New developments within civil aviation

May 2008

New ballooning wind and temperature service

From the 1 May 2008, a new ballooning service detailing low-level wind and temperature will be available as part of the aviation briefing service. This free service, agreed with the CAA, will show 59 UK sites showing 500 ft, 1000 ft and 2000 ft winds and temperature to help you make decisions on weather conditions.

When the service is available, the 2000 ft wind, as given in the ballooning text forecasts, will be withdrawn (by agreement with CAA and ballooning organisations).

April 2008

Notification of changes to TAFs and METARs as of 0001 UTC on 5 Nov 2008

There are several changes due to take place from 0001 UTC on 5 November 2008, the most significant of which will be to the TAF code.

These changes are mandated by ICAO and CAA instructions. The Met Office will comply with the change in practice. The Met Office will not be providing TAFs in the current format beyond 0001 UTC on 5 November 2008 since:

• there is no provision within ICAO or CAA instructions for providing such data in multiple formats
• systems and users may be confused by receiving two TAFs for the same time for the same airport in different formats, and
• this will cause a doubling of TAF messages on already busy Telecommunications networks.

Feedback on the change should be made to the CAA at metauthority@caa.co.uk.

The links below are to several documents that describe the changes. Fine detail is currently being finalised with stakeholders such as ICAO, CAA, and NATS. Further information regarding the precise manner in which the transition to the new format overnight on the 4/5 November 2008 will be implemented will be advised at a later date.

Changes to TAF format

Changes to Civilian TAF issue and validity times

Changes to CAVOK definition

Changes to AUTO METAR observations

Ballooning Forecast validity times change

Following agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the British Association of Balloon Operators (BABO), the validity times of the Ballooning Forecasts will change during the summer months, as follows:
           
SUMMER (between 1 April to 30 September):

• Period of validity 0600-0900 local (with Outlook valid 1800-2100 local). Time of issue 2130 local
• Period of validity 1800-2100 local (with Outlook valid 0600-0900 local). Time of issue 1030 local

The first forecasts to follow the above will be those issued on 23 April.

February 2008

Synoptic charts

As of 3 March 2007 the T+108 and T+132 black and white synoptic charts will be removed from the 0000UTC analysis time. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

August 2007

15-minute rainfall radar (subscription service)

From 15 August the 15-minute rainfall radar available on the subscription service will display a mask showing the area of radar coverage.

July 2007

F215 worked example

In response to questions arising from the F215 format, further guidance on this product is now available in the form of a worked example.

Download worked example (PDF, 59 Kb)
Details of the new briefing charts 

Ballooning forecasts

The CAA has requested that the Met Office issues ballooning forecasts as close as possible to 1030 local and 2130 local. Any feedback on this change should be passed directly to the CAA at metauthority@dap.caa.co.uk.

March 2006

The Met. Authority at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Met Office have enhanced the F215 (UK low-level significant weather chart) and F415 (European significant weather chart). There were also changes to the F214 (UK spot winds chart) and F414 (European spot winds chart).

Any feedback should be passed directly to the CAA at metauthority@dap.caa.co.uk.

See samples...

Details of the new briefing charts