Aeronautical Information, NOTAM and Meteorological Communications
This domain tests the products you pass to crews and how you read them: the AIP family, NOTAM format, and decoded METAR, TAF, SIGMET and trend information.
AIS products
- AIP with amendments, AIP Supplements, AIC, NOTAM and the pre-flight information bulletin. NOTAM carries time-critical, short-notice information.
- NOTAM items: A location indicator; B start date-time; C end, or PERM/EST; D schedule when not continuous; E text; F lower limit; G upper limit; Q the five-letter Q-code, where letters two and three give the subject and letters four and five the condition.
- NOTAMR replaces and NOTAMC cancels. A trigger NOTAM announces a major AIP amendment. SNOWTAM and ASHTAM report runway conditions and volcanic ash.
Meteorological messages
- METAR is routine, SPECI is special, TAF is a forecast, optionally with a trend. Cloud heights are feet above ground level; coded METAR and TAF winds are in degrees true.
- 9999 means 10 km or more. Q1010 is QNH in hectopascals. SIGMET warns of significant weather such as embedded thunderstorms or volcanic ash.
Worked example. METAR DNMM 121200Z 24012KT 9999 BKN020 28/24 Q1010 reads: issued on the 12th at 12:00 UTC; surface wind 240 degrees true at 12 knots; visibility 10 km or more; broken cloud at 2 000 ft above ground; temperature 28 Celsius, dewpoint 24; QNH 1010 hPa.
Traps. Reading cloud height as altitude above sea level; taking METAR wind as magnetic (ATIS and RTF give magnetic); treating 9999 as exactly 10 km; missing a PERM end date on a NOTAM.