SECTION 7 & 8 FORECAST &
PROGNOSTIC CHARTS
FA – Area Forecasts
• How many geographical areas in the CONUS?
• What does SFO mean?
• How many times a day are FA’s issued for SFO or
SLC?
• How long is the Synopsis section normally valid
for?
• How long is the clouds and weather section valid
for
• How long is the outlook section valid for?
FA
• Can be found by visiting
– http://aviationweather.gov/products/fa/
• Alaska
– http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov/areaforecasts.php
• Contractions from FAA order 7340.2
– http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/at_or
ders/media/CNT.pdf
FA 7.1.6
• VFR Clouds/Weather
– Gives a general description of clouds and weather
which cover an area greater than 3,000 square
miles and are significant to VFR flight operations.
The forecasts are referenced to states or
geographic areas.
• Page 17-1 has a geographic area map
• Review four bullets on 7-6
FA examples
• http://aviationweather.gov/products/fa/
TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
• How long are they normally valid for?
• How many times a day do they typically come
out?
• When are the normal start times for TAF’s
• http://www.aviationweather.gov/adds/tafs/
International Aviation Route
Forecasts (ROFOR)
• WFO Honolulu will honor all ROFOR requests for
flights within the Pacific Region beginning or
ending in, or having most of the flight path within
its area of responsibility, which is the Oakland
Oceanic FIR south of 30N, between 140W and
130E.
• Contain
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Winds and temperatures aloft
Significant en-route weather
Zone Weather
Weather Synopsis
ROFOR
• http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/aviation.
php
FB, FD, … Winds and Temp Aloft
Forecast
• Winds Aloft, officially known as the Winds
and Temperatures Aloft Forecast (These
reports were known as "FD" in the US, but
are becoming known as "FB", following the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
nomenclature.),
• http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/pd0
1008012d.pdf
FB – winds and temp aloft
• Bulletin Designators. Wind and temperature
aloft forecasts are issued in bulletins
identified by the data type designator "FB" in
the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO)
• 6-Hour Forecast FBUS31 KWNO
• 12-Hour Forecast FBUS33 KWNO
• 24-Hour Forecast FBUS35 KWNO
FB
• (Extracted from FBUS31 KWNO 051402)
• FD1US1 DATA BASED ON 051200Z VALID
051800Z FOR USE 1400-2100Z. TEMPS NEG
ABV 24000 FT
– 6 hour forecast
• (Extracted from FBUS33 KWNO 051402)
FD3US3 DATA BASED ON 051200Z
– 12-Hour Forecast
Higher winds aloft in WA
• Only GEG and SEA (not YKM)
•
45,000 53,000
• GEG 245657 233753
• SEA 225057 223753
FB’s
• Issued four times a day
– Based on data from 00Z and 12Z
• Table page 7-43 (7-11)
– Model run at 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z
– Available 02Z, 08Z, 14Z, 20Z
– Valid for 6 hour
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•
•
02Z-09Z
08Z-15Z
14Z-21Z
20Z-03Z
FLIGHT FOLDER
• International Flight Folder Documentation Folder
http://www.aviationweather.gov/iffdp/
– Weather Depiction & Weather Radar
– Volcanic Ash Forecast Guidance http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready2bin/ashcurrent.pl
– SIGWX old style black and white
http://www.aviationweather.gov/data/iffdp/2101.gif
– Canadian GFA http://www.aviationweather.gov/iffdp/cacw
– Winds and Temp aloft higher altitudes FL 390 to FL500
– TAFs specific routes
– METAR’s specific routes
– International, Oceanic, Domestic SIGMETs
– AIRMET’s
– Tropical Cyclones
– Volcanic Eruptions
– Other (National Radar Composite, International Satellite Imagery)
•
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KMWH 052152Z 20020G28KT 10SM FEW075 14/M01 A2955 RMK AO2 PK WND
22028/2146 SLP009 T01441011
KMWH 052052Z 21018G26KT 10SM FEW060 13/M01 A2959 RMK AO2 PK WND
21030/2040 SLP020 T01281006 58016
KMWH 051952Z 22019G35KT 10SM CLR 13/M01 A2961 RMK AO2 PK WND
21035/1948 SLP027 T01331011
KMWH 051852Z 23019G30KT 10SM OVC070 13/M02 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND
22030/1850 SLP037 T01281017
KMWH 051752Z 21014G23KT 10SM CLR 12/00 A2964 RMK AO2 PK WND
22027/1719 SLP037 T01170000 10122 20050 58021
KMWH 051652Z 20013KT 10SM FEW110 11/01 A2966 RMK AO2 SLP046 T01060006
KMWH 051552Z 19007KT 10SM CLR 08/00 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP053 T00830000
KMWH 051452Z 21005KT 10SM OVC110 07/00 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP060 T00670000
56027
KMWH 051352Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP068 T00611006
KMWH 051252Z AUTO 14006KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP077
T00561006
KMWH 051152Z AUTO 16008KT 10SM CLR 06/00 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP087
T00610000 10111 20061 58026
KMWH 051052Z AUTO 18009KT 10SM CLR 08/M01 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP095
T00831011
TAF 3-5-2012
• KMWH 051739Z 0518/0618 20013KT P6SM FEW110
FM051900 24019G28KT P6SM VCSH BKN060 OVC080
FM052130 26020G32KT P6SM SCT060 BKN100
FM060200 24017KT P6SM SCT080 SCT120
• TAF KMWH 051133Z 0512/0612 19007KT P6SM
SCT090 BKN150 WS020/25045KT
FM051600 19013G22KT P6SM SCT080 BKN150
FM051900 24019G28KT 5SM BLDU VCSH BKN080
OVC140 FM052300 26020G32KT 6SM BLDU SCT080
BKN120 FM060200 24017KT P6SM SCT080 SCT120
GEG
• KGEG 051739Z 0518/0618 21018G24KT P6SM
VCSH FEW060 BKN080 BKN200
• FM052000 22023G31KT P6SM -RA OVC035
FM060200 22019G27KT P6SM VCSH BKN040
OVC060
• FM060400 23013G22KT P6SM SCT040
FM061000 22011KT P6SM FEW060
8.1 Short-Range Prognostic (Prog)
Charts
• Provides a forecast of surface pressure
systems, fronts and precipitation for a 2-day
period.
• Divided into four forecast periods
– 12-,24-,36-, and 48-hours.
Surface Prog Chart
• Can be found at
http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov/progs/
• Symbols
CONTENT
• Fronts and Squall lines are denoted with the
symbols on figure 8-2
• Pressure systems
– Depicted by pressure centers, troughs, isobars,
drylines, tropical waves, tropical storms, and
hurricanes
– Isobars are denoted by solid gray lines and labeled
with the appropriate pressure in millibars.
PRECIPITATION (MEMORIZE)
PRECIPITATION
• Areas are denoted by thick, solid, green lines.
• A mix of precipitation is indicated by the use
of two pertinent symbols separated by a slash.
A bold dashed grey line is used to separate
precip. within an outlined area with
contrasting characteristics. (eg. Snow from
rain)
PRECIPITATION
• Shaded areas indicate the precipitation is
expected to have more than 50% (broken)
coverage. Unshaded areas indicate 30-50%
(scattered) coverage.
ISSUANCE
USE
• Short-Range Surface (prog) charts make the
comprehension of weather details easier and
more meaningful. For example, in figure 8-6
through 8-9, the cold front located from the
eastern Great Lakes to Missouri is forecast to
move southeastward and the High pressure
center just north of the Minnesota/North
Dakota boarder is also forecast to move
southeast and weaken.
8.2 Low-Level Significant Weather
(SIGWX) Charts
• Provide a forecast of aviation weather hazards
primarily intended to be used as guidance
products for pre-flight briefings.
• For altitudes 24,000 ft or 400 millibars and
below
• Give turbulence and freezing level. Icing is
NOT specifically forecast.
• Shows forecast areas of IFR and MVFR
SYMBOLS
IFR & MVFR
TURBULENCE
FREEZING LEVELS
MULTIPLE FREEZING LEVELS
ISSUANCE
USE (great overview up to 400MB)
8.3 Mid-Level Significant
Weather Chart
• Enroute weather phenomena 10,000 ft – FL
450 and associated surface weather features
• Can find at
http://aviationweather.gov/products/swm/
THUNDERSTORMS
THUNDERSTORMS
SURFACE FRONTAL POSITION AND
MOVEMENTS
JET STREAMS (more than 80kts)
TROPOPAUSE HEIGHTS
TROPICAL CYCLONES
MODERATE OR SEVERE ICING
• Depicted by enclosed (red) scalloped lines.
MODERATE OR SEVERE TURBULENCE
(IN CLOUD OR IN CLEAR AIR)
• Enclosed by bold yellow dashed lines if
associated with wind shear and/or mountain
waves.
• Areas of moderate or severe turbulence are
also depicted by enclosed (red) scalloped
lines.
CLOUD COVERAGE
CLOUD TYPE (memorize)
VOLANIC ERUPTIONS
RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
ISSUANCE & USE
8.4 HIGH-LEVEL (SIGWX) CHART
• From FL250-FL630 gives en route weather
phenomena and associated surface weather
features.
• Can find via
http://aviationweather.gov/products/swh/
CONTENT (similar to mid level)
TS (RED) SCALLOPED LINES
TURBULENCE (YELLOW)
CONTENT
• JET STREAMS, FRONTS, TROPAUSE HEIGHTS,
TROPICAL CYCLONES, VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
(ALL DEPICTED THE SAME)
• SEVERE SQUALL LINES
ISSUANCE
•
•
SECTION 9
You will not be tested on section 9
Many new products of a:
•
Advisory,
•
Observe or
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
METAR
Satellite
Radar
Ceiling and Vis
PIREP
Forecast Nature
•
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AIRMET/SIGMET
Convection
Turbulence
Icing
Wind/Temps
Prog Charts
TAFs
Flight Path Tool (Very Cool)
Section 9 includes supplementary products such as
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Collaborative Convective Forecast Product
National Convective Weather Forecast
Current Icing Product
Forecast Icing Potential
Graphical Turbulence Guidance
Meteorological Impact Statement (MIS)
http://aviationweather.gov/testbed/
http://weather.aero/
MOBILE Weather & Other Products
•
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/MOBILE/ZOA2.htm
• Graphical Turbulence Guidance
• http://weather.aero/tools/weatherproducts/turbulence
• Graphical Icing
• http://weather.aero/tools/weatherproducts/icing
• Aviation Forecast Discussion
• http://www.aviationweather.gov/products/afd
• Terminal Information Board
• http://www.aviationweather.gov/testbed/cwsu/tafboard/
• CWA’s Center Weather Advisories
http://www.aviationweather.gov/testbed/cwaplot/
• Short Range Ensemble Forecasts
http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/wd20bz/SREF_aviation/web_site/html_212/fltr
estr.html
NAV Canada
• http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca/cgibin/CreePage.pl?Langue=anglais&NoSession=
NS_Inconnu&Page=forecastobservation&TypeDoc=html
APPENDIX
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SECTION 10 = ASOS & AWOS LOCATIONS
SECTION 11 = CONTRACTIONS AND ACRONYMS
SECTION 12 = STANDARD CONVERSION CHART
SECTION 13 = DENSITY ALTITUDE CALCULATION
SECTION 14 = INTERNET RESOURCES
SECTION 15 = AWC ADVISORY PLOTTING CHART
SECTION 16 = WSR-88D WEATHER RADAR NETWORK
SECTION 17 = AWC GEOGRAPHIC AREA DESIGNATOR
MAP
• SECTION 18 = PRESENT WEATHER SYMBOLS
• SECTION 19 = TURBULENCE AND ICING DEPICTIONS
NAVCANADA PRODUCTS
• http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca/
• GFA
• http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca/cgibin/CreePage.pl?Page=infogfa&NoSession=NS_Inconnu&TypeDoc=gfa&L
angue=anglais#abbr_symb
• Transport Canada AIM
• http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/publications
/tp14371/menu.htm
ARMII
• ANTIAUTHORITY: Don’t tell me
– Follow the rules. They are usually right
• Resignation: What’s the use
– I’m not helpless. I can make a difference
• Macho: I can do it
– Taking chances is foolish
• IMPULSIVITY: Do something quickly
– Not so fast. Think first.
• INVULNERABILITY: It won’t happen to me
– It could happen to me.