helisiapp lite — User Guide
Everything the tool does, one topic at a time. helisiapp lite estimates what a cloud height reported at a nearby weather station would be over your facility — which is often at a different elevation and frequently has no weather station of its own.
Cloud bases in a METAR or TAF are given as height above ground level (AGL) at the reporting station. If your facility sits higher than that station, the same cloud deck is effectively lower above your facility — and vice-versa. This tool does that elevation correction for you, flags the conditions that matter to a helicopter operation, and always shows the raw report so you can verify everything yourself.
Read this first
helisiapp lite produces estimates for planning, not on-site measurements, and it is not an FAA-approved weather source. Always obtain an approved briefing and consult official sources before any flight. See the Disclaimer and Terms.
Start here
How it worksThe elevation adjustment behind every number, with an interactive demo you can drag.
Station distanceWhy the distance to the reporting station is the single most important caveat.
Reading your results
Report ageThe live age pill and what its colors mean.
Visibility flagsBlue / red / pink visibility thresholds.
Cloud / ceiling flagsHeight flags on the elevation-adjusted layers.
Controls
Lookup buttonsRefresh, Clear, Custom Alert, and the view toggle.
Custom AlertSet your own ceiling and visibility thresholds.
List, Grid & MapThree ways to lay out your results.
Map viewPins, dots, zoom, pan, and station modals.
TAF timeframeLimit the forecast window shown.
Shareable linksBookmark or share a set of facilities.
Alerts
CAPEA model measure of thunderstorm fuel.
Thunderstorm & lightning ⚡TS, VCTS, and lightning in remarks.
Wind alert ⚑20 kt sustained or gusting.
Icing potential ❄Cold plus reported moisture.
Temperature alertHot, near-saturation, and calm-wind cues.
Density altitudeEstimated DA of 3,000 ft or higher.
Data & sources
Data sourcesWhere METAR, TAF, and CAPE come from.
FAA databaseThe 28-day cycle and the unavailable warning.