Flight Chop is built using technologies such as Spring Boot, Bootstrap, Mapbox, Font Awesome, OpenAI and CockroachDB. The Flight Chop web application is deployed on Google's Kubernetes Engine (GKE).

Flight Chop data is imported every 10 minutes from various end points provided by the Aviation Weather Center. A detailed log of all data imports can be found here.

A PIREP stands for Pilot Report. It's a report filed by a pilot regarding the weather conditions or any other significant in-flight observations they encounter during their flight. These reports are valuable for other pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorologists as they provide real-time information about conditions such as turbulence, icing, visibility, and other factors that might affect aviation safety. PIREPs help improve the overall understanding of weather conditions in the skies.

Pilot Reports (PIREPs), Urgent Pilot Reports, and Aircraft Reports serve different purposes in aviation:

Pilot Reports (PIREPs): These are reports made by pilots in-flight to provide real-time information about weather conditions, such as turbulence, icing, visibility, and other atmospheric phenomena. PIREPs are crucial for other pilots and air traffic controllers to anticipate and navigate through potentially hazardous conditions. They are generally voluntary reports provided by pilots to enhance the safety of aviation operations.

Urgent Pilot Reports: These are specific reports made by pilots when they encounter critical situations or emergencies that require immediate attention. Urgent Pilot Reports might include urgent weather changes, in-flight issues with the aircraft, or other emergencies. They take precedence over regular PIREPs due to the urgent nature of the information and require immediate action or attention from air traffic control.

Aircraft Reports: This term can encompass a broader range of reports related to an aircraft's status or condition. It may refer to reports filed by maintenance crews detailing any issues, repairs, or checks performed on the aircraft. Aircraft Reports could also include reports submitted by flight crew after a flight, documenting any incidents, technical problems, or noteworthy occurrences during the journey.

In essence, Pilot Reports (PIREPs) focus on real-time weather conditions reported by pilots, Urgent Pilot Reports are specifically for urgent situations demanding immediate attention, and Aircraft Reports cover a wider scope of reports related to an aircraft's status, maintenance, or incidents.

A SIGMET stands for Significant Meteorological Information. It's an advisory issued by meteorological agencies or aviation authorities to alert pilots and other aviation personnel about significant weather phenomena that may affect the safety of all aircraft.

SIGMETs are issued for various severe weather conditions, including but not limited to:

• Severe or extreme turbulence
• Severe icing
• Volcanic ash clouds
• Widespread dust storms

These advisories are designed to warn pilots about hazardous weather conditions that could pose risks to flight safety. SIGMETs cover a broader area and focus on severe weather phenomena that might impact aviation operations, ensuring that pilots are aware of and can avoid these potentially dangerous conditions during their flights.

As a passenger flying through a SIGMET-affected area, here's what you might expect:

• Turbulence: Depending on the severity of turbulence mentioned in the SIGMET, you might experience increased shaking or bouncing during the flight. The aircraft might encounter pockets of air causing abrupt movements. Flight attendants might advise passengers to remain seated and fasten seat belts.
• Possible Discomfort: Severe turbulence can lead to discomfort or anxiety among passengers. It's essential to follow the instructions of the flight crew and remain calm. Engaging in activities that distract or relax you, such as listening to music or focusing on breathing exercises, can help manage any unease.
• Changes in Flight Path: Pilots may opt for alternate routes or altitudes to avoid the worst of the weather conditions mentioned in the SIGMET. This might lead to minor deviations from the original flight plan. Flight crews will keep passengers informed about any changes and the reasons behind them.
• Safety Measures: Flight attendants might temporarily suspend in-flight services, such as meal or beverage service, during turbulent conditions for the safety of passengers and crew. They might also secure cabin items to prevent them from falling or shifting during turbulence.
• Communication from Crew: The flight crew will likely provide updates and reassurance to passengers, explaining the situation and the steps being taken to ensure a safe and smooth flight. They'll follow standard procedures to manage any weather-related challenges.
• Possible Delays or Diversions: In extreme cases, the aircraft might need to divert to an alternate airport to avoid hazardous weather conditions. This could lead to unexpected delays in reaching the destination.

It's important to remain calm, follow the instructions of the flight crew, and stay seated with your seatbelt fastened when advised, especially during turbulent conditions. Airlines prioritize passenger safety, and the crew is trained to handle various situations, including flying through adverse weather conditions described in a SIGMET.

An AIRMET stands for Airmen's Meteorological Information. It's a type of weather advisory issued by meteorological agencies or aviation authorities to alert pilots and other aviation personnel about weather conditions that might affect flight safety.

AIRMETs provide information about less severe weather phenomena that could potentially impact flight operations, particularly for smaller aircraft or specific types of flying. They typically cover conditions such as:

• Moderate icing
• Moderate turbulence
• Low-level wind shear
• Instrument flight rule (IFR) conditions

AIRMETs are focused on weather conditions that might not be severe enough to warrant a SIGMET but could still pose risks to aviation, especially for smaller aircraft or specific types of operations. They help pilots make informed decisions about flight planning, route selection, and necessary precautions to ensure safe flying in less severe but still potentially hazardous weather conditions.

If you're flying through an area affected by an AIRMET, here's what you might expect as a passenger:

• Possible Turbulence: AIRMETs often include information about moderate turbulence. While this might not be as severe as turbulence mentioned in a SIGMET, you might still experience some shaking or bumpiness during the flight. Flight attendants might advise passengers to remain seated and keep seat belts fastened.
• Minor Discomfort: Moderate turbulence or other weather conditions mentioned in the AIRMET could cause mild discomfort. Following instructions from the flight crew, staying seated, and remaining calm can help manage any unease.
• Precautionary Measures: Flight attendants might temporarily halt in-flight services, like serving drinks or meals, during moderate turbulence for the safety of passengers and crew. They may secure loose items in the cabin to prevent them from moving during potential bumps.
• Updates from Crew: The flight crew will likely provide updates regarding the weather situation and any necessary adjustments to the flight path or altitude. Communication is key to ensuring passengers are informed and reassured about the safety measures being taken.
• Potential Delays or Minor Route Adjustments: The aircraft might need to make minor deviations from the original flight path to avoid the weather conditions described in the AIRMET. This might result in minor delays or alterations to the route.
• Maintain Awareness and Follow Crew Instructions: Passengers are encouraged to stay informed by listening to announcements from the flight crew and adhering to their instructions. Staying seated with seat belts fastened when advised, especially during turbulent conditions, is crucial for safety.

AIRMET-affected flights might encounter mild to moderate weather conditions that could cause slight discomfort, but airlines prioritize passenger safety. Flight crews are trained to manage these situations and will take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and comfortable flight.

SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) and AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information) advisories are both weather advisories issued by meteorological agencies or aviation authorities to alert pilots and aviation personnel about significant weather phenomena. Here are the key differences between SIGMET and AIRMET:

SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information):

• Purpose: SIGMET advisories are issued for significant weather phenomena that may affect the safety of all aircraft. They cover severe weather conditions such as severe icing, severe or extreme turbulence, volcanic ash, and widespread dust storms.
• Scope: SIGMET advisories have a larger geographical scope and cover a broader area where the severe weather phenomenon is occurring or forecasted to occur.
• Issuance: SIGMETs are issued as soon as possible when the specified criteria for significant weather phenomena are observed or forecasted.

AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information):

• Purpose: AIRMET advisories are issued for weather phenomena that might be hazardous to small aircraft or affect specific types of operations, such as visual flight rules (VFR) flying. They cover less severe weather conditions such as moderate icing, moderate turbulence, and low-level wind shear.
• Scope: AIRMETs have a more localized scope, often covering smaller regions or specific flight paths where the weather conditions might pose risks to certain types of aircraft or operations.
• Issuance: AIRMETs are issued regularly at scheduled intervals (typically every 6 hours) to provide updated information about weather conditions affecting aviation.

In summary, SIGMET advisories are for more severe and widespread weather phenomena that pose significant risks to all aircraft, while AIRMET advisories cover less severe weather conditions that might pose risks to specific types of aircraft or operations, often localized to smaller regions. Both advisories are essential for pilots and aviation personnel to make informed decisions regarding flight safety.

The Wake Turbulence Category of an aircraft refers to a classification system used in aviation to determine the expected strength and duration of wake turbulence generated by an aircraft during takeoff and landing. This classification helps air traffic controllers maintain safe separation between aircraft to prevent potential hazards caused by wake turbulence.

The Wake Turbulence Categories are categorized based on the maximum takeoff weight of an aircraft:

• Light (L): Aircraft weighing less than 7,000 kg (15,500 lbs).
• Small (S): Aircraft weighing between 7,000 kg (15,500 lbs) and 136,000 kg (300,000 lbs).
• Medium (M): Aircraft weighing between 136,000 kg (300,000 lbs) and 300,000 kg (660,000 lbs).
• Heavy (H): Aircraft weighing more than 300,000 kg (660,000 lbs).
• Super (J): This is an unofficial category for aircraft like the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8, which generate exceptionally strong wake turbulence due to their size and weight.

Controllers use these categories to determine the appropriate separation distances between aircraft during takeoff, landing, and while in flight to ensure the safety of other aircraft following behind to avoid encountering hazardous wake turbulence.