Student pilots are taught the basics of weather forecasting and interpretation. Books, videotapes, and magazine articles on the subject abound. Prior to all cross-country flights, conscientious pilots get a weather briefing from the flight service station by telephone, personal computer, or in person. This provides actual weather reports from airports along the route of flight, a forecast of what the weather is likely to be, and, sometimes, pilot reports of actual weather from aircraft enroute. Just as boaters have to keep an eye out for weather, pilots must look for adverse conditions, but unlike many boats, an aircraft can outrun storms.
Problems develop when the warning signs are ignored, and the pilot presses on.
Sometimes the clues are subtle, but as the risk increases, they generally become pronounced and then just a little good judgment can save the day. When you start to fly, your instructor will invariably advise you that a midair collision will ruin your whole day. You'll be instructed always to look for other aircraft. In a typical year, there are about 25 midairs nationwide, and because they are rare, they do make the headlines. The majority of these occur on clear days within just a few miles of an airport.