×
Welcome to the IREX question and answer forum. Please feel free to post your questions but more importantly also suggest answers for your forum colleagues. Bob himself or one of the other tutors will get to your question as soon as we can.
Validity for TAF3 - can it be used from the start of the TAF?
N584V
Topic Author
N584V created the topic: Validity for TAF3 - can it be used from the start of the TAF?
I understand that where the RMK section details that the TAF is a TAF3, it is deemed more accurate in the first three hours and therefore we can remove buffers and prob sections during this period. Can we use if for ETAs that lie within the entire duration of the first three hours? For a regular TAF we are constrained to using it for ETAs that occur 30 minutes after the start of the TAF.
I see on the BOM website, there are some FAQs which include the following statement:
The TAF3 will be issued from the aviation forecast office 30–60 minutes before the forecast validity
period, with a target issue time of 45 minutes
So it sounds as though a 30 minute buffer has already been built into the TAF3 - so can pilots use it from the start please?
bobtait replied the topic: Validity for TAF3 - can it be used from the start of the TAF?
It's the validity of the TAF that matters, not the time of issue. The conditions described in the TAF apply from the commencement of the validity period. The time of issue simply allows a pilot to commence flight planning before take off, but the validity period determines any OPRs if your arrival is during the validity period. Arrivals during the first three hours do not apply the 30 minute buffers, but any OPRs apply from the commencement of the validity period.
