-------- Original Message --------
097
NOUS41 KWBC 051555
PNSWSH
SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 08-15
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1055 AM EST WED MAR 5 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: FORMAT CHANGE FOR TERMINAL AERODROME FORECASTS /TAFS/
FROM 24-HOUR FORMAT TO 30-HOUR FORMAT:
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5 2008
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 INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION ORGANIZATION /ICAO/ RULES. ALL OF THE NEARLY 625 TAFS
ISSUED BY NWS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE. A TABLE LISTING ALL
THE AFFECTED TAFS IS ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/PDFS/30_HR_TAF_TABLES.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 CUSTOMERS
FTUS80 KWBC NON-FAA DOMESTIC AND FAMILY OF SERVICES
FTUS90 KWBC FAA WEATHER MESSAGE SWITCHING CENTER
AND FAA FACILITIES
FTUS52 KWBC GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM CUSTOMERS
A MONTHLY TEST TAF WILL BE PROVIDED FOR USERS TO 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.SHTML
IN ADDITION TAFS FOR 32 LARGE AIRPORTS WILL BECOME VALID FOR
30 HOURS. THE SPECIFIC AIRPORTS AND TAFS AFFECTED BY THE EXTENDED
VALID TIMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPARATE NOTICES.
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.PDF
GUIDANCE TO NWS FORECASTERS FOR EDITING THE NEW TAF FORMAT WILL BE
PROVIDED AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://AVIATIONWEATHER.GOV/NOTICE/TAF30.PHP
THIS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE WILL BE REPEATED IN JULY AND 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 LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$