MET.TR.200 Meteorological reports and other information

(a)Local routine report, local special report, METAR and SPECI shall contain the following elements in the order indicated:

(1)identification of the type of report;

(2)location indicator;

(3)time of the observation;

(4)identification of an automated or missing report, when applicable;

(5)surface wind direction and speed;

(6)visibility;

(7)runway visual range, when the reporting criteria are met;

(8)present weather;

(9)cloud amount, cloud type only for cumulonimbus and towering cumulus clouds and height of cloud base or, where measured, vertical visibility;

(10)air temperature and dew-point temperature;

(11)QNH and, when applicable, in local routine and local special report, QFE;

(12)supplementary information, when applicable.

(b)In local routine report and local special report:

(1)if the surface wind is observed from more than one location along the runway, the locations for which these values are representative shall be indicated;

(2)when there is more than one runway in use and the surface wind related to these runways is observed, the available wind values for each runway shall be given, and the runways to which the values refer shall be reported;

(3)when variations from the mean wind direction are reported in accordance with point MET.TR.205(a)(3)(ii)(B), the two extreme directions between which the surface wind has varied shall be reported;

(4)when variations from the mean wind speed (gusts) are reported in accordance with point MET.TR.205(a)(3) (iii), they shall be reported as the maximum and minimum values of the wind speed attained.

(c)METAR and SPECI

(1)METAR and SPECI shall be issued in accordance with the template shown in Appendix 1.

(2)METAR shall be filed for transmission not later than 5 minutes after the actual time of observation.

(d)Information on visibility, runway visual range, present weather and cloud amount, cloud type and height of cloud base shall be replaced in all meteorological reports by the term ‘CAVOK’ when the following conditions occur simultaneously at the time of observation:

(1)visibility, 10 km or more, and the lowest visibility is not reported;

(2)no cloud of operational significance;

(3)no weather of significance to aviation.

(e)The list of criteria to provide local special report shall include:

(1)those values which most closely correspond to the operating minima of the operators using the aerodrome;

(2)those values which satisfy other local requirements of the air traffic services (ATS) units and of the operators;

(3)an increase in air temperature of 2 °C or more from that given in the latest local report, or an alternative threshold value as agreed between the meteorological services providers, the appropriate ATS unit and the operators concerned;

(4)the available supplementary information concerning the occurrence of significant meteorological conditions in the approach and climb-out areas;

(5)when noise-abatement procedures are applied and the variation from the mean surface wind speed has changed by 5 kt or more from that at the time of the latest local report, the mean speed before and/or after the change being 15 kt or more;

(6)when the mean surface wind direction has changed by 60° or more from that given in the latest report, the mean speed before and/or after the change being 10 kt or more;

(7)when the mean surface wind speed has changed by 10 kt or more from that given in the latest local report;

(8)when the variation from the mean surface wind speed (gusts) has changed by 10 kt or more from that at the time of the latest local report, the mean speed before and/or after the change being 15 kt or more;

(9)when the onset, cessation or change in intensity of any of the following weather phenomena occurs:

(i)freezing precipitation;

(ii)moderate or heavy precipitation, including showers thereof; and

(iii)thunderstorm, with precipitation;

(10)when the onset or cessation of any of the following weather phenomena occurs:

(i)freezing fog;

(ii)thunderstorm, without precipitation;

(11)when the amount of a cloud layer below 1 500 ft (450 m) changes:

(i)from scattered (SCT) or less to broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC); or

(ii)from BKN or OVC to SCT or less.

(f)When so agreed between the meteorological services provider and the competent authority, local special reports and SPECI, when applicable shall be issued whenever the following changes occur:

(1)when the wind changes through values of operational significance; the threshold values shall be established by the meteorological services provider in consultation with the appropriate ATS unit and operators concerned, taking into account changes in the wind which would:

(i)require a change in runway(s) in use;

(ii)indicate that the runway tailwind and crosswind components have changed through values representing the main operating limits for typical aircraft operating at the aerodrome;

(2)when the visibility is improving and changes to or passes through one or more of the following values, or when the visibility is deteriorating and passes through one or more of the following values:

(i)800, 1 500 or 3 000 m;

(ii)5 000 m, in cases where a significant number of flights are operated in accordance with the visual flight rules;

(3)when the runway visual range is improving and changes to or passes through one or more of the following values, or when the runway visual range is deteriorating and passes through one or more of the following values: 50, 175, 300, 550 or 800 m;

(4)when the onset, cessation or change in intensity of any of the following weather phenomena occurs:

(i)dust storm;

(ii)sandstorm;

(iii)funnel cloud (tornado or waterspout);

(5)when the onset or cessation of any of the following weather phenomena occurs:

(i)low drifting dust, sand or snow;

(ii)blowing dust, sand or snow;

(iii)squall;

(6)when the height of base of the lowest cloud layer of BKN or OVC extent is lifting and changes to or passes through one or more of the following values, or when the height of base of the lowest cloud layer of BKN or OVC extent is lowering and passes through one or more of the following values:

(i)100, 200, 500 or 1 000 ft;

(ii)1 500 ft, in cases where significant numbers of flights are operated in accordance with the visual flight rules;

(7)when the sky is obscured and the vertical visibility is improving and changes to or passes through one or more of the following values, or when the vertical visibility is deteriorating and passes through one or more of the following values: 100, 200, 500 or 1 000 ft;

(8)any other criteria based on local aerodrome operating minima, as agreed between the meteorological services providers and the operators.