IFR Flights of 13MIKE

by Fred J. Calfior and Douglas W. Miller

WEATHER BRIEF

You:

"Hello! I would like to request a weather brief for an IFR cross country. The tail number of the aircraft I'll be flying is November 9413MIKE, a Cessna 182 RG. From Block Island Airport, I'll be leaving in one half hour. Cruise altitude is five thousand feet, and I'll be flying Victor three seventy four to Marthas Vineyard Airport. ETE will be fifty minutes and this is the checkride for my instrument rating!"

Bridgeport FSS:

"There's a flight precaution of an intense line of thunderstorms one five miles wide moving northeastward at thirty five knots, south and east of Hampton with tops at two five thousand.

Your entire area is dominated by a low pressure system.

Okay! Let me see here. Block Island is currently reporting an estimated ceiling two hundred overcast, visibility two, rain and fog, temperature eight three, wind two seven zero at one five.

Altimeter is two niner seven eight.

Enroute, ceilings are generally one thousand broken, four thousand five hundred overcast with widely scattered thunderstorms.

Weather at Marthas Vineyard is measured ceiling one hundred overcast, visibility one half mile in fog, temperature eight zero, dewpoint seven eight, wind two six zero at one zero, and altimeter two niner seven seven.

No PIREPS.

The forecast for Block Island is ceiling two hundred overcast, visibility one and a half mile, rain showers and fog, wind two seven zero at one eight.

Enroute, ceilings are forecast eight hundred broken, four thousand overcast, with widely scattered thunderstorms. Cumulonimbus tops are forecast at two seven thousand.

Terminal forecast for Marthas Vineyard is one hundred overcast, visibility one half mile in thunderstorms, rain showers and fog, wind two five zero at one three.

Winds aloft for six thousand feet, which will work for your cruise altitude, are forecast two eight zero at three two.

No NOTAMs L or D in effect for you, and that completes the brief."

FILING THE FLIGHT PLAN -

You:

"Let me file, then, and receive a clearance from ATC."

Bridgeport FSS:

"All right, I'll get oriented here on the terminal - yeah, that's it! Okay, give me what you got!"

You:

"IFR, November 9413MIKE, Cessna 182 RG - slash A, one twenty true, Departure - BID, two three four five Zulu, five thousand feet, Route - BID NDB, Victor two sixty eight MINNK, Victor three seventy four MVY, BORST - Destination - MVY. ETE one plus zero zero. Six plus one zero fuel on board, Alternate - New Bedford Regional, [YOUR NAME - CONTACT PHONE NUMBER - HOME BASE], two on board, Red over white."

Bridgeport FSS:

"All right! I've got it! Let me get with Boston and I'll get right back to you for your clearance.
You there? I've got your clearance.
ATC clears Cessna 9413MIKE to Marthas Vineyard Airport as filed. Maintain five thousand feet. Contact Ocean Departure frequency one one niner point four five. Squawk three one one six. Clearance Void at zero zero zero zero Zulu. Time now two three one five."

You:

"Okay! I'm cleared to Marthas Vineyard Airport as filed, five thousand feet, Ocean Departure on one one niner point four five, squawk three one one six. Clearance Void at zero zero zero zero Zulu. Thanks for your brief! It was great talking to you!"

Bridgeport FSS:

"Readback correct. You're welcome! Have yourself a safe and enjoyable flight."

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