At my FISO unit we only have an 'instant' reading anemometer and our local instructions, on direction from the CAA, tell us that as the UK 'standard' is a 2 min average, we MUST say 'instant wind'.
What really confuses us is when a pilot reports 'final for the option'.
Not covered in CAP 413, in the USA where it originated, airports must have FAA approval to use this, it apparently means the pilot may land, touch and go or execute a go-around, but some pilots (including a few instructors who presumably trained in the USA) are using this in the UK. The problem for the FISO is that if the circuit is busy, we can normally warn a following pilot that the one ahead is landing or doing a touch and go, but use of 'the option' prevents this and in some cases, if the following pilot has got too close and the first aircraft decides to land rather than touch and go, they may need to execute an unnecessary go-around.
Last edited by chevvron; 23rd Aug 2014 at 22:01.