Figure 1-37. Military TAF Example

CHAPTER ONE

METEOROLOGY FLIGHT PLANNING

In summary, USAF pilots are required to designate an alternate if, for the ETA (+1 hour) for the

first point of intended landing (or each point of intended landing on a stopover flight plan), the

worst weather (TEMPO or prevailing) is forecast to be less than

For fixed wing aircraft:

For rotary wing aircraft:

A ceiling of 3000 feet, or

A ceiling of 700 feet, or

A visibility of 3 SMs or 2 SMs more than

A visibility of 1 SM.

the lowest compatible published landing

minimum visibility, whichever is greater.

EXAMPLE OF MILITARY TAF WITH DESCRIPTION OF ELEMENTS

KNSE TAF 260909 28004KT 9000 HZ SCT020 SCT200 QNH2998INS

FM1200 26007KT 9000 HZ SCT025 SCT080 BKN250 QNH2996INS

VCSHRA

BECMG 1416 9999 SCT025CB SCT250

BECMG 1718 23015G25KT 530004

TEMPO 1902 8000 TSSHRA SCT010 BKN025CB

FM0200 27010KT 9999 SCT030 BKN080 BKN250 QNH3001INS 20/09Z

Figure 1-37 Military TAF Example

1st line -- Forecast for NAS Whiting field (KNSE) beginning at 0900Z (0909) and valid up to

but not including 1200Z on the second line (FM1200), winds from 280 degrees and speed 4

knots (28004KT), visibility 6 miles (9000 meters), in haze (HZ), scattered clouds at 2000 feet

AGL (SCT020), scattered clouds at 20,000 feet AGL (SCT200), altimeter setting 29.98 inches

(QNH2998INS).

2nd Line -- From 1200Z (FM1200), up to but not including 1600Z (BECMG 1416), winds from

260 at seven knots (26007KT), visibility six miles (9,000 meters), in haze (HZ), scattered clouds

at 2500 feet AGL (SCT025), scattered clouds at 8000 feet AGL (SCT080), broken clouds at

25,000 feet AGL (BKN250), altimeter setting of 29.96 inches (QNH2996INS), and rain showers

in the vicinity (VCSHRA), ceiling at 25,000 feet.

3rd Line -- From 1400Z (BECMG 1416), up to but not including 1800Z (BECMG 1718), winds

the same as 2nd line (26007KT), visibility greater than 6 miles (9999), scattered cumulonimbus

clouds at 2500 feet AGL (SCT025CB), and scattered clouds at 25,000 feet AGL (SCT250),

altimeter setting same as 2nd line (QNH2996INS); remarks same as 2nd line.

1-32 AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORTS AND TERMINAL AERODROME

FORECASTS