New TAF format coming online 05NOV08

• FTXX90 KWBC 131130 TAF KABC 131128Z 1312/1418 14005KT P6SM SCT025 OVC040FM131600 13015G23KT P6SM OVC015 FM132100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008 TEMPO 1321/1401 1SM -SN FM140100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006 TEMPO 1401/1405 2SM -SN BLSN FM141500 01015KT 5SM BR OVC006=

TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)

Implementation of the 30 Hour TAF

- In response to requests by long haul operations for better service, the International Civilian Aviation Organization (ICAO) made provisions for a 30-hour Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) in Annex 3 for the Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation, Amendment 74.

- This code change, which takes place in November 2008, will affect all TAFs.

- This longer TAF influences TAF codes used worldwide. More specifically, each change group in a TAF will now have a date. This change also applies to states not providing 30-hour TAFs.

- Meteorological providers/vendors and users should begin to address whether software will work with the new TAF code, and what publications and training will need to be revised to make sure users are prepared.

Implementation of the 30 Hour TAF

• The TAF format will change worldwide 05Nov08 for all TAFs...

• The new TAF format will include a date/time group in every line of the TAF (currently the date/time is only in the first line)

• The change is needed since a subset of all TAFs worldwide will be extended to 30 hours for long-haul carriers

• The US will be extending 32 TAF locations from the current 24 hour TAFs to 30 hours

• Users/software vendors can test their systems by obtaining sample TAFs from...http://www.weather.gov/os/aviation/taf_testbed.shtml

Main Points to Consider

   1) All TAFs will have to conform to the new Date Time Standard    2) Decoding software will likely need to be changed    3) Training publications will need to be changed

New TAF format coming online 05NOV08

• FTXX90 KWBC 131130 TAF KABC 131128Z 1312/1418 14005KT P6SM SCT025 OVC040FM131600 13015G23KT P6SM OVC015 FM132100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008 TEMPO 1321/1401 1SM -SN FM140100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006 TEMPO 1401/1405 2SM -SN BLSN FM141500 01015KT 5SM BR OVC006=

TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)

New TAF format coming online 05NOV08

•

FTXX90 KWBC 131130 TAF KABC 131128Z 131212 14005KT P6SM SCT025

TAF (OLD FORMAT)

TAF (NEW FORMAT)

FTXX90 KWBC 131130 TAF KABC 131128Z 1312/1418 14005KT P6SM SCT025

New TAF format coming online 05NOV08

•

TAF KABC 131128Z 13121214005KT P6SM SCT025 OVC040FM2100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008

TEMPO 2101 1SM -SN FM0100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006

TAF (OLD FORMAT)

TAF (NEW FORMAT)

TAF KABC 131128Z 1312/1418 14005KT P6SM SCT025 OVC040FM132100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008

TEMPO 1321/1401 1SM -SN FM140100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006

New 30 Hour US stations

•

• KATL Atlanta Intl • KBDL Bradley Intl• KBOS Logan Intl • KBWI Baltimore-Washington Intl• KCLE Cleveland Hopkins Intl• KCVG Covington/Cincinnati• KDEN Denver Intl• KDFW Dallas/Fort Worth Intl• KDTW Detroit • KEWR Newark Liberty Intl • KIAD Washington Dulles Intl• KIAH Houston – George Bush

Intl • KIND Indianapolis Intl• KJFK John F. Kennedy Intl • KLAX Los Angeles Intl• KMKE General Mitchell Intl

• KMSP Minneapolis-St Paul Intl• KOAK Oakland Intl• KONT Ontario Intl • KORD Chicago-O’Hare Intl• KPHL Philadelphia Intl• KPIT Pittsburgh Intl• KSAN San Diego Intl • KSDF Louisville Intl • KSEA Seattle-Tacoma Intl• KSFO San Francisco Intl • KSLC Salt Lake City Intl• KSTL Lambert-St Louis Intl• KSWF Stewart Intl• PANC Anchorage Intl • PHNL Honolulu Intl• PAFA Fairbanks Intl

Implementation of the 30 Hour TAF

Users/software vendors can test their systems by obtaining sample TAFs from

- http://www.weather.gov/os/aviation/taf_testbed.shtml

Main Points to Consider

   1) All TAFs will have to conform to the new Date Time Standard…though some states will be late, so decoders need to be able to use both formats    2) Decoding software will likely need to be changed    3) Training publications will need to be changed

Questions? Mike Graf - Aviation Services Branch301-713-1726 x 117 michael.graf@noaa.gov