EU-funded researchers have developed an advanced tool to help flight crew choose the optimal aircraft flight trajectory. This customised electronic flight bag (EFB) shows the flight trajectory on a map and the risk level of weather phenomena encountered en route.
Flight plans are currently calculated before take-off in order to optimise fuel consumption using information available from weather predictions. Changes to the route are decided by the pilot during the flight based on data about unexpected weather conditions that are collected by radars on the nose of the aircraft.
Further details: Improved pilot awareness in bad weather conditions