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24th Jun 2009, 23:18

#3 (permalink)

slackie

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: Live in Taupiri, Waikato, work in the big smoke, New Zealand

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AUTOMETARs aren't worth a pinch of sh!t. We (controllers) have access to the data that the met stations output now, and although they are useful when formulating the hourly METAR (because we know what they are reporting), the information is absolutely useless in isolation.

As a pilot I fell into the trap a while ago when heading for YP. Got the NR AUTOMETAR that said no cloud...whereas when I finally got hold of NR TWR whilst still on the western side of the ranges (sth of AP) they reported that although it was clear at NR the cloud was substantial out towards the west and there was no way under/through/over from Taupo direction all the way as far south as they could see.

AUTOMETARs might as well be a randomly generated report, they bear no resemblance to actual weather. How CAA allows them to purport to be an aviation weather report is beyond me!!

Last edited by slackie; 24th Jun 2009 at 23:21. Reason: clarification and speling

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