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NOUS41 KWBC 111449
PNSWSH
SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 08-46
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1050 AM EDT FRI JUL 11 2008
TO: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ OFFICES
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ USERS
FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS
OTHER USERS OF NWS AVIATION FORECASTS
FROM: KEVIN L. JOHNSTON
CHIEF...AVIATION SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: REMINDER: FORMAT CHANGE FOR TERMINAL AERODROME FORECASTS
/TAFS/ FROM 24-HOUR FORMAT TO 30-HOUR FORMAT:
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5 2008
REFER TO: SCN 08-15...TIN 08-16... TIN 08-17... TIN 08-18... TIN 08-24... TIN 08-25...AND TIN 08-30. EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5 2008 ALL TAFS ISSUED BY NWS WILL CHANGE THE DATE AND TIME INDICATOR FORMAT IN THE TAF FROM THE PRESENT 24-HOUR FORMAT TO A NEW 30-HOUR FORMAT CONSISTENT WITH NEW INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION /ICAO/ RULES. THIS FORMAT CHANGE IS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT A CONSISTENT TAF FORMAT EVEN AS TAF VALID TIMES RANGE FROM A FEW HOURS UP TO AND INCLUDING 30 HOURS. ALL OF THE NEARLY 625 TAFS ISSUED BY NWS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE. A TABLE LISTING ALL THE AFFECTED TAFS IS LOCATED AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/PDFS/30_HR_TAF_TABLE1.PDF
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ PERSONNEL AND OTHER EXTERNAL
USERS RECEIVING NWS TAFS IN THE TAF COLLECTIVES BELOW WILL ALSO
NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE CONTINUED ABILITY TO DECODE TAFS.
WMO HEADINGS AVAILABLE TO THE FOLLOWING CUSTOMERSFTUS80 KWBC NON-FAA DOMESTIC AND FAMILY OF SERVICES
FTUS90 KWBC FAA WEATHER MESSAGE SWITCHING CENTER AND FAA FACILITIES
FTUS52 KWBC GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM CUSTOMERSNWS WILL SEND A MONTHLY TEST TAFS SO USERS CAN CHECK AND EVALUATE THEIR ABILITY TO DECODE THE NEW DATE AND TIME FORMAT. A SEPARATE TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE WILL DETAIL THE TEST STRUCTURE AND METHOD. IN ADDITION REMINDERS OF THE TEST TAF WILL BE PROVIDED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TEST DAY. A TAF TESTBED CAN BE FOUND AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/TAF_TESTBED.HTM
IN ADDITION...TAFS FOR 32 LARGE AIRPORTS WILL BECOME VALID FOR 30
HOURS. THE SPECIFIC AIRPORTS AND TAFS SCHEDULED TO HAVE EXTENDED
VALID TIMES WERE ANNOUNCED IN SEPARATE NOTICES...SEE TIN 08-16...
TIN 08-17... TIN 08-18... TIN 08-24... TIN 08-25...AND TIN 08-30.
NATIONAL GUIDELINES REGARDING THE TAF WILL BE INCLUDED IN AN
APPENDIX AS PART OF A FUTURE UPDATE OF NWS INSTRUCTION /NWSI/ 10-
813 TERMINAL AERODROME FORECASTS AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/: HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/DIRECTIVES/SYM/PD01008013CURR.PDFGUIDANCE TO NWS FORECASTERS FOR EDITING THE NEW TAF FORMAT WILL BE PROVIDED AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://AVIATIONWEATHER.GOV/NOTICE/TAF30.PHPTHIS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE WILL BE REPEATED IN SEPTEMBER 2008 TO REMIND USERS THAT TAF FORMATS WILL CHANGE NOVEMBER 5 2008.
REPEATING: THIS CHANGE IS EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5 2008...AND WILL AFFECT ALL TAFS PRODUCED BY NWS.
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE PLEASE CONTACT:
BETH MCNULTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
AVIATION SERVICES BRANCH
1325 EAST WEST HIGHWAY
SILVER SPRING MD 20910
PHONE: 301-713-1726 EXT 116
EMAIL: BETH.MCNULTY@xxxxxxxx
NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$
NNNN
Melody Magnus <melody.magnus@xxxxxxxx <mailto:melody.magnus@xxxxxxxx>>
Webmaster
Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services
National Weather Service
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