Weather Is a Core Operational Consideration
Weather is one of the most significant factors affecting RPAS operations.
It directly influences:
For a professional operator, weather is not something to “check quickly”.
It is something that must be:
Understood, assessed, and actively managed
Responsibility for Weather Assessment
Under a Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC), the responsibility for weather assessment sits with:
The decision to proceed with a flight must always consider:
Wind
Wind is the most common limiting factor in RPAS operations.
Operators should consider:
Strong or gusty winds can:
Always assess wind at operating height — not just at ground level
Visibility
Visibility affects:
Reduced visibility may be caused by:
If you cannot clearly see the operating area, the operation may not be suitable
Cloud
Cloud impacts operations by:
Low cloud can:
Precipitation
Rain and moisture can affect:
Even light rain can:
Most RPAS are not designed for operation in precipitation
Temperature
Temperature affects:
Cold conditions may:
Hot conditions may:
Thunderstorms and Unstable Conditions
Thunderstorms present significant hazards:
RPAS operations should not be conducted in or near thunderstorms
Weather Information Sources
Operators should obtain weather information from reliable aviation sources.
This may include:
However, it is important to understand the limitations of official aviation weather products.
Aviation forecasts are typically prepared hours in advance and cover large geographic areas
For RPAS operations, this can mean:
Using High-Resolution Weather Tools
For most RPAS operations, additional tools should be used to supplement aviation forecasts.
Commonly used platforms include:
These tools provide:
These tools are particularly useful for site-specific planning and short-duration operations
Decoding Aviation Weather
Aviation weather products use standardised abbreviations and formatting.
To support operators, Uncrewed Approvals provides a:
Downloadable Aviation Weather Decode Card
This resource is designed to:
Operators should be comfortable interpreting aviation weather, even if they supplement it with other tools
Weather and Operational Decision Making
Weather assessment is not just about identifying conditions.
It is about making a decision:
If conditions are marginal:
Do not proceed
Common Mistakes
We frequently see operators:
Weather in the CRP Assessment Context
For candidates preparing for a Chief Remote Pilot assessment, you should be able to:
Weather is often assessed through:
Practical Approach to Weather Assessment
A simple operational approach:
How Uncrewed Approvals Can Help
We provide training and preparation resources that help operators:
Yes — weather must be assessed before each operation.
Not always — they should be supplemented with higher-resolution weather tools.
Often yes — but all weather elements must be considered together.
Generally no — most RPAS are not designed for precipitation.
The Remote Pilot, under the oversight of the CRP.
Weather is one of the few factors you cannot control.
Professional operators recognise this and plan accordingly.
