Why is weather assessment critical during flight planning?

Weather assessment is critical during flight planning because it can have a profound impact on both safety and route selection. Understanding the current and forecasted weather conditions allows pilots and flight planners to anticipate challenges such as turbulence, storms, low visibility, or icing conditions. These factors can dictate not only the safety of the flight but also the need to adjust the planned route to avoid hazardous weather. For instance, encountering severe weather could necessitate a change in altitude or an alternate route that avoids storms, which can also affect fuel consumption and overall flight efficiency.

While crew readiness, fuel optimization, and regulatory requirements for international flights are important considerations in flight planning, they do not directly link to the immediate operational decisions that are influenced by weather. Therefore, weather assessment stands out as a fundamental element in ensuring the safety and efficiency of flight operations.