Local Current Weather
AWOS/ASOS:
Automated Weather Observing Systems and Automated Surface Observing Systems are on-field automated services that transmit over a COM or NAV (VOR) frequency. This is the best choice to determine the local basic weather information such as winds, cloud layers, ceilings and local altimeter settings. The following are our local stations.
| Airport Identifier | AWOS Frequency | Airport Identifier | Phone |
| KOKK (Kokomo) | 113.50 | 8I3 (Glenndale) | 765-452-3014 |
| 5I4 (Sheridan) | Use Indy Executive 120.725 | I72 (Westfield) | 317-769-3154 |
Each airport has a windsock or wind T to physically show wind direction, which should always be primary.
ATIS
Automated Terminal Information System. Although the “A” stands for automated it’s actually manually updated at least once per hour. ATIS is normally available at “Towered Fields” and includes runway and taxiway information.
Obtaining Weather
There are several services that offer aviation weather products. It’s important to make sure the service you use is recognized by the FAA as a valid source of aviation weather. The following are services which we recommend, to get an idea of what the weather will be like anywhere from current conditions, extending to the next week.
Weather (only) Apps & Websites
www.wunderground.com (Free, radar, big picture, hourly forecast, not detailed. Apple & Android)
weather.com (Free, same assets as weatherunderground)
aviationweather.gov (Free & Official Government weather , easy to use)
https://weathermeister.com (PAID, best layout, some flight planning included)
www.windy.com (FREE, Enhanced Radar w/wind).
www.myradar.com (FREE, Radar, Android and Apple)
Avia Weather (Android) gives you METARS and TAFs.
Aerovie (Apple) Forecasts, METARS, and TAFs, some flight planning.
Weather Live (Apple and Android) Local wx conditions, radar.
Flight Planning and Weather Apps & Websites
Foreflight (PAID, links up with Garmin, Avidyne and others. Can only be used on Apple tablets/phones.)
Garmin Pilot (PAID, links up only with Garmin Products. Can be used on Apple or Android tablets/phones.)
Avare (FREE, Android mobile.)
FltPlan Go (FREE, Android, mobile and desktop)
FlyQ (PAID, cheaper, works on several different avionics products. Apple or Android tablets/phones.)
www.1800wxbrief.com is the official FAA Flight Service website, which is a must have for all pilots. For those “low tech” pilot types, you can also just call the number 1-800-wxbrief and talk to a “briefer” in person. The website is not as user friendly as some.
www.weathermeister.com, a paid service that is laid out like an excel spreadsheet, with color coding and other tools that make it easier interpret the weather. We use this for our daily local flights as well as trips, in order to see METARS and TAFs for our area or entire route of flight. It also helps with winds aloft to determine best enroute altitudes. It has weather charts, NOTAMS, specialty airspace such as TFRs, flight planning capabilities; everything you need to plan a trip.
WingX, https://www.hiltonsoftware.com/index-old-website.html PAID, Apple tablets/phones. An alternative to ForeFlight.
DroidEFB, https://droidefb.com/our-identity/, PAID, , Android tablets/phones. An alternative to Foreflight and Garmin Pilot.
www.navmonster.com is a FREE site and works about the same as weathermeister.com (listed above).
Skyvector.com (FREE, very easy to use)