FAA Lets Pilots Use Non-NWS Weather Reports
Published Date: 5/22/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating its rules to use weather reports made by the FAA and other approved sources instead of the National Weather Service, which no longer provides these reports. This change helps keep pilots and air traffic controllers informed with up-to-date weather info. Anyone involved in flying or managing flights should know about this, and comments on the proposal are due by June 22, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
FAA replaces NWS as weather source
The FAA proposes to remove references to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) and require that weather reports used under 14 CFR parts 91, 121, and 135 (including §§ 91.1039, 121.101, 121.119, 121.651, 135.213, 135.225, and 135.611) be prepared by the Federal Aviation Administration or a source approved by the FAA Administrator. The rule text says this aligns regulations with current practice and replaces the outdated phrase “weather reporting facility” with “weather report.”
FAA may approve third‑party weather sources
The proposal gives the FAA Administrator explicit authority to approve alternate or third‑party sources of weather information for operators under parts 121 and 135 (for example via amendments to §§ 121.101 and 121.119). The FAA says this would enable FAA approval of analyzed weather (model-derived or novel sensors) and third‑party providers where approved sensed weather information is unavailable.
Part 121 exemption requirement removed
For part 121 operators, the rule would remove the need to use the exemption process to rely on an FAA‑approved alternate weather source (see discussion of §§ 121.101 and 121.119). FAA says this change would void the need for operators to seek exemptions to use FAA‑approved alternate sources.
Ground visibility definition updated
The proposed revision to 14 CFR 1.1 changes the definition of “ground visibility” to read that it is the prevailing horizontal visibility “as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration or an accredited observer.” This replaces the previous language that referenced the National Weather Service.
Altimeter source updated to RASS
The proposal replaces the phrase “current altimeter setting provided by the facility” with “Remote Altimeter Setting Source (RASS)” in § 135.225(b)(2) for eligible on‑demand operations, allowing use of a charted alternate altimeter setting source. The preamble states this is intended to update and clarify language and is not meant to change meaning or add regulatory burden.
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