What does the phrase 'VFR flight not recommended' from a Flight Service briefer mean?

7-1-5. Preflight Briefing
a. Flight Service is one of the primary sources for obtaining preflight briefings and to file flight plans by phone
or the Internet. Flight Service Specialists are qualified and certificated as Pilot Weather Briefers by the FAA.
7-1-8 Meteorology

2/20/25 AIM
They are not authorized to make original forecasts, but are authorized to translate and interpret available forecasts
and reports directly into terms describing the weather conditions which you can expect along your flight route
and at your destination. Prior to every flight, pilots should gather all information vital to the nature of the flight.
Pilots can receive a regulatory compliant briefing without contacting Flight Service. Pilots are encouraged to use
automated resources and review AC 91-92, Pilot's Guide to a Preflight Briefing, for more information. Pilots
who prefer to contact Flight Service are encouraged to conduct a self -brief prior to calling. Conducting a
self-brief before contacting Flight Service provides familiarity of meteorological and aeronautical conditions
applicable to the route of flight and promotes a better understanding of weather information. Three basic types
of preflight briefings (Standard, Abbreviated, and Outlook) are available to serve the pilot's specific needs. Pilots
should specify to the briefer the type of briefing they want, along with their appropriate background information.
This will enable the briefer to tailor the information to the pilot's intended flight. The following paragraphs
describe the types of briefings available and the information provided in each briefing.
REFERENCE-
AIM, Para 5-1-1, Preflight Preparation, for items that are required.
b. Standard Briefing. You should request a Standard Briefing any time you are planning a flight and you
have not received a previous briefing or have not received preliminary information through online resources.
International data may be inaccurate or incomplete. If you are planning a flight outside of U.S. controlled
airspace, the briefer will advise you to check data as soon as practical after entering foreign airspace, unless you
advise that you have the international cautionary advisory. The briefer will automatically provide the following
information in the sequence listed, except as noted, when it is applicable to your proposed flight.
1. Adverse Conditions. Significant meteorological and/or aeronautical information that might influence
the pilot to alter or cancel the proposed flight; for example, hazardous weather conditions, airport closures, air
traffic delays, etc. Pilots should be especially alert for current or forecast weather that could reduce flight
minimums below VFR or IFR conditions. Pilots should also be alert for any reported or forecast icing if the
aircraft is not certified for operating in icing conditions. Flying into areas of icing or weather below minimums
could have disastrous results.
2. VFR Flight Not Recommended. When VFR flight is proposed and sky conditions or visibilities are
present or forecast, surface or aloft, that, in the briefer's judgment, would make flight under VFR doubtful, the
briefer will describe the conditions, describe the affected locations, and use the phrase "VFR flight not
recommended." This recommendation is advisory in nature. The final decision as to whether the flight can be
conducted safely rests solely with the pilot. Upon receiving a " VFR flight not recommended " statement, the
non-IFR rated pilot will need to make a "go or no go" decision. This decision should be based on weighing the
current and forecast weather conditions against the pilot's experience and ratings. The aircraft's equipment,
capabilities and limitations should also be considered.
NOTE-
Pilots flying into areas of minimal VFR weather could encounter unforecasted lowering conditions that place the aircraft
outside the pilot' s ratings and experience level. This could result in spatial disorientation and/or loss of control of the
aircraft.
3. Synopsis. A brief statement describing the type, location and movement of weather systems and/or air
masses which might affect the proposed flight.
NOTE-
These first 3 elements of a briefing may be combined in any order when the briefer believes it will help to more clearly
describe conditions.
4. Current Conditions. Reported weather conditions applicable to the flight will be summarized from all
available sources; e.g., METARs/ SPECIs, PIREPs, RAREPs. This element will be omitted if the proposed time
of departure is beyond 2 hours, unless the information is specifically requested by the pilot.
5. En Route Forecast. Forecast en route conditions for the proposed route are summarized in logical
order; i.e., departure/climbout, en route, and descent. (Heights are MSL, unless the contractions "AGL" or "CIG"
are denoted indicating that heights are above ground.)
Meteorology 7-1-9

AIM 2/20/253/15/077110.65R CHG 2AIM 8/7/25
6. Destination Forecast. The destination forecast for the planned ETA. Any significant changes within
1 hour before and after the planned arrival are included.
7. Winds Aloft. Forecast winds aloft will be provided in knots and degrees, referenced to true north. The
briefer will interpolate wind directions and speeds between levels and stations as necessary to provide expected
conditions at planned altitudes. (Heights are MSL.) Temperature information will be provided on request.
8. Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
(a) Available NOTAM (D) information pertinent to the proposed flight, including special use airspace
(SUA) NOTAMs for restricted areas, aerial refueling, and night vision goggles (NVG).
NOTE-
Other SUA NOTAMs (D), such as military operations area (MOA), military training route (MTR), and warning area
NOTAMs, are considered "upon request" briefing items as indicated in paragraph 7-1-4b10(a).
(b) Prohibited Areas P-40, P-49, P-56, and the special flight rules area (SFRA) for Washington, DC.
(c) FSS briefers do not provide FDC NOTAM information for special instrument approach procedures
unless specifically asked. Pilots authorized by the FAA to use special instrument approach procedures must
specifically request FDC NOTAM information for these procedures.
NOTE-
1. NOTAM information may be combined with current conditions when the briefer believes it is logical to do so.
2. Airway NOTAMs, procedural NOTAMs, and NOTAMs that are general in nature and not tied to a specific airport/facility
(for example, flight advisories and restrictions, open duration special security instructions, and special flight rules areas)
are briefed solely by pilot request. For complete flight information, pilots are urged to review the Domestic Notices and
International Notices found in the External Links section of the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) NOTAM Search System and
the Chart Supplement in addition to obtaining a briefing.
9. ATC Delays. Any known ATC delays and flow control advisories which might affect the proposed
flight.
10. Pilots may obtain the following from flight service station briefers upon request:
(a) Information on SUA and SUA-related airspace, except those listed in paragraph 7-1-4b8.
NOTE-
1. For the purpose of this paragraph, SUA and related airspace includes the following types of airspace: alert area, military
operations area (MOA), warning area, and air traffic control assigned airspace (ATCAA). MTR data includes the following
types of airspace: IFR training routes (IR), VFR training routes (VR), and slow training routes (SR).
2. Pilots are encouraged to request updated information from ATC facilities while in flight.
(b) A review of airway NOTAMs, procedural NOTAMs, and NOTAMs that are general in nature and not
tied to a specific airport/facility (for example, flight advisories and restrictions, open duration special security
instructions, and special flight rules areas), Domestic Notices and International Notices. Domestic Notices and
International Notices are found in the External Links section of the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) NOTAM
Search System.
(c) Approximate density altitude data.
(d) Information regarding such items as air traffic services and rules, customs/immigration procedures,
ADIZ rules, search and rescue, etc.
(e) GPS RAIM availability for 1 hour before to 1 hour after ETA or a time specified by the pilot.
(f) Other assistance as required.
c. Abbreviated Briefing. Request an Abbreviated Briefing when you need information to supplement mass
disseminated data, update a previous briefing, or when you need only one or two specific items. Provide the
briefer with appropriate background information, the time you received the previous information, and/or the
specific items needed. You should indicate the source of the information already received so that the briefer can
7-1-10 Meteorology

AIM2/20/258/7/25 AIM
limit the briefing to the information that you have not received, and/or appreciable changes in
meteorological/aeronautical conditions since your previous briefing. To the extent possible, the briefer will
provide the information in the sequence shown for a Standard Briefing. If you request only one or two specific
items, the briefer will advise you if adverse conditions are present or forecast. (Adverse conditions contain both
meteorological and/or aeronautical information.) Details on these conditions will be provided at your request.
International data may be inaccurate or incomplete. If you are planning a flight outside of U.S. controlled
airspace, the briefer will advise you to check data as soon as practical after entering foreign airspace, unless you
advise that you have the international cautionary advisory.
d. Outlook Briefing. You should request an Outlook Briefing whenever your proposed time of departure is
six or more hours from the time of the briefing. The briefer will provide available forecast data applicable to the
proposed flight. This type of briefing is provided for planning purposes only. You should obtain a Standard or
Abbreviated Briefing prior to departure in order to obtain such items as adverse conditions, current conditions,
updated forecasts, winds aloft and NOTAMs, etc.
e. When filing a flight plan only, you will be asked if you require the latest information on adverse conditions
pertinent to the route of flight.
f. Inflight Briefing. You are encouraged to conduct a self -briefing using online resources or obtain your
preflight briefing by telephone or in person (Alaska only) before departure. In those cases where you need to
obtain a preflight briefing or an update to a previous briefing by radio, you should contact the nearest FSS to
obtain this information. After communications have been established, advise the specialist of the type briefing
you require and provide appropriate background information. You will be provided information as specified in
the above paragraphs, depending on the type of briefing requested. En Route advisories tailored to the phase of
flight that begins after climb-out and ends with descent to land are provided upon pilot request. Besides Flight
Service, there are other resources available to the pilot in flight, including:
Automatic Dependent Surveillance -Broadcast (ADS -B). Free traffic, weather, and flight information are
available on ADS-B In receivers that can receive data over 978 MHz (UAT) broadcasts. These services are
available across the nation to aircraft owners who equip with ADS -B In, with further advances coming from
airborne and runway traffic awareness. Even search -and-rescue operations benefit from accurate ADS -B
tracking.
Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B). FIS-B is a free service; but is only available to aircraft that can
receive data over 978 MHz (UA T). FIS-B automatically transmits a wide range of weather products with national
and regional focus to all equipped aircraft. Having current weather and aeronautical information in the cockpit
helps pilots plan more safe and efficient flight paths, as well as make strategic decisions during flight to avoid
potentially hazardous weather.
Pilots are encouraged to provide a continuous exchange of information on weather, winds, turbulence, flight
visibility, icing, etc., between pilots and inflight specialists. Pilots should report good weather as well as bad, and
confirm expected conditions as well as unexpected. Remember that weather conditions can change rapidly and
that a "go or no go" decision, as mentioned in paragraph 7-1-4b2, should be assessed at all phases of flight.
g. Following any briefing, feel free to ask for any information that you or the briefer may have missed or are
not understood. This way, the briefer is able to present the information in a logical sequence, and lessens the
chance of important items being overlooked.