Yeovilton METAR Question
 

Morning all,
Got the AeroWeather app on my iPhone so was having a look at what Yeovilton were reporting this morning.

EGDY 080831Z 20001KT 2400 BR FEW030 OVC040 M10/M12 Q1023 BLACKYLO2 BECMG 4000 BR GRN

I wondered if someone knew what 'BLACKYLO2' meant - I understand military colour codes, but Black Yellow 2?

YL02 is one of the mil. Wx. colour codes, e.g. BLU, GRN etc. should find the definitions somewhere around here - can't remember them off-hand.

BLACK is to do with the state of the runway I think (a bit like the MOTNE system on civil METARs I think), again not sure. Any mil. folks care to elaborate?

Smithy

BLACK means airfield is closed, for whatever reason.

Snow/crashed ac on rw/ anything.

Other colours are the Met state.

Thanks! :)

The military have a simple system whereby a colour code gives a pilot a quick indication of the visibility and cloudbase.

The colour codes will normally be issued in pairs, the first is the current colour code, the second is the forecast colour code.

The only exception to the codes is Black, which is the runway being closed due to something other than visibility or cloudbase. This could be due to a crash, obstruction or condition of the runway itself.

Vis and Cloud base Colour Code
<0.8km vis and <200' cloud base or obscured RED
over 0.8km vis and 200' or better cloud base AMBER
over 1.6km vis and 300' or better cloud base YELLOW 2
over 2.5km vis and 500' or better cloud base YELLOW 1
over 3.7km vi and 700' or better cloud base GREEN
over 5km vis and 1500' or better cloud base WHITE
over 8km vis and 2500' or better cloud base BLUE

BlkYlo2 I would read as runway unserviceable (probably due to ice/snow) but visibility over 1.6km and cloud base over 300'. Later on in the report, they are forecasting Green (GRN) so the forecast is for the runway to be serviceable with vis over 3.7km and cloudbase over 700'.

Although I always enjoyed hearing the tannoy colour code red forecast colour code red because red, red meant back to bed!.

Obs

You might find this link helpful ...


JD
:)

Out of interest, if you had an IR rating would a yellow colour code concern you if you wanted to use the aerodrome as an alternate? Assuming it was plus 200 feet for cloudbase and plus 400 meters for visibility

I'd check the available approach aids and TAF first. :)

Just to clarify a little, the runway being Black doesn't necessarily close the whole airfield and, if you are considering it as a destination or diversion is worth a phone-call to check. For instance, if it has more than one runway, one may be closed but another open; helos may be able to make an approach to threshold-only or a visual landing on the grass or taxiway; training approaches may be available to a low approach (not below 400' etc). The "Blackness" may also be just for a specific period of time.

I'm not pertaining to Yeovilton or this METAR in particular - just Blackness in general.

ap