SiriusXM weather gives Mooney pilot choices
Alicia Sikes is a ‘pilot’s pilot.’ Her career has taken her from flying cargo to regional airlines, and eventually to becoming one of the first female captains at TWA. Today, she continues to serve as a captain for a major airline, but her passion for flying extends beyond her professional responsibilities.
When Alicia isn’t flying for work, she takes to the skies in her Mooney M20J, departing from KXLL. Her love for flying doesn’t stop there—Alicia serves as the Air Race Classic Safety Officer, where she helps ensure the safety of participants in this cross-country air race. Alicia is also a competitor in the race, and her team, "Over the Moon," secured a third-place finish in the 2024 race.
Like many pilots, Alicia relies on technology to enhance her flying experience. Her Garmin-equipped panel is paired with SiriusXM Aviation Weather. SiriusXM's features, including winds aloft, fronts, and other weather information, provides Alicia with up-to-date information that keeps her aware of the conditions around her. The ability to scroll out and visualize weather conditions further along her flight plan offers her a unique advantage, allowing her to make informed decisions long before reaching critical points.
One of the most valuable aspects of SiriusXM Aviation for Alicia is the freedom it gives her to make choices in-flight. For example, on a recent flight to Hilton Head, South Carolina, Alicia planned a fuel stop at an airport to save on costs. However, with the weather rapidly changing, she used SiriusXM to assess conditions at nearby airports. After careful consideration and the knowledge that she had enough fuel to make it to Hilton Head, she opted to fly straight to her destination, paying a little more for fuel but avoiding a potential delay—or worse, being grounded—due to the incoming weather.
Alicia’s experience highlights the power of having up-to-date weather data at your fingertips. In aviation, the ability to adapt and make informed decisions can mean the difference between a smooth flight and a challenging one.
If you would like to have choices like Alicia and experience all that SiriusXM Aviation has to offer, get three-month trial of SiriusXM Aviation for free.
Watch Alicia Sikes discuss navigating her career as an airline captain at a major airline and how she uses SiriusXM Aviation to give her more choices when flying her Mooney.
