-------- Original Message --------
603
NOUS41 KWBC 221850
PNSWSH
TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE 08-47
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
250 PM EDT THU MAY 22 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: TEST TAFS TO ENSURE PROPER DECODING OF 30-HOUR TAF
FORMAT TEST DATE SCHEDULED: MAY 28 2008
REFER TO SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE /SCN/ 08-15 AND TECHNICAL
IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE /TIN/ 08-37.
NWS WILL PROVIDE A MONTHLY TEST TAF SO USERS CAN CHECK AND
EVALUATE THEIR ABILITY TO DECODE THE NEW DATE AND TIME FORMAT.
GENERALLY NWS WILL PRODUCE TEST TAF PRODUCTS WITH THE 30-HOUR
TAF FORMAT ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER
2008 AT 1400 UNIVERSAL COORDINATED TIME /UTC/.
NWS WILL PROVIDE REMINDERS OF THE TEST TAF AT LEAST 3 DAYS
BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TEST DAY. IF CRITICAL WEATHER OCCURS
ON THE TEST DAY...THE TEST WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT
NON-CRITICAL WEATHER DAY. THE NEXT MONTHLY TEST WILL OCCUR
MAY 28 2008.
A LINK TO THE TAF TESTBED AND TAF FORMAT EXAMPLES IS AVAILABLE
AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/TAF_TESTBED.SHTML
THE 30 HOUR TEST TAF FOR MAY SHOULD LOOK AS FOLLOWS:
FTXX90 KWBC 281754
TAF KABC 281128Z 2812/2918 VRB05KT P6SM SKC
FM281800 21012KT P6SM SCT050 BKN120
FM282100 21015G30KT P6SM FEW040CB SCT070 BKN120
FM290100 27015KT 3SM -TSRA SCT030CB BKN070
TEMPO 2902/2904 VRB15G45KT 1/2SM TSRA BKN015CB
FM290500 27010KT P6SM SCT030 BKN090
FM291500 VRB05KT P6SM SCT100=
USERS WILL NEED TO CODE THEIR SYSTEMS FOR FTXX90 KWBC TO SEE
THIS TAF.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS TECHNICAL INFORMATION
NOTICE PLEASE REFER TO SCN 08-15 OR CONTACT:
MICHAEL GRAF
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SSMC-2 STATION 13314
1325 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY
SILVER SPRING MD 20910
PHONE: 301-713-1726 X 117
EMAIL:MICHAEL.GRAF@xxxxxxxx
NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$