FAA Part 107 Study Guide
Weather Data : METAR and TAF
METAR = METeorological Aerodrome Report
TAF = Terminal Area Forecast
Both are** coded weather reports, a **METAR is an observation (now), a TAF is a forecast (future, up to 30 hours ahead). Both use a similar format and abbreviations.
These weather products can be obtained from AVIATIONWEATHER.GOV or 1800WXBRIEF.COM by entering the desired airport’s 4 letter identifier code ( i.e KLAX, KSFO)
Small airports may not deliver METARs or TAFs, and TAFs are usually only available at larger airports.
Unfortunately for those new to aviation, the FAA wants remote-pilots to learn how to read raw METARs and TAFs, you can expect 1 to 3 questions covering these on the test. For real world use, these are available in a plain language format (decoded) and are a great tool to obtain accurate weather information.
Remember this for the knowledge test:
- Wind directions are reported in *true heading. *
- Cloud **heights are reported in hundreds of feet above ground level.**
- A cloud ceiling is a broken or overcast cloud layer.
Examples and decoding table below. For more details consult:
- THE AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL, CHAPTER 7.
- THE PILOT’S HANDBOOK OF AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE, CHAPTER 13.
A raw METAR looks like this:
KIAD 180005Z 19008KT 10SM TS SCT060CB BKN090 BKN200 31/21 A3002 RMK AO2 TSB04 FRQ LTGICCCCG SW TS SW MOV NE T03060211
Below is the same METAR in decoded format:
| METAR for: | KIAD (Washington/Dulles In, VA, US) |
| Date and Time: | the 18th of the current month at 00:05 UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) |
| Winds: | from the S (190 degrees) at 9 MPH (8 knots; 4.1 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 10 or more sm (16+ km) |
| Weather: | TS (thunderstorm) |
| Clouds: | scattered cumulonimbus clouds at 6000 feet AGL, broken clouds at 9000 feet AGL, broken clouds at 20000 feet AGL |
| Temperature: | 30.6°C ( 87°F) |
| Dewpoint: | 21.1°C ( 70°F) [RH = 57%] |
| Pressure (altimeter): | 30.02 inches Hg (1016.7 mb) |
Sample TAF:
KIAD 172349Z 1800/1906 21005KT 6SM -TSRA BR OVC040CB
TEMPO 1800/1802 26020G35KT 1/2SM +TSRA FG OVC030CB
FM180300 VRB03KT 6SM -SHRA BR VCTS OVC040CB
FM180600 00000KT P6SM VCSH OVC060
FM181300 32006KT P6SM SCT050 SCT150
Decoded TAF:
| TAF for: | KIAD (Washington/Dulles In, VA, US) issued at 2349 UTC 17 Aug |
| Text: | KIAD 172349Z 1800/1906 21005KT 6SM -TSRA BR OVC040CB |
| Forecast period: | 0000 to 0300 UTC 18 August |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the SSW (210 degrees) at 6 MPH (5 knots; 2.6 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 sm ( 10 km) |
| Ceiling: | 4000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 4000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | -TSRA BR (light rain associated with thunderstorm(s), mist) |
| Text: | TEMPO 1800/1802 26020G35KT 1/2SM +TSRA FG OVC030CB |
| Forecast period: | 0000 to 0200 UTC 18 August |
| Forecast type: | TEMPORARY: The following changes expected for less than half the time period |
| Winds: | from the W (260 degrees) at 23 MPH (20 knots; 10.3 m/s) gusting to 40 MPH (35 knots; 18.0 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 0.50 sm ( 0.80 km) |
| Ceiling: | 3000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 3000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | +TSRA FG (heavy rain associated with thunderstorm(s), fog) |
| Text: | FM180300 VRB03KT 6SM -SHRA BR VCTS OVC040CB |
| Forecast period: | 0300 to 0600 UTC 18 August |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | variable direction winds at 3 MPH (3 knots; 1.5 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 sm ( 10 km) |
| Ceiling: | 4000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 4000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | -SHRA BR VCTS (light rain showers, mist, thunderstorm in vicinity) |
| Text: | FM180600 00000KT P6SM VCSH OVC060 |
| Forecast period: | 0600 to 1300 UTC 18 August |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | calm |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | 6000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | overcast cloud deck at 6000 feet AGL |
| Weather: | VCSH (showers in vicinity) |
| Text: | FM181300 32006KT P6SM SCT050 SCT150 |
| Forecast period: | 1300 UTC 18 August to 0600 UTC 19 August |
| Forecast type: | FROM: standard forecast or significant change |
| Winds: | from the NW (320 degrees) at 7 MPH (6 knots; 3.1 m/s) |
| Visibility: | 6 or more sm (10+ km) |
| Ceiling: | at least 12,000 feet AGL |
| Clouds: | scattered clouds at 5000 feet AGL, scattered clouds at 15000 feet AGL |
Use the following decoding table from NOAA and the FAA:
Practice decoding the METARs and TAFs from the AIRMAN KNOWLEDGE TESTING SUPPLEMENT in figures 12 and 15.
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