understanding icing conditions

Videos

Aviation decision making pilot safety hub tile

Aviation decision-making

Watch a recording of an AvSafety webinar on aviation decision-making for insights from an ATSB investigator.

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Windsock interpretation

Explaining the rules – Windsock interpretation

Watch our animated explainer for practical guidance on windsock interpretation, drawn from CASA's VFRG.

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A plane sitting on a runway with the sun coming out from behind some clouds

Mastering aviation weather forecasts

Watch our AvSafety webinar on interpreting weather forecasts with expert meteorologists from the Bureau.

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Flight planning - Flight Safety Australia

Talking to the tower

Get expert flight planning advice straight from an air traffic controller in this Flight Safety Australia video.

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Crash comic - Desert storm

Crash comic – Desert storm

A storm, low fuel and a flooded airstrip led to this pilot’s unexpected landing. Find out how they handled it.

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Visual meteorological conditions

Explaining the rules – VMC criteria for helicopters

Refresh your understanding of VMC criteria for helicopters based on the VFRG.

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A group of aviation experts sitting around a table

AvSafety investigation – Deteriorating weather

Our expert panel analyses a collision caused by improper fuel management near Dairy Creek, WA.

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Weather forecasts

Explaining the rules – Weather forecasts

Stay updated on the rules for flying without a weather forecast before take-off, based on the VFRG.

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A view of an airstrip over the edge of an airplane's wing, surrounded by green bushland and with the ocean in the distance behind it

Wet season tips

Get top tips on flying in the wet season for VFR pilots. Know what to do if the weather deteriorates.

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Visual meterological conditions

Explaining the rules – VMC criteria

Refresh your knowledge of VMC criteria by watching our new animated explainer video.

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Audio

A plane flying over water with clouds in the distance

Earth, wind and water

Heavy showers, low ceilings, and reduced visibility lead this new CPL to expect the unexpected.

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A beach with an image of frost overlaying the sky

Tropical chill

Carburettor icing conditions don’t always align with cold weather on the ground, as one pilot learnt in this close call.

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A blurry plane landing with a reflection on the water underneath it

Bogged down in assumptions

Complacency, assumptions, and waterlogged soil brought this pilot down in this close call.

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A dark, wispy cloud hangs in the sky

Clouded thinking

'…cloud was fast approaching. 'What are you doing?' I asked. He replied, 'I don’t know.' Two low hour pilots drift into danger.

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Small plane flying with a lightning strike in the background

They say it never strikes twice

A new instructor is jolted out of complacency by an unexpected thunderstorm in this close call.

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An airplane flying through a foggy blue background, with snowflake images around it

The ice bucket challenge

One pilot’s tale of surviving a severe icing incident gives him a newfound appreciation for the power of nature and new respect for the weather.

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The sky darkened by heavy clouds

What did I think I was doing?

A pilot boldly sets off in marginal weather…now he’s the first to admit he shouldn’t have been out there.

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A female pilot setting the radio of a small airplane

AvSafety Podcast – Weather in a changing environment

Learn to interpret weather forecasts and be prepared when conditions change.

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Events and resources

A plane sitting on a taxiway at night

Cold fronts: preparation and awareness

Cold fronts present unique challenges. An experienced pilot shares tips for navigating them safely.

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Fixed-wing pilot quiz

Fixed-wing pilot quiz

Are you confident interpreting weather forecasts? When might you encounter rime ice? Challenge yourself to get 100%.

Quiz Fixed-wing
A graphic of firefighting aircraft flying around a bushfire

Smoke is no joke

The atmospheric effects of bushfires are a distinct aviation hazard. Learn from pilots who have experienced smoke haze.

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A windsock on an aerodrome

Gone with the wind

Learn how seasoned pilots recognise, avoid and manage the effects of wind shear.

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Helicopter pilot quiz

Test your knowledge

How well do you know your VMC criteria? When might you encounter radiation fog? Challenge yourself with our quiz!

Quiz Helicopter
A woman wearing a high visibility vest looks out across an airport with an aeroplane parked behind her

Bureau of Meteorology knowledge centre

Understanding the weather forecast is key to safe flying. Learn about GAFs, TAFs, wind charts, and more.

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Dark grey clouds covering the sky

Caught in the clouds

Learn how thorough flight planning can help pilots avoid the trap of VFR into IMC.

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An aviation safety advisor presenting an AvSafety Seminar

AvSafety seminars

Join our Aviation Safety Advisors for an in-person pilot seminar near you. Refresh your knowledge, ask questions, and stay up to date.

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International resources

SKYbrary: Volcanic ash

SKYbrary: Volcanic ash

Flight into a volcanic ash cloud is considered unsafe and should be avoided. Find out more.

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A graphic of aeroplane flying towards a runway to land, with a downburst between them

Wind shear: an invisible enemy to pilots?

Wind shear can be serious. Learn about detection, avoidance, and recovery in this Airbus article.

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A helicopter flying through a cloudy sky

56 Seconds to Live

Experience VFR into IMC from the perspective of a helicopter pilot in this video produced by the US Helicopter Safety Team.

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A graphic showing the area of wake turbulence behind one aeroplane hitting another aeroplane behind it

SKYclip: En-route Wake Turbulence

Wake turbulence is a concern not just during climb and approach but also en-route.

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Accident case study: Hazardous Attitudes

Hazardous attitudes case study

In this video from the AOPA Air Safety Institute, we learn how hazardous attitudes can betray pilots.

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An aeroplane on the ground spinning up its propeller even though the sky is covered in clouds

VFR into IMC research lessons

VFR-IMC is a leading cause of aviation accidents. Read the latest research on pilot decision-making.

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A plane flying over mist-shrouded mountain peaks

Inexplicable

Weather was a major factor but why 2 experienced pilots died on the New Zealand appears to be a classic 'Swiss cheese model' tragedy.

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Resources from our store

Safety resources for purchase or free download.
The cover of the Visual Flight Rules Guide

Visual Flight Rules Guide

The VFRG explains visual flight rules in plain English and uses practical examples to help pilots prepare, plan, and fly safely.

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Part 61 guide for helicopter category flight crew licensing plain English guide

Part 61 guide for helicopter pilots

A new Plain English guide for helicopter pilots, trainers, aerial work, and air transport operators.

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Cover of the Part 91 plain English guide

Part 91 Plain English Guide

Our plain English guide makes it easy to understand the new general operating and flight regulations for all pilots.

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The cover of an AvSafety card about flying into bad weather

AvSafety card – Flying into bad weather

An educational card with information on identifying and avoiding the red flags of poor weather.

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The title pages of many AvSafety cards

AvSafety cards

Enhance your knowledge of crucial safety topics with our popular A5 AvSafety cards – now available for free download.

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Carburettor icing chart

Carburettor icing probability chart

Essential for every pilot’s flight bag. Keep track of your risk of carby icing using this probability and fact chart.

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A graphic image of clouds full of gears, aeroplanes, and electronics

Human factors for pilots

A kit with workbooks, case studies, and videos covering all aspects of human factors for pilots.

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A picture of a cloud beneath steadily-less-transparent strips of blue color

Weather booklet

A handy booklet with aviation reference material from the Bureau on GAF, TAF, METAR, SPECI, AIRMET, and SIGMET.

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Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//resources-and-education/pilot-safety-hub/weather-and-forecasting
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