Comments on: Let’s play “Decode That TAF”

By: Gary Stegall

Gary Stegall — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:35:18 +0000

What’s all the whining about. Learn it and get over it!

By: AliAd

AliAd — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 07:44:16 +0000

TAFs/METARs are not my favorite part of the pre-flight but they are necessary to having a sound understanding of Wx in dangerous convective and icing conditions. I read somewhere that the METARs are actually an advancement of an older weather symbology that was originally available only in the USA and was ‘synchronized’ with the international (ICAO) standards. I may tend to disagree that the ability to decode these can keep someone from becoming a Private or even Commercial pilot. It is indeed confusing given modern technology, but there is always the FSS to decrypt it at your request and online @ aviationweather.gov . Now try decoding a PIREP or NOTAM and there you’ll find the real challenge! It’s good thing us contemporary pilots don’t have to remember Morse code as in the old days!

By: KenB

KenB — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:37:32 +0000

It’s not that it’s extremely difficult or hard to learn. Its that some of the less used codes might be misinterpreted on the fly and might put a mid-time pilot and passengers in danger.

This is sort of like the Y2k delima. When computer memory was scarce, programmers used 2 digit codes to describe the year. It continued since there was no necessity to change coding until the compelling event of the year 2000.

Let’s hope the TAF/METAR compelling event isn’t a serious crash due to misinterpretation.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 02:07:43 +0000

Once you get past learning the format, it’s much faster to read untranslated METARs and TAFs. There are only a handful of codes you need for fair weather VFR flying, if you see something you don’t recognize, as SamB said, it probably means “don’t go”. For IFR, you need to be familiar with more codes, but that’s just a small part of the additional knowledge you need. Another big benefit is having a solid shorthand to use when you check the weather enroute.

By: GregV

GregV — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:05:08 +0000

I’m a new pilot, but have been an IT consultant for 30 years. My favorite comparison of aviation to the IT world is that aviation is still running green screen MS-DOS v2 over a 1200 bps dialup connection in a wireless, iPad/3G world. TAF/METAR-speak is only one minor example of that dilemma. We’ll never get any critical mass of entrants into aviation until we change that, and we’ll be saddled with paying top dollar for it until then as well.

Suppose I could do a cell phone cost analogy too…

Ok, rant is over.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:53:39 +0000

If you want more chances to practice your Metars/Tafs. AOPA’s online courses website has several courses & quiz’s they can practice on. Also FAA Safety has a few more.

I found a really nice place to do flight planning and also read Metars/Tafs. The website is http://www.skyvector.com This website displays any sectional or other aviation charts on screen so you can plan your flight or just look at the meters/Tafs.
The way you get the weather is just hover the mouse over the airport of interest and they appear.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:36:05 +0000

I always enjoy a chance to practice my Metars/Tafs. I think this system is a lot easier and yet decodes a lot more than the old 1960/70s system….but still very similar also.
If the guys like the Metars/Tafs, AOPA’s website has several courses & quiz’s they can practice on. Also FAA Safety has a few more.

By: scott

scott — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:17:35 +0000

I actually enjoy reading metars and tafs. They give me everything i need to know in a short and succinct manner.

This was a nice exercise…thanks. (although I usually see pressure falling rapidly as PSFR not PRESFR)

By: kibsaero

kibsaero — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:17:31 +0000

I enjoyed that. The only thing i missed was the runway rvr and the pellets ending time also the pressure falling thanx.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:18:01 +0000

Bobk has it absolutely right. This is NOT FUN. It is not HELPFUL. It is just stupid. This system came about in an ancient non-techno world and there is absolutely no excuse for it any more. A simple weather request for a 40 mile flight gets you all sorts of nonsense for half the country. This DOES NOT promote safety as we mostly just ignore the noise and go to weather.com or the weather channel to cut through the nonsense.