List of Aviation Weather Products
Contents of this page:
AD QNH
AIREP and AIREP Special
ARFOR
ATIS
BWR
GRIB (Gridded Binary)
Hi-Level SIGWX
Medium or Mid-Level SIGWX
MSL ANAL and MSL PROG
METAR and SPECI
METAR AUTO
OPMET
PIREP
RAPIC
ROFOR
SATPIX
SIGMET
SPAR
TAF
Takeoff and Landing
Reports
TREND
VAA
VOLMET
WIND/TEMP Forecast
Map showing Low Level Area Forecasts
(ARFORs)
AIP New Zealand Table GEN 3.5-2 Meteorological Observations and
Reports
AIP New Zealand Table GEN 3.5-5 TAF Availability by Location
| Meteorological Product | Product Description | Use1 |
Aerodrome QNH Forecast |
This is a forecast of the maximum and minimum QNH vales. The forecast is provided as a guide to the range of pressure expected during a specified validity period. The main purpose is to provide a check on the actual QNH passed to an aircraft to ensure that any errors in transmission do not result in an incorrect altimeter setting. Aerodrome QNH forecasts, which are normally appended to TAF, shall not be used as an altimeter setting. Refer also to METAR AUTO. | Pre-flight |
|
Routine and Special Aircraft Reports |
This is a routine report (AIREP) from an aircraft in-flight, or a special report (AIREP Special) provided when hazardous meteorological conditions are encountered. Refer also to PIREP. | In-flight |
|
Area Forecast |
An area forecast (ARFOR) is a forecast for a specified
area, and is for planning domestic flights (VFR and IFR)
up to 10,000 ft. The ARFOR Areas ARFOR Example |
Pre-flight |
|
Aerodrome Terminal Information Service |
Aerodrome take-off and landing reports provided on discrete frequencies at selected aerodromes. | Prior to takeoff or landing |
|
Basic Weather Report |
Basic weather reports are provided at some aerodromes and are verbal comment on actual weather conditions at particular aerodromes. BWR are not an alternative to METAR or SPECI reports. | Pre-flight & In-flight |
|
Grid Point Forecast |
This is meteorological information provided in the GRIB code and includes information such as wind and temperature forecasts for a set of regularly spaced points. These are typically spaced at intervals of 1.25 degrees of latitude and longitude. | Pre-flight |
|
High Level Significant Weather Forecast |
This is a forecast for the
airspace between FL250 and FL630. The forecasts are
normally issued in chart form for specific geographical
areas. Example |
Pre-flight |
|
Medium (Mid) Level Significant Weather Forecast |
This is a forecast for the
airspace between FL100 and FL250. The forecasts are
normally issued in chart form for specific geographical
areas. Example |
Pre-flight |
|
Mean Sea Level Analysis and Mean Sea Level Prognosis |
A mean sea level analysis is a contour chart of the atmospheric pressure at mean sea level for a given time in the past. A mean sea level prognosis is a contour chart of the expected atmospheric pressure at mean sea level for a given time in the future. | Pre-flight |
|
Aerodrome Reports |
Aerodrome reports are provided
for specific aerodromes and presented in the METAR
(Meteorological Aerodrome Report) and SPECI (Special
Aerodrome Report) codes. METAR Example SPECI Example METAR Flowchart |
Pre-flight |
| METAR AUTO are aerodrome
reports provided from Automatic Weather Stations (AWS)
in the METAR code. Example More Info AWS sensors |
Pre-flight | |
| OPMET (Operational Meteorological Information) is a term used to describe a collection of operational meteorological information comprising TAF, METAR, SPECI, SIGMET, VAA and AIREP. | Refer to individual OPMET products | |
|
Pilot Report |
This is similar to an AIREP Special and is an abbreviated AIREP Special provided by domestic operators in New Zealand whenever weather phenomena of significance or of a hazardous nature are encountered. | In-flight |
|
Radar Picture (image) |
This is a radar picture (image)
of precipitation. Weather radar can infer precipitation
intensity (with some limitations) and location from the
strength of the echo, the time taken for it to return,
and the location from which it came. There are six
weather radars in New Zealand located near Warkworth,
New Plymouth Airport, Mahia (Hawkes Bay), Wellington,
Rakaia (southwest of Christchurch), and Invercargill
Airport. Example |
Pre-flight |
|
Route Forecast |
This is a forecast of wind,
temperature, and significant weather for a specific route
and flight levels. Example |
Pre-flight |
|
Satellite Picture |
These are obtained from
geostationary and polar orbiting satellites and provide
visible and infrared images of cloud tops. Example |
Pre-flight |
| SIGMET (Significant
Meteorological Information) provide information
concerning the occurrence or expected occurrence of
weather phenomena of a hazardous nature and which could
affect the safety of aircraft in flight. Example |
Pre-flight & In-flight | |
|
Special Aerodrome Report |
ATS units at attended aerodromes issue SPAR in abbreviated plain language and contain only those weather elements that are relevant in terms of the aerodrome meteorological minima, or are significant to aircraft operations. | Pre-flight |
|
Aerodrome Forecast |
Aerodrome forecasts are
provided for specific aerodromes and presented in the
TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) code. Example TAF Flowchart |
Pre-flight |
| These are reports of meteorological conditions at attended aerodromes prepared by the ATS unit immediately prior to a takeoff or landing. | Prior to takeoff or landing | |
|
Landing Forecast |
A TREND forecast consists of an aviation weather report (METAR or SPECI) to which is appended a concise statement of any significant changes to those described in the report that are expected to occur during the following two hours. A TREND forecast shall supersede, during the validity of the TREND, the aerodrome forecast (TAF) for the aerodrome concerned. | Pre-flight & In-flight |
|
Volcanic Ash Advisory |
VAA provide information about ash in the atmosphere resulting from volcanic eruptions. | Pre-flight & In-flight |
| Routine broadcasts of selected OPMET. Broadcasts are made from Auckland (Auckland VOLMET) using discrete HF ground to air frequencies. | In-flight | |
|
Wind and Temperature Forecast |
WIND/TEMP forecasts are issued
in chart form for specific times and levels. Wind
direction and speed are indicated at selected points by
wind arrows with feathers and shaded pennants, and spot
temperatures are enclosed in circles. Example |
Pre-flight |
Note 1: This column indicates whether the product shown is intended primarily for pre-flight or in- flight use.