Weather Go / No-Go Decision Framework

Weather Decisions Define Operational Safety

Every RPAS operation involves a decision:
Do we proceed, delay, or stop?
This decision must be based on:

• Actual conditions
• Forecast conditions
• Operational limits
• Risk tolerance

For professional operators, this is not a judgement call made on instinct. It is a structured decision-making process.

The Purpose of a Go / No-Go Framework

A structured weather decision framework ensures:

• Consistency across operations
• Clear justification for decisions
• Reduced reliance on subjective judgement
• Alignment with procedures and approvals

It allows operators to:

Make decisions that are repeatable, defensible, and safe

1. Assess Current Conditions

Evaluate what is happening right now:

• Wind speed and gusts
• Visibility
• Cloud
• Precipitation
• Temperature

Do not rely on:

• Forecasts alone
• Ground-level observations only

Confirm conditions at the operating site and altitude

2. Assess Forecast Conditions

Evaluate what is likely to happen:

• Are conditions stable or changing?
• Are winds increasing?
• Is weather deteriorating?
• Are storm systems approaching?

Use:

• Aviation weather products
• High-resolution tools such as Windy and Meteoblue

If conditions are trending worse, treat the operation as higher risk

3. Assess Against Limits

Compare conditions to:

• Aircraft limitations
• Operator procedures
• Site-specific constraints

Examples:

• Maximum wind limits
• Visibility requirements
• Operational restrictions

If any limit is exceeded → NO GO

GO

Proceed with the operation if:

• Conditions are within all limits
• Forecast conditions are stable
• Risks are identified and controlled

CONDITIONAL GO

Proceed with caution if:

• Conditions are within limits but close to thresholds
• Additional controls are applied
• Increased monitoring is in place

Examples:

• Reduced flight duration
• Lower operating altitude
• Increased separation

NO GO

Do not proceed if:

• Conditions exceed limits
• Weather is deteriorating
• Situational awareness is reduced
• Risk cannot be effectively controlled

There is no operational justification for proceeding in unsafe conditions

Trigger Points for NO GO Decisions

Operations should not proceed if:

• Wind exceeds aircraft or procedural limits
• Gusts create unstable flight conditions
• Visibility is insufficient to maintain awareness
• Precipitation is present (for most RPAS)
• Thunderstorms are nearby
• Weather is rapidly changing

Dynamic Decision Making

Weather decisions are not made once.

They must be:
Continuously reassessed during the operation
Operators should:

• Monitor conditions in real time
• Be prepared to stop operations
• Recognise early signs of deterioration

Common Decision-Making Errors

We frequently see operators:

• Continuing because they are already on site
• Relying on outdated forecasts
• Ignoring gusts and variability
• Pressuring themselves to complete the job
• Normalising marginal conditions

These are operational traps — not just mistakes

The Role of the CRP

The Chief Remote Pilot is responsible for ensuring:

• Clear operational limits are defined
• Decision-making frameworks are in place
• Pilots are trained to apply them correctly
• Unsafe decisions are not normalised

For CRP candidates, this is critical:

You are not just making decisions — you are setting the standard for how decisions are made

A Practical Decision Checklist

Before every operation, ask:

• Are current conditions within limits?
• Are forecast conditions stable?
• Can I maintain control and situational awareness?
• Are risks identified and controlled?

If any answer is uncertain:

Delay or cancel the operation

Integrating Weather Into Your Operations

A strong operator will:

• Embed weather limits into SOPs
• Use structured decision frameworks
• Train pilots in decision-making
• Avoid reliance on judgement alone

How Uncrewed Approvals Can Help

We support operators to:

• Develop operational decision frameworks
• Define weather limits and controls
• Integrate weather into SOPs and SMS
• Train pilots to make consistent decisions