Heathrow AUTO METAR

[HeathrowAirport]

Unsure where this could go, definately not spotters. As it's not a spotters questions :ok:

Has Heathrow got an Automatic system installed today, as I know City has one, but Heathrow had this pop up today?

EGLL 051550Z 20010KT CAVOK 27/12 Q1016 NOSIG
EGLL 051520Z AUTO 19009KT 140V220 9999NDV NCD 28/12 Q1016
EGLL 051450Z 21006KT 150V250 CAVOK 27/12 Q1016 NOSIG

[HeathrowAirport]

Meow?

Anyone?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Metar decode (http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/metinfo/codes/METAR_decode.htm)

[Sir Herbert Gussett]

Probably means they are short of met-qualified assistants/controllers to verify the metars and so is done automatically.

[Gonzo]

Sometimes there is only one met-qualified Assistant on duty due to sickness, and so it is left on auto when they have a break.

[METARHIMS]

It seems as though the overwhelming majority of METAR observations from Heathrow are now "AUTO".

Is there any documentation available and when they are AUTO and when they aren't?


Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)

Output produced by METARs form (1434 UTC 08 June 2016)
found at http://www.aviationweather.gov/adds/metars/

EGLL 081420Z AUTO 29006KT 260V340 9999 VCTS SCT038/// //////CB 25/15 Q1023 TEMPO 4000 +TSRA
EGLL 081350Z AUTO 31007KT 280V350 9999 SCT035/// //////CB 24/15 Q1023 TEMPO 4800 +SHRA
EGLL 081320Z AUTO 27007KT 240V320 9999 SCT036/// //////CB 24/16 Q1023 TEMPO 4800 +SHRA
EGLL 081250Z AUTO 29005KT 240V340 9999 FEW035/// SCT044/// //////TCU 24/15 Q1024 TEMPO 4800 +SHRA
EGLL 081220Z AUTO 28005KT 230V310 9999 FEW033 23/15 Q1024 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 081150Z AUTO 31004KT 190V360 9999 FEW020 22/16 Q1024
EGLL 081120Z AUTO 30005KT 260V340 9000 SCT019 22/16 Q1024
EGLL 081050Z AUTO VRB02KT 8000 SCT017 22/17 Q1024
EGLL 081020Z AUTO VRB02KT 7000 FEW015 21/17 Q1024
EGLL 080950Z AUTO VRB02KT 7000 FEW017 20/16 Q1024 NOSIG
EGLL 080920Z AUTO VRB02KT 7000 FEW011 20/16 Q1024 NOSIG
EGLL 080850Z AUTO VRB02KT 7000 SCT010 20/17 Q1024
EGLL 080820Z AUTO VRB01KT 5000 HZ FEW011 19/16 Q1024 NOSIG
EGLL 080750Z AUTO VRB01KT 5000 HZ FEW008 18/16 Q1024 TEMPO 4800
EGLL 080720Z AUTO 08004KT 4500 HZ BKN049 18/16 Q1024 BECMG 7000 NSW
EGLL 080650Z AUTO VRB03KT 4100 HZ FEW048 17/16 Q1024 BECMG 6000 NSW
EGLL 080620Z AUTO VRB02KT 4500 -RA NCD 17/16 Q1024 BECMG 6000 NSW
EGLL 080550Z AUTO VRB03KT 5000 HZ NCD 16/15 Q1024 TEMPO 4500
EGLL 080520Z AUTO 29002KT 5000 HZ NCD 15/14 Q1023 TEMPO 4500
EGLL 080450Z AUTO VRB01KT 5000 HZ NCD 15/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080420Z AUTO VRB03KT 8000 NCD 15/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080350Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 NCD 15/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080320Z AUTO VRB03KT 9000 NCD 15/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080250Z AUTO 35003KT 9999 //////TCU 16/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080220Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 -RA NCD 16/15 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080150Z AUTO 04003KT 6000 -RA FEW032 BKN049 16/15 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 080120Z AUTO 05004KT 7000 -RA FEW038 16/15 Q1024 NOSIG
EGLL 080050Z 08004KT 9000 -RA NSC 16/15 Q1024
EGLL 080020Z 08003KT 3500 -RA FEW002 17/16 Q1024 TEMPO 6000 SHRA
EGLL 072350Z 05003KT 4000 -SHRA FEW002 SCT030 17/16 Q1024 RERA TEMPO 6000 SHRA
EGLL 072320Z VRB01KT 4500 RA BKN030CB 17/16 Q1024 RETS RERA TEMPO 6000 SHRA
EGLL 072250Z VRB02KT 4000 TSRA BKN026CB 18/17 Q1024 RETS TEMPO 6000 SHRA
EGLL 072220Z 18001KT 4500 TSRA BKN015CB BKN028 18/16 Q1024 RETS BECMG 6000 SHRA
EGLL 072150Z VRB02KT 7000 TSRA BKN023CB 18/16 Q1024 RERA TEMPO 3000 +RA
EGLL 072120Z 12005KT 8000 TSRA BKN017CB 20/17 Q1023 RETS TEMPO 3000 +TSRA
EGLL 072050Z 12007KT 8000 -SHRA SCT020CB SCT032 20/17 Q1023 RESHRA TEMPO 3000 +SHRA
EGLL 072020Z AUTO 12005KT 9999 BKN019/// //////CB 21/17 Q1023
EGLL 071950Z AUTO 35003KT 9999 BKN032 21/17 Q1023 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071920Z AUTO 35004KT 9999 NCD 21/17 Q1023 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071850Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 FEW042 22/17 Q1022 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071820Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 FEW042 22/16 Q1022 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071750Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 NCD 22/16 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 071720Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 FEW028 22/17 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 071650Z AUTO 14004KT 100V240 9999 FEW027 23/17 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 071620Z AUTO 13004KT 070V180 9999 FEW020/// //////CB 22/17 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 071550Z AUTO 13004KT 100V180 9999 -RA FEW022/// SCT037/// //////CB 22/17 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 071520Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 FEW026/// SCT049/// //////CB 22/16 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 071450Z AUTO 13006KT 8000 -RA FEW028/// //////CB 22/17 Q1023 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071420Z AUTO 14008KT 070V170 9999 BKN038/// //////CB 22/17 Q1023 TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071350Z 26005KT 230V330 9999 SCT020CB 21/16 Q1023 RETS RERA TEMPO SHRA
EGLL 071320Z 27004KT 230V290 8000 3500E TSRA SCT020CB SCT043 21/16 Q1023 BECMG -SHRA
EGLL 071250Z AUTO 27005KT 230V320 9999 -RA VCTS FEW026/// BKN035/// //////CB 23/15 Q1023 TEMPO 4500 TSGR
EGLL 071220Z AUTO 26005KT 190V310 9999 SCT044/// //////CB 23/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 071150Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 SCT044 23/14 Q1023
EGLL 071120Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 NCD 23/14 Q1023
EGLL 071050Z AUTO 11004KT 040V210 9999 BKN046 23/14 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 071020Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 FEW046 22/13 Q1023
EGLL 070950Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 SCT046 21/13 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070920Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 SCT045 21/12 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070850Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 FEW048 19/11 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070820Z AUTO VRB01KT 9999 NCD 18/11 Q1023
EGLL 070750Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 NCD 18/11 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070720Z AUTO VRB01KT 9999 NCD 17/11 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070650Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 NCD 15/10 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070620Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 FEW046 14/09 Q1023 NOSIG
EGLL 070550Z AUTO 04002KT 9999 NCD 14/09 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 070520Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 NCD 13/09 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 070450Z AUTO VRB02KT 9999 NCD 13/08 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 070420Z AUTO 05003KT 9999 NCD 13/08 Q1022 NOSIG
EGLL 070350Z AUTO 04002KT 9999 NCD 13/07 Q1022
EGLL 070320Z AUTO VRB03KT 9999 NCD 13/07 Q1022
EGLL 070250Z AUTO 03002KT 9999 NCD 13/07 Q1022

[beerdrinker]

At least LHR has an AUTO system.
I find it incredible that places like Biggin and Farnborough have to rely on Manual observations so there are no observations when the airfield is closed with the result one can't watch the trend before they open.

[ShyTorque]

The LHR arrival ATIS has been prefixed with the word "Automatic" for quite some months now.

[Crazy Voyager]

There's an AIC for reference, Yellow 069/2015 if the link breaks.
There has been a consultation but I believe it's closed now.
http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/pamslight/pdf/4e415453/EG/C/EN/AIC/EG_Circ_2015_Y_069_en

[T250]

At least LHR has an AUTO system.
I find it incredible that places like Biggin and Farnborough have to rely on Manual observations so there are no observations when the airfield is closed with the result one can't watch the trend before they open.

Isn't this what a TAF is for? It's a forecast for at least the next 12 hours, irrespective of an airfield's local operating times/met ability. :cool:

[TelsBoy]

The reason some airfields do not have automatic Met systems is purely down to money, many of these places have basic Met Obs systems that have no automatic facility. Most major airfields have Semi-Automated systems that can either be set to assisted (whereby the various sensors present the data to the ATCO or ATSA who can either confirm it or manually update) or fully auto.

AUTO obs are usually used out-of-hours or when there is not a qualified observer on duty. I believe that at Heathrow there are currently trials to run with fully AUTO obs all the time.

Personally speaking, nothing will replace the Mk1 Homo Sapiens for met obs, the fancy kit still can't see a fog bank nearby or an approaching TS.

[chevvron]

At least LHR has an AUTO system.
I find it incredible that places like Biggin and Farnborough have to rely on Manual observations so there are no observations when the airfield is closed with the result one can't watch the trend before they open.
There's a Semi Automatic Weather Station (SAWS) at Farnborough which is 'owned' by the Met Office however they allow the Farnborough Met Observers to use it for METARs in return for the observers keeping it serviced. Other NATS airfields have a Part or Fully Automatic Met Observation System (PAMOS or FAMOS) for which a full Met Observer Certificate is not required.
Outside hours the Farnborough data is still available; how you access it from the air I don't know but I've been told there is a way as people coming across from the USA early morning need to make an early decision whether to divert before the first ob which is taken at 0650 local time weekdays(0750 local weekends and PH).
One problem however is that some automated systems cannot give you details of precipitation; at the moment the Farnborough ob for 0200 UTC is:-
SW/10kts, cloudy, visibility good, +13, humidity 92%, Q1008 and rising. BUT no mention of the steady rainfall in the area.
I accessed this from www.bbc.co.uk/weather inputting my position as Woking and it comes up with the nearest current ob. if you scroll down the page.