NZCAA withdraws funding for MetFlight

[27/09]

Has anyone else heard about CAA withdrawing funding for MetFlight from next month?

Wasn't MetFlight and the funding for it provided because CAA considered there wasn't a satisfactory weather briefing service for GA pilots and considered it a safety issue.

What's changed that they are now withdrawing the funding?

It's a backward step if you ask me.

[remoak]

Backwards for us, forwards for them... because, assuming it is true, guess who is going to end up paying for it. Or not, in which case prepare for a rash of weather-related accidents...

Could someone please explain why government pays for traffic lights and median strips, maritime control and weather services, but apparently doesn't want to pay for MetFlight? Anyone? Answers on a postcard...

[D-J]

http://www.metservice.com/assets/dow...nt_stage_1.pdf

Seems CAA must have been colluding with CASA on the best way to destroy GA
Just charge em out of existence.

[D-J]

pulled from another website

So how much does this service sap from the tax paying public? Must be some big bucks for the folk at CAA to pull the pin right? Wrong… the total cost of the service is $95,640 per year. Surly the reduced cost of accident investigation would pay for that let along the human cost???

[NZScion]

Everyone, do not panic - we can still get met information for free from flight information or ATC sectors - it says so in my AIP... GEN 3.5 - 19, section 4.8.1. I'm sure ATC and FISCOM will be more than happy to provide us with the weather no longer freely available via the internet...

...This can only be a backwards step for aviation safety...

[Inverted Flat Spin]

Don't worry Homepage | metservice.com has all our needs
3 rain drops and dark cloud - alternate required and no vfr,
2 rain drops - can hold it as an alternate and vfr ok,
big sun picture - life is good.

[NZFlyingKiwi]

What about when there's a cloud, a rain drop, and a sun? Anything could happen!

[Inverted Flat Spin]

As the AFS CFI would say - "Just go"

[27/09]

Could someone please explain why government pays for traffic lights and median strips, maritime control and weather services, but apparently doesn't want to pay for MetFlight? Anyone? Answers on a postcard...

A question I've often asked as well. The only answer I can think of there are more votes on boats than there are in light aircraft.

the total cost of the service is $95,640 per year

I would suggest it's not even this much. The forecasts are already being prepared for other aviation users anyway. Whether or not the GA recreational pilot has free acces or not will not make one scrap of difference to the cost.

[KerryT]

Metservice announcement

More information has been released by Metservice on the page here:

Airport Systems | metservice.com

PDF Announcement:
http://metservice.com/assets/downloa...nt_stage_1.pdf

PDF FAQ:
http://metservice.com/assets/downloa...nt_stage_2.pdf

To summarise: the service won't be shut down. Metservice will cover the cost of running it for July ( $7,955 for the month ). From 1 August it will be moved to a payment gateway at a rate of $95 per year with 6month & 1month subs also available.

Its a sad state of affairs in my opinion. Especially since met information has been removed from IFIS and the number of fairly recent accident investigations where it was seen as a contributing factor when pilots did not get current weather information ( ZK-FGS for instance ).

[27/09]

$7,955 for the month

****, if I was getting $7900/month for putting met data onto a website it'd be nice little earner.

They need 1000 people to sign up. I wonder how many people are out there who will subscribe? I think they are being optimistic.