Summary of U.S. Civil/Military TAF Differences

METEOROLOGY FLIGHT PLANNING

CHAPTER ONE

Using the example in Figure 1-31, the first forecast line (KNSE 200909) begins FROM 0900Z on

the 20th and is good up TO 1400Z on the third line. (0900Z to 0900Z is also the 24 hour forecast

period.) The second forecast line (TEMPO0912) begins FROM 0900Z and is forecast to occur

up TO 1200Z. The third forecast line (FM1400) begins FROM 1400Z and is good up TO 1700Z,

with some of these conditions changing by up TO 1700Z, the fourth line. The fourth forecast

line (BECMG1617) begins FROM 1600Z and is good up TO 2200Z. The fifth forecast line

(BECMG2022) begins FROM 2000Z and is forecast to occur up TO at least 0900Z, the end of

the forecast period. The sixth line (TEMPO2303) begins FROM 2300Z and is forecast to occur

up TO 0300Z.

109.

SUMMARY OF U.S. CIVIL/MILITARY TAF DIFFERENCES

Civilian weather stations are required to adhere to slightly different formats than military

stations, as has been discussed in the corresponding sections above. For reference, these

differences are summarized below. An example follows in Figure 1-32.

U.S. civil stations will use statute miles instead of meters.

2. U.S. civil stations include date time group of transmission prior to the forecast period (e.g.,

091720Z 081818).

3. When U.S. military stations amend, correct, or have a routine delayed forecast, a remark

will be appended to the last line of the forecast with the appropriate time (e.g., AMD2218).

U.S. civil stations may include probability of precipitation occurrence.

KLCH TAF 032240Z 032323 01012G22KT 5SM HZ OVC006

BECMG 0002 01015G25KT 2SM -DZ BR OVC004 PROB40 0004 VRB25G35KT 2SM

TSRA VV002

FM0400 01012G20KT 2SM BR OVC004

BECMG 1516 01015G25KT 4SM HZ OVC008

FM1700 01010KT 5SM HZ OVC009;

KSHV TAF 032240Z 032323 36010KT 4SM BR OVC004 WS005/27050KT

TEMPO 2316 35015KT 2SM -FZDZ PL OVC020

FM1700 04008KT P6SM BKN025;

Figure 1-32 Civilian TAF Examples

Additionally, there are some differences between military TAFs and International TAFs, which

are summarized in Figure 1-33.

AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORTS AND TERMINAL AERODROME

FORECASTS 1-27