REAL TIME WEATHER & FLIGHT PLANNING BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME - FREE TO BROWSE

LOCAL FORECASTS

* UK Weather Channel (Usk 16 Day prediction)

* Metcheck weather information for Usk, Nr Newport.

* Latest UK MET Office forecasts for St Athan Nr. Cardiff

There are many sources of free predictive weather data useful for aviators, which can be collected and made available from private and public weather stations worldwide.

The data obtained using the links here should be treated as a guide, but at least you will know if its worth getting out of bed or not!.

The Citizen Weather Observer Programme (CWOP) for example, uploads data every five minutes.

MeteoGroup UK is a private weather forecasting company owned by PA Group. Rain & snow radar predictions are provided here.

LOCAL AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS

* RAF Halton, Nr Aylesbury:
* Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield
* Black Mountains, Talgarth
* Dunkeswell Airfield, Devon
* Henstridge Airfield, Somerset

You can also find some airfields using the Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station equipment plus live weather software, which offers a useful local view of the weather.

Here, you can sample 'Actual' weather in real-time. Treat as a guide only, you must always supplement with weather data from approved sources for flight planning purposes.

All the readings are ten-minute averages updated every few seconds. Pressures shown are QNH, and a cloud base is shown.. The cloudbase is NOT an observation, but represents the height at which you can EXPECT cloud to form - see below.

Tip: To forecast approximate Cloud Base yourself:
use formulae (Surface Temp – Dew Point TempºC) x 400 = cloud ht in ft (agl)

TAF's & METAR's

* NOAA's national weather service TAFS

* NOAA's national weather service METARS

* CheckWX@ Pembrey Sands

TAF's (Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts) and METAR's (Meteorological Airfield Reports - 'current') are freely available from various observation stations.

The US Weather service provides current and recent METAR, TAF, and short-term TAF data reports from around the world, with an explanation of the Meteorological Character Codes.

ICAO codes are required for access, ie Cardiff (EGFF), Kemble (EGBP) etc.

CheckWx.com is another FREE source of weather graphics and text data.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

* UK MET Office

* Meteo France

Both the UK Met office and Meteo France provide a standard free aviation service for pilots. Prior registration is required, with login via user name and password.

The most commonly used UK pre flight Met information is on Forms 213 and 215, together with selected airfield TAFs and METARS given by region.

FLIGHT PLANNING

* NATS - (AFPEx)

* NATS - NOTAMS

* EuroFPL

* AUSTRO Control: Home Briefing

* gCAP (Plates)

* GPS - NANUs & RAIM

*UK MET Office 5 Day Forecast

The Assisted Flight Plan Exchange (AFPEx) is an internet flight planning system provided by the UK National Air Traffic Service. Approved users are registered for use within the UK, are given a unique Login, password, and an AFTN address.

Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) are also avaiable to registered NATS users.

There are more flexible IFR&VFR alternatives to NATS provided by EuroFPL or Swiss/Austro Control & Skydemon(VFR). These complete self-briefing systems provides online flight plan filing, the creation of briefings from flight plans and flight plans from briefings, and notams. Several tools are available to help to reduce the workload during preparation. gCAP provide an alternative to standard Aerad & Jeppesen plates.

GPS availability, Notice Advisories to Navstar Users (NANUs) and Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM ) can be checked with here EUROCONTROL online.

CUSTOMS FORMS
Download the latest blank GAR form here: gar_form_blank (V)
The old version is still being used, but has a missing "Nationality" column!

mail the form to ncu@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk ( put GAR, registration and airfield in the title of the email.

TO FIND OUR MORE ABOUT MET & FORECASTING FOR PILOTS - JOIN ONE OF OUR MONTHLY MET GROUND SCHOOL SEMINARS.

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