Group 2: Station Identifier

METEOROLOGY FLIGHT PLANNING

CHAPTER ONE

Group 2: Station Identifier

The METAR code format uses a 4-letter ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)

identifier. In the continental U. S., all 3-letter identifiers are prefixed with a "K," e.g., KLAX for

Los Angeles, and KBOS for Boston (Figure 1-4). Elsewhere, the first two letters of the ICAO

identifier indicate what region of the world (e.g. K=USA, C=Canada, P=Pacific, E=Europe) and

country the station is located. For example, PAFA is Fairbanks, Alaska, PHNA is Barber's

Point, Hawaii, and CYUL is Montreal, Canada. Also, EG indicates a station in England, and LI

indicates a station in Italy. U.S. locations identifiers are included in Appendix C. For a complete

worldwide listing of all the identifiers, one must refer to the ICAO Document 7910 Location

Identifiers.

METAR KNPA 082255Z 27004KT 7/8SM R04/4500FT DZ FG SCT000 BKN011 OVC380

19/18 A2997 RMK VIS1/2V1 CIG009V013 FG SCT000 BKN TOPS 027 SLP149

Figure 1-4 Station Identifier in METAR

Group 3: Date Time Group and Report Modifier

The time of observation will be included in all reports, using the standard date time group (DTG)

format. Times are always given in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) and therefore will end in

"Z," indicating Zulu, or UTC, time. The first two numbers are the date, and the second four are

the time of the report (Figure 1-5).

METAR KNPA 082255Z 27004KT 7/8SM R04/4500FT DZ FG SCT000 BKN011 OVC380

19/18 A2997 RMK VIS1/2V1 CIG009V013 FG SCT000 BKN TOPS 027 SLP149

Figure 1-5 DTG in METAR

Manual METAR observations are required to be started no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the

reporting time, which is a window between 55 and 59 minutes past the hour. Additionally,

elements having the greatest rate of change are evaluated last. At automated stations, evaluations

are based on sensor data taken within 10 minutes of the report time (although sky cover data is

gathered over the preceding 30 minutes). Therefore, as an aviator, you can be assured you have

the most up-to-date information available, assuming you are checking the weather at the top of

the hour.

Of course, report times given for SPECI observations are the time at which the event requiring

the SPECI report occurred.

Reports may also contain one of two modifiers, "COR," or "AUTO," which will appear after the

DTG:

AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORTS AND TERMINAL AERODROME

FORECASTS 1-5