Weather information provided to pilots: Thunderstorms in the terminal area

The article evaluates current system of weather information provision to pilots of commercial aircraft in flight. Specifically it focuses on what is provided in case of thunderstorms present in the terminal area opposed to what is needed from pilot’s perspective for effective decision making. Contents and availability of aviation weather messages are considered and suggestions for optimization of information sources are made. Benefits of the provision of additional information containing the position of cumulonimbus clouds are explained on the examples of operational scenarios. The scenarios are based on historical weather data, however solutions and decisions are fictional. Explanation of different scenario solutions based on information available in the cockpit is provided and the consequences evaluated