JPATS Weather - NETC

JPATS AVIATION WEATHER BOOKLET
Group 1: Type Of Report
The first word of the report line, either “METAR” or “SPECI,” will indicate which of these two
main types of observations was reported (Figure 6-3).
METAR — An hourly routine scheduled observation–containing wind, visibility, runway visual
range, present weather, sky condition, temperature/dew point, and altimeter setting–constitutes
the body of the report. Additional coded data or plain language information that elaborates on the
report may be included in the “Remarks” section.
SPECI — A SPECIal, unscheduled observation containing all the data elements found in a
METAR whenever critical data have changed from the previous observation (reasons are too
numerous to cover in this course). All SPECI are made as soon as possible after the element
criteria are observed.
Figure 6-2 — METAR Code Groups
METAR KNPA 082255Z 27004KT 7/8SM R04/4500FT DZ FG SCT000 BKN011 OVC380
19/18 A2997 RMK VIS1/2V1 CIG009V013 FG SCT000 BKN TOPS 027 SLP149
SPECI KNPA 082317Z 31020G30KT 3/8SM R04/2500FT VCTS SCT000 BKN006 OVC380
17/17 A2993 RMK VIS1/8V1 CIG004V008 FG SCT000 BKN TOPS 350 SLP136
Group 2: Station Identifiers
Figure 6-3 — Type of Report: METAR or SPECI
The METAR code format uses a 4-letter ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)
identifier. In the continental U. S., all 3-letter identifiers are prefixed with a “K,” e.g., KLAX for
Los Angeles, and KBOS for Boston (Figure 6-4). Elsewhere, the first two letters of the ICAO
identifier indicate what region of the world (e.g. K=USA, C=Canada, P=Pacific, E=Europe) and
country the station is located. For example, PAFA is Fairbanks, Alaska, PHNA is Barber’s Point,
Hawaii, and CYUL is Montreal, Canada. Also, EG indicates a station in England, and LI
indicates a station in Italy. For a complete worldwide listing of all the identifiers, one must refer
to the ICAO Document 7910 Location Identifiers.
Version 3.2/Dec 08 6-3