"Writing TAFs for Winds and Low-level Wind Shear" is the third unit in the Distance Learning Aviation Course 2 (DLAC2) series on producing TAFs that meet the needs of the aviation community. In addition to providing information about tools for diagnosing wind and wind impacts, the module extends the Practically Perfect TAF (PPTAF) process to address airport-specific criteria. By understanding the criteria at airports for which they produce TAFs, forecasters will be better able to produce a Practically Perfect Site-Specific TAF (PPSST). The unit also examines how to effectively communicate logic and uncertainty in an aviation forecast discussion (AvnFD) and addresses maintaining an effective TAF weather watch and updating the TAF proactively.
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- Describe the importance of accurate wind forecasts to various customers
- Issue Practically Perfect TAFs that are sensitive to airport-specific criteria (i.e., PPSST—Practically Perfect Site Specific TAFs)
- Create a PPSST that meets customer needs for different airports
- Use tools, products, and data to limit uncertainty in wind and LLWS forecasts
- Use “VRB” (Variable), “G” (Gust), and “LLWS” appropriately in a TAF
- Issue TAFs proactively and identify situations when it is best to “sit on” a TAF
- Make appropriate use of the AvnFD to express uncertainty about these phenomena
- Ensure terminal forecasts are consistent with warning, forecast, and guidance products from national aviation centers
- Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively when preparing a terminal forecast
aviation forecasts, terminal aerodrome forecast, TAF, PPTAF, aviation customers, airport impacts, wind effects, PPSST, airport-specific criteria, LLWS, low-level wind shear, wind regimes, wind profile, crosswind tactical decision aid, aircraft data, aviation forecast discussion, AFD
December 2014: Writing TAFs for Winds and Low-level Wind Shear was updated to a newer template removing Flash elements and allowing greater compatibility across devices. TAFs in the lesson were corrected to be compliant with current National Weather Services directives and other minor updates and streamlining of the content was completed. The lesson utilizes Tactical Decision Aid (TDA) graphics from the cases as they were originally developed. These graphics may be in a different format than current TDA graphics.
