FRAT
PlaneWX FRAT is a dynamic flight risk assessment, not a static one-time form. It reads your high-quality WX briefing, airport complexity, day/night, unfamiliar destination, and risk stacking. It is built on the FAA PAVE checklist (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External). PlaneWX fills what it already knows, shows overrides, and keeps the score a pilot self-assessment.
What Is FRAT?
FRAT stands for Flight Risk Assessment Tool. In PlaneWX it is the in-app surface you complete near departure. Unlike a paper checklist you fill once, PlaneWX FRAT stays dynamic with the trip: weather, airport complexity, day/night, unfamiliar destination, and stacked risks feed the picture. Underneath, the four buckets follow the FAA PAVE checklist:
P - Pilot
IMSAFE readiness plus currency from your profile (with override)
A - Aircraft
Squawks, fuel, equipment, runway fit notes, and your Aircraft self-rate
V - enVironment
Weather and WX Score as hints, day/night, plus airport complexity chips (traffic, SID/STAR, seasonal, training-heavy) that stay in FRAT only
E - External
Optional pressure chips, explicit get-there-itis, and your External self-rate
Deduce First, Then Self-Rate
PlaneWX pre-fills facts it already knows (recent hours, night currency, weather snapshot, airport class/tower/volume when available). Those facts are hints. Your LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH self-rates feed the FRAT category scores. This is not a second WX Score engine.
If you rate weather risk more optimistic than the WX Score hint (for example LOW when the hint is HIGH), you must add a short note such as a deviation plan or diversion already picked.
When Is FRAT Available?
Available within 4 hours of departure
FRAT is designed to assess your current state: physical, mental, and situational. Completing it the night before would not accurately reflect how you will feel at start-up. The 4-hour window keeps the self-assessment honest and timely.
When your departure is within 4 hours, you will see a Start FRAT option in your briefing.
The IMSAFE Checklist (Pilot)
The Pilot section uses the IMSAFE checklist to assess your fitness to fly:
Currency Lives on Your Profile
Night and instrument currency are deduced on My Flights → Insights and your Pilot profile, then reused in FRAT with an override. Time in type stays on Pilot currency (not the Aircraft risk score). Instrument currency still needs your confirm because holds are not logged in PlaneWX.
Auto-filled from your flight history
Hours in this aircraft (last 30 days) pre-fill from ADS-B-confirmed flown trips for that tail number, rounded down so we never overstate currency. Drag the slider to override. Once you edit it, your value is kept for that assessment.
Aircraft: Runway Notes
When runway lengths and your aircraft minimum runway are known, FRAT shows an OK or short/tight runway note for origin and destination. That is a hint for your Aircraft self-rate. PIC still runs performance (weight and balance / AFM). Missing lengths stay silent rather than inventing short.
enVironment: Weather and Day/Night
- Readable weather summary by departure, destination, en route, and cruise
- WX Score breakdown deductions with points (hint only)
- Your weather self-rate for this flight
- Day/night deduced from planned dep/arr local sun times (override allowed); night risk self-rate when night applies
- Light terrain self-rate (full terrain databases are out of scope for this release)
enVironment: Airport Complexity (not weather)
Origin and destination can show airport complexity chips that are separate from the weather briefing. They help you self-rate enVironment complexity. They never change the WX Score and never inject Airport Busyness into weather briefing copy.
Traffic volume (busyness)
When PlaneWX has an OPSNET or TAF master row for the airport, you may see a traffic volume chip: Low traffic, Moderate traffic, High traffic, or Very high traffic (zoo-level hubs). Tier comes from published annual operations, not from inventing how busy a field "feels." Use it when you self-rate enVironment complexity (busier fields often mean more radio, sequencing, and go-around awareness).
SID/STAR procedure load
When procedure counts are known, chips show No SID/STAR, Few SIDs/STARs, or Many SIDs/STARs. Few means a light charted procedure set (about 1 to 5 combined). Many means a denser SID/STAR environment. That is about procedure complexity for your self-rate, not a clearance you must fly.
Seasonal traffic heat
For some OPSNET-covered airports, PlaneWX can show Seasonally busy this month when that month runs hotter than the airport's own average. It is a seasonal heads-up for complexity, not a weather forecast.
Training-heavy
When an airport is flagged training-heavy, you may see a Training-heavy chip. Expect denser pattern and training traffic when you self-rate complexity.
Silence when we do not know
If there is no master row, or no OPSNET/TAF source for volume, PlaneWX stays silent on those chips. The same is true for missing SID/STAR counts and seasonal index. Silence is intentional. We never invent busy or traffic copy to fill a gap. Class B / Towered can still appear from static airspace lists even when volume chips are silent.
FRAT chips only
Airport busyness, procedure load, seasonal heat, and training-heavy feed FRAT enVironment chips and your complexity self-rate only. They do not change the WX Score and do not appear as traffic copy in the weather briefing.
Unfamiliar Destination Evidence
FRAT can pre-answer unfamiliar destination from your home airport and marked-flown arrivals to that field. You see the count (and home callout when it applies) and can override. That evidence is for your judgment; it does not change the WX Score.
Risks are stacking
When three or more elevated factors stack on this flight (self-rates and named concerns on the FRAT card), PlaneWX shows a Risks are stacking banner. That is a reminder of a common cancel practice. It does not force NO-GO and does not change the WX Score. Your Decision stays yours.
External Pressure Chips
Optional multi-select chips name pressure (friends or family, non-pilot passengers, medical/volunteer missions, live animals, hard appointments, work, financial, or other). Get-there-itis is an explicit Yes/No. Chips do not each get a separate score; you self-rate overall External LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH. MEDIUM or HIGH needs a short note on what you will do.
Understanding Risk Levels
Each FRAT category is evaluated and assigned a risk level:
LOW Risk
No significant concerns in this category
MEDIUM Risk
Some concerns; consider mitigations
HIGH Risk
Significant concerns; strongly consider not flying
TEAM Mitigations
TEAM is the FAA risk-mitigation checklist: Transfer the risk, Eliminate the hazard, Accept it only with a reason, or Mitigate the impact. When overall risk is MEDIUM or HIGH, PlaneWX prompts these choices. Answers are stored so checkboxes reload after save. Path to Favorable and Flight Window may appear as suggested Mitigate choices when available.
Recording Your Decision
After completing the assessment, you record your final decision:
- GO- Proceed with the flight as planned
- NO-GO- Cancel the flight
- POSTPONE- Delay to a better time
- MODIFY- Adjust the flight (different route, altitude, etc.)
Your completed assessment is saved and can be reviewed later. Casual, Pro, Pro Plus, and Enterprise pilots can also see those decisions on WX Score History.
After you land, Pilot Self Debrief asks how that FRAT picture compared to what you felt in the airplane. It does not change the WX Score.
FRAT in Your Final Briefing
Your FRAT is included in the Final Pre-Flight Briefing email sent about 30 minutes before departure. This email shows overall risk, category scores, and your final decision.
FRAT in the Pre-Flight Email
If you have not completed FRAT yet, the Final Pre-Flight Briefing email includes a short nudge with a link to complete it. In-app FRAT reminders can be toggled in your profile under risk assessment preferences.
FRAT is the second beat of the risk loop: after the briefing, before you fly or stay.
Why FRAT Matters
Weather is just one part of flight safety. A clear day can still be dangerous if you are fatigued, the aircraft has a maintenance issue, or you are under pressure to make it work. FRAT helps you step back and consider the complete picture before committing to fly.