As I was browsing the threat on using UAV Forecast app, it dawned on me that I live about 6-7 miles from ORD (O'Hare Intl). It would seem to me that their weather report would be more accurate. Is there a way for the general public to access this information (also learning to read weather codes for Part 107 test)?
How to get airport weather forecasts without a radio?
- Thread starter Skybuyer
- Start date
You should be able to look at the NOTAMS and METARS. I'm not sure what app would be best for that in the US, though, but I suspect the FAA site has some links to sites for doing that.
I also suspect that UAV forecast draws its local info from the national weather service which probably includes a station at O'Hare.
Metphorically, I have coined a phrase for Photoshop editing that I think can be applied to many areas:
"Things that appear easy are often difficult. Conversely, things that appear difficult are often easy".
This was the case. As soon as you mentioned METAR, it struck me that I could just google METAR for ORD... and voilá a few links popped up to give me the information I needed, including codes that I can practice reading. Thanks for jogging my memory.
So another question, for the purpose of helping me with my upcoming 107 test.. What is the difference (or definitions) of Raw TAF and Raw METAR?
Raw TAF
KORD 291449Z 2915/3018 34013G20KT P6SM SCT025 BKN250
FM300100 32008KT P6SM FEW025
FM301100 02004KT P6SM FEW250
FM301700 08005KT P6SM SCT100
Raw METAR
KORD 291551Z 30008KT 10SM SCT030 BKN200 25/14 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP087 T02500139 $
KORD 291451Z 35014G20KT 10SM SCT025 SCT200 24/15 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP079 T02440150 51010 $
KORD 291351Z 35017G21KT 10SM SCT025 24/05 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP076 T02390050 $
Two links that populated:
AWC - Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
METAR TAF : O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Illinois United States
I looked it up because I'm starting to prepare for my Advanced certificate here in Canada - NOTAMS and METARS are the same format, since they're designed for all pilots.
So...
KORD - O'hare
291449Z - Day and time at UTC : day 29 14:49 zulu (09:49 in Chicago)
2915/3018 - no idea.. (I need to look that up, too)
34013G20KT - wind coming from 340 degrees. 13 knots gust of 20 knots.
P6SM - visibility is 6 miles (I have no idea what the P stands for)
SCT025 - scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
BKN250 - broken clouds at 25,000 feet
The METAR is similar...
KORD = O'Hare
291551Z = 29th day, 1551 UTC
10SM = visibility 10 statute miles
30008KT = wind from 300 degrees (West-northwest) at 8 knots
SCT030 = scattered clouds at 3,000 feet AGL
BKN200 = broken clouds at 20,000 feet AGL
25/14 = 25 degrees Celsius / dew point is 14 Celsius
A2981 = Altimeter (barometric pressure) 29.81 inches of mercury
RMK = Remarks
A02 = the station can report types of precipitation
SLP087 sea level pressure 987.0 millibar (you have to infer the hundreds and thousands places - pressure is always around 1000, so a low number like 123 would become 1012.3, and a high number like 876 would be 987.6
T02500139 = 25.0 Celsius, dewpoint 13.9 Celsius
$ = The system requires maintenance
A little meteorological aside ... If you see the barometric pressure dropping between METAR reports, there is an increased chance of precipitation. If it's rising, there is an increased chance that the weather will become, or remain, clear.
Thanks for asking the question - this is going to be helpful for me as I prepare for the Canadian Advanced RPAS pilot exam. ??
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I looked it up because I'm starting to prepare for my Advanced certificate here in Canada - NOTAMS and METARS are the same format, since they're designed for all pilots.
So...
KORD - O'hare
291449Z - Day and time at UTC : day 29 14:49 zulu (09:49 in Chicago)
2915/3018 - no idea.. (I need to look that up, too)
34013G20KT - wind coming from 340 degrees. 13 knots gust of 20 knots.
P6SM - visibility is 6 miles (I have no idea what the P stands for)
SCT025 - scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
BKN250 - broken clouds at 25,000 feet
The METAR is similar...
KORD = O'Hare
291551Z = 29th day, 1551 UTC
10SM = visibility 10 statute miles
30008KT = wind from 300 degrees (West-northwest) at 8 knots
SCT030 = scattered clouds at 3,000 feet AGL
BKN200 = broken clouds at 20,000 feet AGL
25/14 = 25 degrees Celsius / dew point is 14 Celsius
A2981 = Altimeter (barometric pressure) 29.81 inches of mercury
RMK = Remarks
A02 = the station can report types of precipitation
SLP087 sea level pressure 987.0 millibar (you have to infer the hundreds and thousands places - pressure is always around 1000, so a low number like 123 would become 1012.3, and a high number like 876 would be 987.6
T02500139 = 25.0 Celsius, dewpoint 13.9 Celsius
$ = The system requires maintenance
A little meteorological aside ... If you see the barometric pressure dropping between METAR reports, there is an increased chance of precipitation. If it's rising, there is an increased chance that the weather will become, or remain, clear.
Thanks for asking the question - this is going to be helpful for me as I prepare for the Canadian Advanced RPAS pilot exam. ??
Good of you to share your knowledge. As far at 2905/3018, I assume it must refer to something in the report that will occur or hold until between 1500hrs and 18:30z but not sure. However 15 seems to be 1500z and is 10 minutes later than the time stated in the METAR report, and the latter could be a number of things that I'm not sure of, but probably the report generated a few minutes after METAR?
I've notated what I didn't know in red so I could copy it and look it up later when studying. Do you have a test date yet? I wonder how much harder the Canadian test is from the US? Do you have to have a hands-on flying test as well?
TampaTC
Well-Known Member
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For the written, we can go any time - it's online, open book and $10.00. If you fail, you can write again after 24 hours.
Once I have passed the written, I'll make an appointment for a flight review. Those cost anywhere from $150 to $500.
The main differences between the Basic and Advanced certificates in Canada is that we can fly closer to people (100 ft for basic, 15 ft for Advanced,) the Advanced allows you to fly within controlled airspace, and you need the Advanced to apply for Special Flight Operations Certificates (to fly over people, at advertised events, as part of Search and Rescue, etc.).
One of the nice things is that our regulations don't differentiate between recreational and non-recreational flying - it's mostly based on level of risk to people, property and manned aircraft.
With my Basic certificate, I can do commercial work, as long as I keep the drone at least 100 ft away (measured horizontally) from bystanders and don't fly in controlled airspace. One of my drones is an Inspire 1 - even with the Advanced, I still can't fly it within 100 ft of bystanders because DJI haven't certified it for close flight.
I think I had an error...
SLP087 sea level pressure987.0 millibar (you have to infer the hundreds and thousands places - pressure is always around 1000, so a low number like 123 would become 1012.3, and a high number like 876 would be 987.6
My reading of it should be: 1008.7 millibar
SLP087 sea level pressure
My reading of it should be: 1008.7 millibar
Not sure if it’s also available for Android, but AeroWeather is a great app for iOS which gives you METARs and TAFs for any airport. You can view the raw report or a decode. It offers much more and all for free. There are some paid options but they are not required for most users.
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(773) 462-0118 O’Hare automated weather
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Rex Peters
Well-Known Member
Look at the link below for a great video on how to read METAR weather reports.
To heck with METARS and apps.
The best system in the U.S. is www.weather.gov, which is run by the National Weather Service. And almost always uses local airport weather reports and forecasts.
As an architectural photographer, my schedule depends 100% on weather. That site is the best by far for accurate and easy to read. They have an hourly graphic and it very, very accurate. Almost uncanny how accurate it is. I've been using it for years, even before drones.
They do not have an app, but I have the homepage tagged on the main screen of my iPhone.
Here is an example of what my local forecast looks like today. I'm not flying, but having family over this afternoon. I expect some good wind. I have it customized to show what I need for my work.
The best system in the U.S. is www.weather.gov, which is run by the National Weather Service. And almost always uses local airport weather reports and forecasts.
As an architectural photographer, my schedule depends 100% on weather. That site is the best by far for accurate and easy to read. They have an hourly graphic and it very, very accurate. Almost uncanny how accurate it is. I've been using it for years, even before drones.
They do not have an app, but I have the homepage tagged on the main screen of my iPhone.
Here is an example of what my local forecast looks like today. I'm not flying, but having family over this afternoon. I expect some good wind. I have it customized to show what I need for my work.
I wonder if Don was following this thread.
It is a great video and has been added to the Don Drones on library to help people prepare for their Advanced exam here in Canada.??
That's pretty awesome!
For the Advanced RPAS pilot certificate in Canada, we need to be able to interpret METARS. I'm not sure if it's the same for part 107 pilots in the US, or for certificates anywhere else in the world.
UAV Forecast summarizes things in a table and, based on whatever parameters you set (e.g. wind speed with or without gusts), will give you 'Good to Fly' or 'Not Good to Fly' assessment. The forecast page helps me decide if I want to take an hour-long drive (in this example) to get in some flying and photography. Today, I'll make the drive to capture some photos of a ship transiting the seaway lock. There's also an osprey nest at the location - the chicks may have left, I'm not sure, but I'll get some snaps of them if they're still making practice flights.
I'll bring the drone along in case the wind isn't as brisk as the forecast says it will be. FWIW - If I fly, it's about 200 meters out past the east end of the lock and 400ft AGL - I'd be launching from about 500 metres away from the osprey nest and hovering about a full km from the nest. (Two things - I don't want to disturb the nesting animals and I don't want to risk the drone being attacked by the momma or poppa osprey - they could injure themselves. Oh, and it would almost certainly destroy the drone.
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Even pilots flying regular aircraft don’t use metars anymore.
The hot item is SiriusXM. They have a weather service but it’s a paid subscription.
Technically METARS are part of the 107 knowledge test. But even our CSI who teaches airspace and airports ops said don't worry about it. They're pointless these days, and their days are likely numbered. It's very old out-dated technology.
I'm ok with that. Still need to know it, in case it shows up on the exam, though.
And Sirius XM charges for the service.
And there is a free broadcast weather radio service operated by NOAA in the US and ECCC in Canada
And ... the OP asked about getting the report without a radio.
To me "technically part of the knowledge test" means "literally part of the knowledge requirement for the exam".
They may be pointless and outdated, but they are still in use, and still part of the knowledge requirement. Maybe the CSI meant "don't worry about METARS in the real world", rather than "don't worry about METARS for the exam".
I'd hate to be the person who fails by one question because they couldn't interpret METARS, especially after the instructor said not to worry about it. Me, I might be looking for a refund if that happened.
You're right - there are many, many options available for getting the weather information. Most of them are better suited to flying within the UAS/RPAS regulations than METARS. For example, I don't care what the wind speed is at 4,000 (or 20,000) ft. I mainly want to know three things:
- Is there going to be precipitation?
- Will the temperature be ok?
- Will it be too windy?
The exams call for lots of knowledge items that don't apply to flying small remotely piloted aircraft. We need to learn them to pass the exams. Once we've passed, we can files the information away for trivia night.
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A METAR will give you all of those things including trends (and only includes surface winds!).
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