"Bela P. Havasreti" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:05:57 GMT, Kris Kortokrax
wrote:


I try to come prepared arriving @ my destination airport and I'll
tend to know in advance (with reasonable accuracy) which way the
traffic pattern will be. I like to *listen* (miles away) on CTAF to
monitor activities at my destination airport before I get there. If
there is no activity, I'll try to dial up an AWOS or ATIS at a nearby
airport and see what the winds are there (chances are if it's
reasonably close by, the winds will be the same).

What if your destination has no AWOS or ATIS, and the winds are light and
variable?
I fly into a small airport that has wind shifts on a regular basis, and does
not correlate well with the winds from the class C 30 miles away.
It is better to ask when the winds are not obvious. It is a lot safer than
flying over the active runway and looking at the wind sock.