FAA has published AC 91-92: Pilot’s Guide to a Preflight Briefing (March 15, 2021), which:
…[P]rovides an educational roadmap for the development and implementation of preflight self-briefings, including planning, weather interpretation, and risk identification/mitigation skills. Pilots adopting these guidelines will be better prepared to interpret and utilize real-time weather information before departure and en route, in the cockpit, via technology like Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and via third-party providers. This AC provides guidance for required preflight actions under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, § 91.103, which states, “Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.” This AC will also encourage pilots to utilize Flight Service in a consultative capacity, when needed.
The AC supplants the General Aviation Pilot’s Guide to Preflight Weather Planning, Weather Self-Briefings, and Weather Decision Making (PDF) published in 2006.
The AC includes checklists to help you collect and use weather reports and forecasts, NOTAMs, and other information required by 14 CFR § 91.103, and the AC updates references to sources such as FSS (via Leidos), ADS-B, and websites that provide supplemental information about special-use airspace, charts, and other data.
The first two background paragraphs of the AC include language that encourages pilots to use FSS as “a consultative resource that can be utilized when needed.”
6.1 Flight Service (https://www.1800wxbrief.com) provides service and value to users of the NAS, leveraging advanced technologies to safely and efficiently deliver Flight Services in the continental United States (CONUS), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. Flight Service provides continuous assessment of Flight Services based on feedback and continued research and development of new aviation technology to enhance efficiency and add value for pilots. Flight Service increases aviation safety by making aeronautical information and METI accessible where and when you need it with the evolution of pilot weather briefings conducted using automated resources.
6.2 The FAA encourages innovation in the delivery of services to pilots. User preferences for automation and new distribution methods make communication with pilots easier and faster. Pilots are encouraged to utilize online automated weather resources to conduct self-briefings prior to contacting Flight Service. Pilots who have preflight weather/risk assessment and risk mitigation skills are better prepared to make in-flight decisions as real-time weather information is consumed. This allows Flight Service to become a consultative resource that can be utilized when needed.
In section 7 GENERAL OPERATING PRACTICES, paragraph 7.1 Preflight Actions also notes that:
However, most pilots have become more accustomed to performing a self-briefing than calling an FSS. The FAA considers that a self-briefing may be compliant with current Federal aviation regulations. By self-briefing, pilots can often improve their knowledge of weather and aeronautical information. Flight Service personnel are available should a pilot need assistance.
These statements align with the FAA Plans for FSS Modernization:
The FAA’s Future Flight Services Program (FFSP) vision is to transform and modernize the delivery of flight services over a 15-year period. The FAA believes that costs can be reduced by focusing on changing user behavior and migrating to automated, self-assisted service delivery models, while still maintaining quality of service and safety.
For more background about preflight briefings, see What Qualifies as an Official Preflight Briefing?
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