Originally Posted by
On Guard
Thanks. So yes it looks like weather buffers are now 30/30. I thought they used to be 60/60? So if your eta is 1200 and FM 1245 creates an op requirement then we don’t need to take this into account.
Also so the same FM in a TAF3, how does this work? My reading says that the eta buffer is -30 and +60 and if the taf3 has no wx in this period then no alt required?
Thanks in advance.
Yes if your ETA was 1200 and the FM was from 1245 it would be no factor,
The reference material for TAF3 is ENR 1.1-73.
Basically if the AD has a TAF3 the first 3 hours of the TAF are treated differently. Any PROB forecast of visibility reductions below the alternate minimima or the PROB presence of TS doesnt require holding or ALT fuel ( however there normal presence absent of any PROB still requires alternate/holding). Additionally the 30 min buffers for FM BCMG are not applicable. So if there is a FM02z of bad weather and your ETA is 0159z, you legally dont require holding/alternate ( if you are still in the first 3 hours of the TAF3 validity)