Familiarity with weather conditions

This regulation establishes who must be familiar with weather conditions before a flight begins, and the requirement differs by operation type.

For domestic and flag operations: The aircraft dispatcher is responsible for being thoroughly familiar with reported and forecast weather along the route before releasing any flight. This reflects the dispatcher's shared responsibility for flight planning and operational control.

For supplemental operations: Since these operations typically don't use dispatchers, the pilot in command must personally ensure they're thoroughly familiar with weather conditions before beginning the flight.

"Thoroughly familiar" means more than a quick glance—it requires understanding current conditions, forecasts, and potential weather hazards along the entire route. This knowledge is essential for making sound decisions about whether to proceed with the flight and what alternatives might be needed. The regulation ensures someone with operational authority has adequate weather awareness before committing to the flight.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*