4.2.

2 WEATHER REPORT (VOLMET)

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHART(SWC)

Sigmet chart
1.) Head
SWCs are issued by the world forecast centres in London or Washington. Height range of
observation and forecast are from FL100 to FL450. Issue times are: 06, 12, 18 and 00 UTC. All height
indications are in flight levels. Thunderstorm or CB symbol implies moderate to severe turbulence
and icing.

2.) Tropopause heights

Tropopause at FL 420

Centre of high pressure area, tropopause at FL 460

Centre of low pressure area, tropopause at FL 340

3.) CAT area
Indication numbers are in squares followed by moderate or severe turbulence symbols.
4.) Jet streams and maximum winds
The position/axis of a jet stream is shown as a heavy solid line, interrupted by the wind
speed symbol and the FL-height of the jet core. The jet stream axis begins/ends at the point where a
wind speed of 80kt is forecast. The double crossing bar denotes changes of level and/or wind speed
by steps of 20kt.

5.) Vertical dimension

The vertical dimension of the 130kt is shown in the example above: 90 hectofeet (9000 ft.)
above FL410 and 110 hectofeet below FL410

6.) Cloud amount, type and height

Sky cover is shown as FEW (<25%), SCT (25 - 50%), BKN (>50 <100%), OVC (100%).
Cloud amount in octamerous still used for graphical representation on SWC in meteo offices. For
cloud types ICAO abbreviations are used. Usually convective clouds as CB, CU and AC are presented
only, other types as layers/LYR.

CBs are described as isolated/ISOL, occasional/OCNL, frequent/FRQ and embedded/EMBD in

clouds or haze. Cloud height:
330, 350, xxx = FL of top,
270
xxx
xxx = FL of the base of significant weather.
xxx indicates that the top / base is outside of the height range of the chart.
7.) Fronts and significant areas

Cold front, moving direction and speed

Warm front, moving less than 5 kt
Stationary occluded front
Quasi stationary front

Severe squall line

Convergence line

Intertrop. Convergence zone

Boundary of significant weather

CAT areas
8.) Symbols of significant weather
Moderate/severe turbulence
slight/mod./severe icing
Thunderstorms
Tropical cyclone

Volcanic eruption, including name & position (lat/long) of

Volcano, date and time of first eruption.

9.) Additional symbols used on Met offices charts

Drizzle
Rain
Snow
Soft hail
Shower
Freezing precipitation
Widespread sand or dust storms
Widespread mist / fog
Widespread haze

Widespread blowing snow

Widespread smoke
Freezing level
State of the sea, wave height in FT

Sea surface temperature C

UPPER WIND AND TEMPERATURE CHART

T4 chart
1.) Head
Upper wind forecasts are provided by the U.K. Met Forecast Centre Bracknell which has
been designed by ICAO and WMO as world area forecast service centre / WAFS.
These forecasts are used by several ICAO Regional Area Forecast Centers (RAFC) for the
production of upper air charts for flight documentation, e.g. RAFC London (NAT charts).
Observations are made twice a day at 00 and 12 UTC. Valid times are 06, 12, 18 and 00 UTC.
Note: At the present time jet streams are not taken into consideration for wind presentation
on the charts.
2.)Standard levels
FL 50 / 850 hPa
FL 180 / 500 hPa
FL 300 / 300 hPa
FL 390 / 200 hPa

FL 100 / 700hPa
FL 240 / 400hPa
FL 340 / 250hPa
FL 450 / 150hPa in USA and CAN only.

3.) Units
Wind speed in knots Temperature in oC are negative unless prefixed by +or PS.
4.) Spotwind / Temperature
The grid point data are shown at 5 lat / 5 long north of 45N, resp. 2,5 lat / 2,5 long south
of 45N. Wind direction is in degrees true, e.g.

57

spotwind 270/95kt, temperature minus 57C.

Alternate charts
Additional authorized methods of presentation are tabular or cross-section wind forecasts.
ICAO CODES - TAF & METAR
Metar taf

Issue and valid time of AD FCST and reports are according to WMO / ICAO codes and
schedule. Reports (observation) remain valid until the issue of the next routine or special report.
Data designator
2-letter codes used to store and retrieve information in data banks:
METAR:
SA TAF 9hr:
FC
SPECI:
SP TAF 12hr or 18/24hr: FT
Aerodrome forecast - TAF

TAFs valid for 9hr are issued every 3hr, approximately 1hr before beginning of the validity.
TAFs valid for full 24hr are issued every 6hr, approximately 1hr before beginning of the validity, or
for 18/24hr, a 24hr TAFwhere the text of the FCST for the initial 6hr is omitted.
ICAO code - TAF content
AD, optional designator, data/valid
mean wind and gusts of last 10min
VIS or prevailing VIS
significant weather with intensity
clouds amount, base and type (TCU, CB)
VER VIS (sky obscured)
change groups
optional groups (s. SUPPLE. INFO below).
Amended/Cancelled TAF FC / FT AMD, CNL
The issue of an amended TAF cancels any TAF of the same type previously issued for the
same period of the validity or part thereof.
Example:
TAF AMD EBBR 111100Z 111019 CNL = (Amended TAF for EBBR issued at 11th 1100Z,
cancels the previous issued TAF valid on 11th 1000-1900Z).
Provisional TAF FC / FT
When an AD forecast required for flight planning and documentation cannot be obtained
from the MET office responsible for its issue, the MET office at the AD of departure should, if
possible, prepare a provisional forecast, usually in the TAF code.
A request for a provisional forecast can be reinforced according to ICAO Annex 3.
Retarded TAF or Metar RTD, RRA, RRB
If a MET office has difficulty in weather observation or in provision of data exchange at the
fixed time schedule, it may delay report issue.
Corrected TAF/Metar/SPECI COR
Whenever a fault is detected in an observation or report the MET office responsible for its
issue has to correct this information. Corrected TAFs/METARs /SPECIs include COR between
TAF/METAR/SPECI and the AD ICAO code.
Example FC - FT
TAF COR LSZH............
CHANGE GROUPS
Change of prevailing conditions in FC or SA. Only those weather elements which may change
are given! Change indicator PROB30/40, PROB30/40 TEMPO and FMhrmn are used in TAF only.
Change indicator -BECMG- becoming
Firm change of prevailing conditions at regular (gradual) or irregular rate, which implies
fluctuating conditions and rapid change. The transition period is given by a 4-figure time group in full
hour UTC. The first 2 figures specifying the time of earliest beginning, the last 2 the time of latest
ending.
Example TAF - FT:
NZZO 241212 VRB02KT 1800 BR SKC BECMG 0406 00000KT 0500 FG VV002 =

 Change indicator -TEMPO- temporary

Temporary deviations from prevailing condition which last less than 1hr. This definition
implies changes of several deviations of different duration or continuous fluctuations within the
indicated period. The period is given by a 4-figure time group in full hour UTC. These figures
indicating the earliest and the latest possible time of occurrence.
Example TAF - FC:
LFPG 261019 29010KT 5000 NSW TEMPO 1217 1500 SHSN =
Change indicator -PROB30/40- probability
Probability in percent of occurrence of an alternative weather development. PROB30/40
alone or in combination with TEMPO is used. The period is given by a 4-figure time group in full hour
UTC. These figures indicating the beginning and the end of alternative prevailing or temporary
condition.
Example TAF - FT 18/24:
VBOM 190624 26018KT 3000 RA SCT012 BKN030 PROB40 1113 25028G40 +RA =
Time divider -FMhrmn- from
Indicates the beginning time in hours and minutes of a new self-contained part of the TAF.
All conditions given in the TAF before FMhrmn are superseded by the new prevailing weather
condition.
Example TAF - FT: KGBR 170606 35012KT 6SM BR OVC03 FM2200 3SM -SN =
Equivalents to ICAO Change indicator
BEC, BCM
Becoming
BECM
EVOL
Evolution
BECMG
OCNL
Occasionally
TEMPO
BRF
Briefly
TEMPO
VRBL
Variable
TEMPO
RISK
Risk
PROB30
CHC
Change
PROB30
CFP
Cold front passage
FM
WFP
Warm front passage
FM
OFP
Occluded front pass. FM
SLGT CHC
Slight change
Disregard
DENEB
Fog dispersal
Disregard

Note: The change groups:

INTER,
BECMG AT,
BECMG FM,
BECMG FM...TL,
BECMG TL,
TEMPO FR,
TEMPO FM...TL,
TEMPO TL
Are no longer applied by MET offices using ICAO standard.
OPTIONAL GROUPS IN TAF

 Temperature forecast T
Indicator T followed by degrees Celsius and time in hours UTC.
Example: TM02/12Z T01/15Z =
Turbulence
Coded 6-figure group
1st figure: Group indicator 5
2nd figure: Type of turbulence
0=
none
1=
light
2=
moderate in clear air, infrequent
3=
moderate in clear air, frequent
4=
moderate in cloud, infrequent
5=
moderate in cloud, frequent
6=
severe in clear air, infrequent
7=
severe in clear air, frequent
8=
severe in cloud, infrequent
9=
severe in cloud, frequent
X=
extreme (US AFB TAF only)
3rd to 5th figure: Height of lowest turbulence level in hundreds of feet above AD elevation.
6th figure: Thickness of turbulent layer in thousands of feet; exception: 0 = top of cloud
Example: 590200 = severe in cloud, frequent, from 2000ft up to top of cloud.
Icing
Coded 6-figure group
1st figure: Group indicator 6
2nd figure: Type of icing
0=
none
1=
light
2=
light in cloud
3=
light in precipitation
4=
moderate
5=
moderate in cloud
6=
moderate in precipitation
7=
severe
8=
severe in cloud
9=
severe in precipitation
3rd to 5th figure: Height of lowest icing level in hundreds of feet above AD elevation.
6th figure: Thickness of icing layer in thousands of feet; exception: 0 = top of cloud
Example: 660083 = moderate in precipitation, from 800 upwards in layer 3000ft thick.
AERODROME REPORT - METAR / SPECI
METAR are issued half hourly or hourly, e.g. 0920/ 0950, 1400 / 1430 or 1600 / 1700. The
dissemination is normally limited by ICAO to distances corresponding to 2hr flying time (1000 nm).

Exception: Special regional agreement, e.g. Europe, North America. For planning purpose a
report is overruled by the TREND, if available.
Example of METAR - SA:
240130 VIDP VRB03KT 3000 FU SKC 19 /11 Q1016 BECMG 1500 =
ICAO code - METAR / SPECI content
data / time, aerodrome, optional designator
mean wind and gusts of last 10 minutes
visibility or minimum visibility and direction
RVR at touchdown zone
significant weather with intensity
clouds amount, base and type (TCU, CB)
vertical visibility (sky obscured)
temperature / dew point
QNH in hPa or 1/100 of inch Hg
TREND groups (NOSIG/BECMG/TEMPO)
remark section in coded form(e.g. runway report),
In plain language (e.g. wind shear alert) or in abbreviated form in North America (Differences
from ICAO codes)
Special reports SPECI
Non-routine reports issued to the local ATS units when changes in meteorological conditions
fulfill locally agreed criteria. The dissemination is normally the same as for METAR. SPECI of most
aerodromes issuing half hourly METAR are not disseminated.
Example of SPECI - SP:
VHHH SPECI 110839 11045G60KT 040V200 1200 +RA TEMPO VRB65G130KT CYCLO =
TREND GROUPS - REMARKS
A landing forecast intended to meet domestic requirements and for short flights. The period
of validity is normally 2hr from the nominal observation time of the report to which the TREND is
appended. The TREND consists of a report indicating significant changes from the reported wind,
visibility but never RVR, significant weather and cloud conditions. If no change is to be expected
NOSIG is reported.
Example SA:
240400 OERK 00000KT CAVOK 12 / M06 Q1022 NOSIG =
When a change is expected, the TREND begins with the change indicator BECMG or TEMPO.
Example TREND - SA:
290700 OMAA 00000kt 0100 R31/150N FG VV001 12 /12 Q1028 BECMG 0800 SKC =
Remarks are indicated in plain language or in coded form e.g. runway report.
Example RMK of runway report:
090800 UMMS RRA 29008G12MPS 9999 SCT026 01/M03 Q1007 NOSIG RMK 31370228 =
Example RMK and TREND - SA:
250850 YMML 25016G28KT 9999 BKN065 11/08 Q1010 WS ALL RWY TEMPO 24025G40=

Automatically generated METAR/SPECI

Systems should only be used during non-operational hours of the AP.
Additional codes used in AUTO-METAR:
AUTO: at the beginning of the message
VIS: NDV= no directional variation can be given.
WEATHER: UP=unidentified precipitation; type of precipitation cannot be identified.
Missing DATA: ///= e.g. cloud type cannot be identified
CLOUDS: NCD= no clouds detected
RECENT WX: REUP= recent precipitation; type not identified
Example:
LFSB 070200 AUTO VRB01KT 1800NDV UP FEW006/// OVC016/// 02/M03 Q1015
ADDITIONAL INFO TO ICAO CODES
Visibility - Prevailing visibility
The greatest visibility equaled or exceeded in one or more not necessarily continuous
sectors totaling at least one - half of the horizon circle. States reporting / forecasting prevailing
instead of minimum and directional visibility: Canada China Japan Switzerland USA.

Runway Visual Range - RVR

RVR reports for take-off and landing by tower and ATIS are measured for each third of the
runway and should be a moving mean of 1min. In METAR / SPECI RVR of touchdown zone only is
reported.
Forecast / present weather
In some countries several combination of weather types are possible; e.g.
FZBCFG = freezing fog patches
BLSADS = blowing sand, dust storm
TSGRRA = thunderstorm, hail, rain.
Cloud base
In mountainous areas Cloud base NIL means that cloud base is hidden by mountains.
SIGMET / AIRMET
SIGMET are warnings of actual and/or forecast weather phenomena, which may be hazard
to airplanes in cruise. The area affected is always specified by making reference to a FIR, even if the
hazard is occurring in the UIR.
SIGMET / AIRMET - Data designator
WA:
AIRMET general
WC:
Tropical cyclone
WS:
SIGMET general
WS SST:
Super Sonic Transport
WV:
Volcanic ash
SIGMET - ICAO code content
ICAO FIR 4-letter code and name
date and time of observation
SIGMET serial number

date and valid period

area affected
significant weather type
FL affected
Trend or NC (No Change)

General SIGMET - WS
Warning of severe weather phenomena like:
thunderstorm (freq., embedded, obscured)
severe squall line
severe turbulence
severe icing
severe mountain waves
heavy hail
heavy dust- or sandstorms
Period of validity is usually 4 max. 6hr, provided by MET or ATS for the route of next 2hr
(1000nm) flying time.
Example of WS: EYVL VILNIUS 0906 SIGMET1 VALID 090610 / 091200 VILNIUS FIR FCST SEV
CAT LYR FL260 - FL380, NC =

AIRMET - WA
Information (wind shears, turbulence, icing, inversion) for flights below FL100 or FL150 in
mountainous areas.
Example of WA:
LSZH ZUERICH SEV TURB FL80 TO FL120 N OF ALPS STNR NC=
Tropical cyclone SIGMET - WC
Warning of cyclone, hurricane, typhoon, etc.
tropical cyclone with name and position
associated hazard at cruise levels
further outlook on the position and development
of the cyclone.
Period of validity is usually 4max. 6hr plus an outlook of maximum 12hr, provided by MET or
ATS for the whole route.
Example of WC:
RPLL MANILA 2404 SIGMET3 VALID 240430 / 241030 CYCLONE VASCO WITHIN RPLL FIR
90NMSOFMANILA TOPFL490 STNRINTST =
Remark: In the Caribbean the abbreviation CYCON indicates severe thunder stormer
hurricane condition with wind speed >33kt. It replaces the code for visibility, weather, clouds or VV.
Volcanic ash SIGMET - WV:
Warning of
volcano eruption with name and position

horizontal and vertical extent of ash clouds

further outlook up to 18hr ahead on the trajectory of the ash cloud.

Period of validity is usually 4max. 6hr plus an outlook for maximum subsequent 12hr,
provided by MET or ATS for the whole route.
Example of WV:
WIII JAKARTA 1916 SIGMET3 VALID 191630 / 192100 VOLCANO ERUPTION RAKATA POS
006_30S/105_30E TOP FL510 EXTENT 350NM WSW WITH TRADEWIND INTSF =

4.2.3 INFLIGHT INFORMATION

MET OFFICE INFORMATION
ATIS:
VTBD (DMK)
WADD (DPS)
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Jakarta

freq. 126.400 MHz.

freq. 126.200 MHz.
freq. 126.400 MHz.
freq. 128.600 MHz.
freq. 126.850 MHz.

AIR TO GROUND DATA LINK

In todays international aviation it is of utmost importance to be permanently updated by
the latest operational meteorological information (OPMET including SIGMET, AIRMET and PIREP).
In addition to the weather broadcasting stations on HF and VHF, there are several
aeronautical networks that provide data link between airplanes and ground stations.
This Aircraft Communication, Addressing and Reporting System ACARS allows the reception
of weather forecast and reports via the worldwide Teletype networks of SITA, ARINC, AVICOM, AIR
CANADA etc.
These data links work via VHF and / or satellite distribution.
AERODROME WEATHER HF LIST
For frequencies and broadcast time;

MINIMUM ENROUTE ALTITUDE (MEA)

The lowest published altitude between radio fixes that meets obstacle clearance requirements
between those fixes and, in many countries, assures acceptable navigational signal coverage. The
MEA applies to the entire width of the airway, segment or route between the radio fixes defining the
airway, segment or route. (2000 feet in mountainous areas and 1000 feet elsewhere)
From VTBDVTBU MEA is FL70
FROM M904 SIRAT MEA is FL150
From VTBUWADD MEA is FL250