Weather Information Available to Pilots Flashcards
What is a METAR?
Routine aerodrome reports issued hourly in NZ, Aussie and Pacific Islands.
Where can a METAR AUTO report be available outside hours of service of an ATC unit?
From an Automatic Weather Station (AWS).
How often are METAR AUTO’s issued?
Half hourly, day and night.
How often are manual METAR’s issued?
Hourly on the hour during ATS or contractor operational hours of coverage.
Can METAR AUTO’s determine certain weather conditions?
No. Instead, VC (vicinity) will only be included for events such as thunderstorms in the vicinity (VCTS).
What does “//” mean?
Weather sensor is temporarily inoperative.
What does “///” mean?
Weather sensor cannot determine cloud types such as CB’s or TCU’s.
What does “////” mean?
Weather sensor cannot detect visibility.
What does “/////////” mean?
Cloud not reported due to faulty weather sensor.
What are SPECI’s?
Special aerodrome reports which are issued at times other than ‘on the hour’ in METAR code.
Why are SPECI’s made?
When the value of some weather element changes significantly or passes a specified value as listed in the AIP.
When are SPECI’s disseminated (terminated) and when is the time of the observation coded?
A SPECI reporting deterioration and the time of the observation is coded to the nearest five minutes.
When is a SPECI reporting an improvement in conditions disseminated?
Only after the improvement has persisted for 10 minutes.
When will a ‘trend’ statement be added to a METAR or SPECI?
If the predicted weather conditions differ significantly from the observed conditions.
In simple terms, what is a basic weather report (BWR)?
Verbal comments on actual weather conditions
What is a TAF in simple terms?
Terminal aerodrome forecast - forecast of the predicted weather conditions at an aerodrome during a specified period.
How long are TAF’s valid for international aerodromes?
What airports in NZ include international aerodromes?
- 24 hours.
- AKL, CHCH, WLG.
How long are TREND’s valid for?
Two hours.
Do TAF’s supersede TREND’s?
Why?
- No.
- Because TREND’s are more recent forecasts than TAF’s.
What does ATIS stand for and what are they used for?
- Aerodrome Terminal Information Service.
- Provide aerodrome takeoff and landing reports on specific VHF frequencies on weather present at the aerodrome.
What is an AIREP?
Basically a weather report filed by a pilot including an aircraft’s identification, position, time of the report, altitude and nature of the meteorological phenomena/conditions being experienced or observed.
What is AWIB short for?
Aerodrome and Weather Information Broadcasts
What are AWIBs used for?
They automaticaly broadcast information regarding weather in an aerodrome, such as an ATIS, but is only used at unattended aerodromes without ATC
What is UNICOM short for?
Universal Communications.
What are UNICOMs used for?
- Help facilitate aviation (traffic) at an uncontrolled aerodrome.
- Basically, provides basic aerodrome traffic information services, such as at Ardmore Aerodrome.
