I'm going to assume you're correct and I'm impressed because quite frankly I've forgotten a lot of meteorological nomenclature. When I look up the NavCanada weather website, I'm given a choice to receive the Metar and TAF info in "English" or standard nomenclature. I've become quite spoiled, I always choose English.
I always opt for the plain English version when available, but it ain't exactly rocket surgery if the weather isn't going to hell.
KMLE 082135Z AUTO 21006KT 10SM CLR 09/01 A3007 RMK AO2 T00920011
Location, date/time, winds, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, altimeter. In this case AUTO means a fully automated report... there's a bunch more crud that can be in there. I have to look it up sometimes. I think using cryptic abbreviations that need explanation is a little silly too. On the other hand, I don't want a full paragraph narrative that I have to read through.
If you think METARs are cryptic, try the TAF. Sheesh.
TAF
KOKC 051130Z 051212 14008KT 5SM BR BKN030 TEMPO 1316 1 1/2SM BR
FM1600 16010KT P6SM SKC
BECMG 2224 20013G20KT 4SM SHRA OVC020 PROB40 0006 2SM TSRA OVC008CB
BECMG 0608 21015KT P6SM NSW SCT040 =
Measure twice, cut once...
scratch head, shrug, shim to fit.
Flying an RV-12. I am building a Fisher Celebrity, slowly.
The weather cares not what flavor of pilot certificate you have, nor what you're flying. So... Sport Pilot or no, you need to understand the weather report. The temp/dewpoint are always in the same format and same place. There's no need to convert C to F, any more than you need to convert between knots and MPH if your panel is set up for one or the other.
If you don't like expending the mental energy required to get the information you need from METARs, listen to the AWOS/ATIS/ASOS weather broadcast or get it from the Internet. It's assumed that a pilot will be smart enough and have the training (which EVERY pilot has to receive to pass the written exam) to be able to get by.
It's not that tough to figure this stuff out.
Measure twice, cut once...
scratch head, shrug, shim to fit.
Flying an RV-12. I am building a Fisher Celebrity, slowly.
Are you saying any licensed pilot doesn't need to memorize what the M code is for?
Last edited by Bill Berson; 01-09-2018 at 04:32 PM.
Once more, no memorization of nomenclature or sequence of info required any longer. As I and DaleB said, you can receive Wx in plain English.