Pilot’s Guide Addendum/media/bendixking/files/...R-1 Revision History Manual KMD 550/850 Flight...

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Revision 6 Feb/2009 006-18237-0000

Multi-Function Display

KMD 550/850

Flight Information Services(FIS)

Pilot’s Guide Addendum

B

For Software Version 02/02 and later

WARNING

The enclosed technical data is eligible for export under License DesignationNLR and is to be used solely by the individual/organization to whom it isaddressed. Diversion contrary to U.S. law is prohibited.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009 Honeywell International Inc.All rights reserved.

Reproduction of this publication or any portion thereof by any means withoutthe express written permission of Honeywell International Inc. is prohibited. Forfurther information contact the Manager, Technical Publications; Honeywell,One Technology Center, 23500 West 105th Street, Olathe, Kansas 66061.Telephone: (913) 782-0400.

The information contained in this manual is for reference use only. Ifany information contained herein conflicts with similar informationcontained in the Airplane Flight Manual Supplement, the information inthe Airplane Flight Manual Supplement shall take precedence.

R-1

Revision History

Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS) Pilot’s Guide Addendum

Revision 6, February 2009

Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

Added XM products:

Precipitation Type (at Surface)

Freezing Levels

Winds Aloft

Translated Metars

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s)

R-2

Revision History


Revision 5, March 2007

Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

Added XM Receiver functionality.

R-3

Revision History


Revision 4, November 2004

Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

Add FIS Area Products (AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETsand Alert Weather Watches).

MODE Softkey now displays product selection menu on FIS productdisplays

Control Knob now allows cycling through graphical FIS products

Airport icons and identifiers are now displayed on FIS graphical prod-uct map displays per setting on Map Setup Page (2)

Added VOR icons and identifiers to FIS graphical product map dis-plays (except graphical METARs) per setting on Map Setup Page (2)

Extended Track Line on Graphical Weather page

R-4

Revision History


Revision 3, June 2004

Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

METARs and SPECIs now expire after 120 minutes

Graphical METAR LIFR now displayed as magenta color

Miscellaneous corrections

R-5

Revision History



Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

Added FIS subscription management

Changed FIS Text Page format

Changed FIS METARs time-out

Airports now shown on NEXRAD Page

Changed FIS Network Page

Miscellaneous corrections

R-6

Revision History


Revision 1, May 2002

Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

Complete manual revision

Revision History



Part Number 006-18237-0000

Summary

This is the original release of this publication.

R-7

Revision 6 Feb/2009 KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

CONCEPT OF OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

DATALINK WEATHER FUNCTION STATUS ICONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

BASIC SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

METAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

SPECI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

TAF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

PIREP (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

AIRMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

CONVECTIVE SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

VALUE ADDED SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

NEXRAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

NEXRAD Abnormalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

NEXRAD Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Intensity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

PRECIPITATION TYPE AT SURFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

FREEZING LEVELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

WINDS ALOFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

GRAPHICAL METAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

GRAPHICAL AIRMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

GRAPHICAL SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . .24

STARTUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

VDL SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Setting Up a VDL Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Checking FIS VDL Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

XM WX SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Setting Up An XM WX Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Checking XM WX Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

i


NORMAL OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

NEXRAD PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

NEXRAD Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Selecting And Using The NEXRAD Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

PRECIPITATION TYPE AT SURFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

PRECIPITATION TYPE Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . .41

FREEZING LEVELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

FREEZING LEVELS Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

WINDS ALOFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

WINDS ALOFT Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

GRAPHICAL METARS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Graphical METARs Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Selecting And Using The Graphical METARs Page . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

GRAPHICAL AIRMETS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Graphical AIRMETs Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Selecting And Using The Graphical AIRMETs Page . . . . . . . . . . . .51

GRAPHICAL SIGMETS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Graphical SIGMETs Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Selecting And Using The Graphical SIGMETs Page . . . . . . . . . . . .55

GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMETS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Graphical Convective SIGMETs Page Operational Controls . . . . . .59

Selecting And Using The Graphical Convective SIGMETs Page . .59

GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES PAGE (AWW)(VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Graphical Alert Weather Watches Page Operational Controls . . . .63

Selecting And Using The Graphical Alert Weather Watches Page .63

FIS TEXT PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

FIS Text Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Using The FIS TEXT Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Changing Modes & Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Selecting Identifiers Using The DATA/SCAN Knob . . . . . . . . .70

Scanning Flightplan Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Finding User Defined Areas By Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Finding User Defined Areas by Name or City . . . . . . . . . .72

FIS NETWORK STATUS PAGE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

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Table of Contents

iii

MESSAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

FIS ALERT, NO VALID FIS SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

NO DATA RECEIVED FROM FIS RECEIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

(PRODUCT) NOT AVAILABLE, DATA NOT RECEIVED . . . . . . . . . . . .79

NO (PRODUCT) AVAILABLE IN SELECTED AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

FIS ALERT, FIS DATA NOT RECEIVED FOR 15 MINUTES . . . . . . . . .80

NO (PRODUCT) AVAILABLE, DATA NOT RECEIVED . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

INVALID ENTRY, PLEASE CHECK CODE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . .81

ERROR PROCESSING SUBSCRIPTION CODE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . .81

FIS DECRYPTION FAILURE. UNABLE TO ACCEPT A NEW . . . . . . . . .SUBSCRIPTION CODE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

NETWORK STATUS NOT AVAILABLE, DATA NOT RECEIVED(VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

FIS ALERT, ONE OR MORE FIS SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE CLOSE TOEXPIRING. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS (VDL ONLY) .82

FIS ALERT, ONE OR MORE FIS SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE EXPIRED.PLEASE REVIEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . .82

FIS ALERT, DATA CARD UPDATE REQUIRED FOR CONTINUEDRECEPTION OF FIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

FIS ALERT, NEW DATA CARD NOT YET VALID. UNABLE TORECEIVE FIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

FIS ALERT, DATA CARD HAS EXPIRED. UNABLE TO RECEIVEFIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

FIS ALERT, FIS SUBSCRIPTION ERROR. SWITCH OFF ANDREPLACE DATA CARD (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

FIS ALERT, FIS DECRYPTION ERROR. UNABLE TO RECEIVEFIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

APPENDIX A, UNDERSTANDING TEXTUAL AVIATION WEATHERREPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

APPENDIX B, COMMON WEATHER ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1


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Revision 6 Feb/2009 KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum1

INTRODUCTION

CONCEPT OF OPERATION

The Flight Information Services (FIS) system supplies real-time weatherinformation and other flight advisory information to pilots to enhance situ-ation awareness.

FIS or XM weather is not intended to replace voice radio services. Voicecommunication of weather and meteorological information, in accor-dance with FAA operating rules, is still required.

Real-time weather is available 24 hours / day, 7 days / week. Two dif-ferent systems are available for delivery of the weather data: a ground-based VHF Data Link (VDL) network and Baron WxWorx weather deliv-ered via the XM Radio satellite system. Data acquired from FAAapproved weather sources is processed and then distributed to VDLGround Stations and to the XM satellite network. The Ground Stationsbroadcast the information over a VHF Data Link (VDL) to aircraft withinline-of-sight utilizing VDL mode 2 transmitters at a bit rate up to 31.5kbps. The XM satellite network uses two geosynchronous satellites tobroadcast network weather to aircraft at S-band (2.3 GHz) frequencies.

This diagram illustrates how FIS VDL data is received in the aircraft.

Introduction

2Revision 6 Feb/2009 KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum

See our website at www.bendixking.com for VDL network status andcoverage. Continuous coverage of most of the continental US is possibleat altitudes as low as 5,000 ft. AGL, except for regions of precipitous ter-rain. As with all VHF communications, the line-of-sight range increaseswith altitude. However, there is no appreciable increase in coverageabove 17,500 ft MSL. The following illustration shows how altitude influ-ences FIS VDL coverage.

The following diagram illustrates how XM Wx data is received in the air-craft.

The XM Satellite Radio weather system provides continuous coveragedown to ground level over the entire continental United States. A goodview of the southern horizon must be available in order to receive at leastone of the two satellites.

To receive FIS or XM WX products, an aircraft must be equipped with acompatible VDL receiver (KDR 510) or XM receiver (KDR 610), dedi-cated VHF antenna or satellite antenna, and appropriate display (KMD550/850). FIS VDL uses a one-way (ground-to-air) broadcast protocol.

Introduction


XM WX uses one-way (satellite network to air) broadcast protocol. Datais continually broadcast without the need to request information, noracknowledge receipt.

Both basic (no-cost) and value added fee-based products are transmittedby VDL. Basic VDL products are displayed using standard ICAO/WMOtextual format.

The VDL ground station network and the XM satellite network repetitivelybroadcast the same product until either newer data is available or theinformation has exceeded a pre-determined expiration time. Basic prod-ucts are broadcast at least once every 5 minutes by the VDL system.Products are broadcast once every 5 - 12 minutes (depending on theproduct) by the XM system.

NOTE: Due to inherent delays, areas of coverage and relative age andavailability of the data that can be experienced, weather data cannotbe viewed as an absolute depiction of conditions at a specific location.

Introduction

No-cost VDL Subscription Fee-based XM Subscription

Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs) Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs)

Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports(SPECIs)

Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports(SPECIs)

Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs)

Pilot Reports (PIREPs)

AIRMETs AIRMETs

SIGMETs SIGMETs

Convective SIGMETs Convective SIGMETs

Alert Weather Watches (AWW)

Fee-based VDL Subscription

NEXRAD Base Reflectivity NEXRAD Composite Reflectivity

Graphical METARs Graphical METARs

Graphical AIRMETs Graphical AIRMETs

Graphical SIGMETs Graphical SIGMETs

Graphical Convective SIGMETs Graphical Convective SIGMETs

Graphical Alert Weather WatchesPrecipitation Type, Freezing Levels, WindsAloft, Severe Weather Storm Track SCITs,Temporary Flight Restrictions TFR's


EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW

The Datalink Weather Function of the Bendix/King KMD 550/850 MultiFunction Display allows for the display and control of textual and graph-ical weather information received from the Honeywell KDR 510 VDLReceiver or the KDR 610 XM satellite receiver. The choice of VDL or XMreceiver is made during installation. A single display can display onlyVDL weather or only XM weather, not both.

This Pilot’s Guide Addendum describes the operation of the KMD550/850 display and discusses the proper use of the displayed data forstrategic weather planning. The detailed description of the general oper-ation of the KMD 550/850 is contained in the KMD 550/850 Pilot’s Guide.

The Bendix/King KMD 550/850 is shown below with the Text METARPage selected.

CAUTION

Datalink weather information is to be used as a strategic planningtool for pilot decisions on avoiding inclement weather areas thatare beyond visual range or where poor visibility precludes visualacquisition of inclement weather. Datalink weather information maybe used as follows:

a. To aid the pilot in situational awareness of hazardous meteo-rological conditions.

b. As a cue to the pilot to communicate with the ATC controller,AFSS specialist, Operator Dispatch, or Airline Operations ControlCenter (AOCC) to get further information about the current meteo-rological conditions. In no case should the pilot take any evasiveaction based solely upon the datalink weather display.

The datalink weather information is intended for assistance instrategic flight planning purposes only and lacks sufficient resolu-tion and updating necessary for tactical maneuvering.

Introduction


DATALINK WEATHER FUNCTION STATUS ICONS

The Datalink Weather Function Status Icons are located in the lower leftof the display. They are used to indicate whether or not the KMD550/850 is currently receiving and/or displaying weather information. Thefollowing table shows the various icons and their meanings.

Basic Service Weather Products

VDL Icon XM Icon Colors Description

Black on a cyanbackground.

No weather data is currently beingreceived but previously received data isbeing displayed on the present page.


Weather data is currently being receivedfrom a signal and displayed on the presentpage. XM signal is weak.


Weather data is currently being receivedfrom a signal and displayed on the presentpage. XM signal is marginal.


Weather data is currently being receivedfrom a signal and displayed on the presentpage. XM signal is good.

Black on gray. Weather data not being received nor dis-played on the present page.

Black on gray. Weather data is currently being receivedfrom a signal but not displayed on the pre-sent page.

Black on gray withred slash.

Fault with connection or data link radio.

Black on gray. Graphical METAR overlay is available butnot displayed.

Black, green andyellow on cyan.

Graphical METAR overlay is enabled anddisplayed.

Black on gray. Weather data not being received.Graphical METAR overlay is available butnot displayed.

Black, green andyellow on cyan.

Weather data not being received.Graphical METAR overlay is enabled anddisplayed.

Black on gray withred slash.

Radio Fault. Graphical METAR overlay isavailable but not displayed.

Black on gray withred slash; Black,green and yellow oncyan.

Radio Fault. Graphical METAR overlay isenabled and displayed.


BASIC SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTSThe following is a discussion of weather products offered with the basicno-fee VDL service. Accessing and navigating these services will be dis-cussed in detail later in this addendum.

All basic and value-added products (except those identified as VDL Only)can also be obtained through a single fee-based XM subscription service.

METAR

A METAR (Aviation Routine Weather Report) describes the specificweather conditions at a particular airport at a given time. The KMD 550provides a translated version of the METAR data. This is a readable ver-sion of the METAR data derived from the actual METAR. The rawMETAR data is played at the end of the translated version. The ele-ments of a METAR are in order as follows:1. Type of report


Icon Description

Severe Weather Storm track information being received and displayed.

Severe Weather Storm track information being received but not dis-played.

Severe Weather Storm track information not being received / data invalid.

VDL Icon XM Icon Colors Description

TFR data is not being received.

Black on gray. TFR data is being received but is not cur-rently being displayed.

Black on cyan. TFR data is being received and displayed.

N/A No TFR Iconpresent.

N/A

N/A

Icon Description

0 min – 15 min Datalink lightning information received and displayed.

0 min – 15 min Datalink lightning information received but not dis-played.

15 min – 30 min Datalink lightning information received and displayedbut data is more than 15 minutes old.

15 min – 30 min Datalink lightning information received but not dis-played and data is more than 15 minutes old.

> 30 min Datalink lightning is not being received.


2. ICAO station identifier3. Date and time of issue4. Modifier (AUTO if automated report or COR if corrected observation)5. Wind6. Visibility7. Runway visual range (as required)8. Weather phenomena9. Sky condition10. Temperature/dew point group11. Altimeter12. Remarks (as required)

METARs available within the selected range of the selected area will bedisplayed up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed inan encoded textual format. METARs displayed graphically on the mapare offered through a subscription service.

NOTE: When a specific element of METAR data is not available, it isomitted from the report. The user must know the sequence of data torecognize omissions. METAR observations older than 120 minutes willbe discarded.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual METARs.

SPECI

A SPECI (Aviation Selected Special Weather Report) is related to theMETAR. SPECIs are issued when certain specific conditions or eventshave been observed at a particular location, usually an airport. A SPECIwill contain the same elements as a METAR and will generally be issuedfor the following reasons:1. Sudden, extreme changes in wind speed and/or direction.2. Changes in surface visibility, especially those that change the flying

category at the reporting site.3. Changes in runway visibility above or below 2,400 feet.4. Appearance or termination of significant weather or natural atmos-

pheric events such as tornados, waterspouts, funnel clouds, thun-derstorms, squalls and volcanic eruptions.

5. Changes in precipitation intensity or form.6. Changes to ceilings when previously reported ceilings were at or

below 3,000 feet, or the formation of a ceiling below 3,000 feet. Also, new formation of cloud layers or other obscuring phenomenon that occur below 1,000 feet.

7. Aircraft mishaps.8. Other meteorological conditions that the agency or the observer

determine as critical.



Refer to the section on METARs for an explanation of the elements. Theelement sequence and content will be the same as those in a METARreport with the exception of the first element denoting report type.“SPECI” will be seen in place of “METAR”. The KMD 550 provides atranslated version of the SPECI data. This is a readable version of theSPECI data derived from the actual SPECI. The raw SPECI data isplayed at the end of the translated version.

NOTE: When a specific element of SPECI data is not available, it isomitted from the report. The user must know the sequence of data torecognize omissions. SPECI observations older than 120 minutes will bediscarded.

Basic service SPECIs are offered in the encoded textual format.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual METAR/SPECIs.

TAF

A TAF (Terminal Area Forecast) is a statement of expected meteorolog-ical conditions at an airport during a specified period of time. Manyaspects of the TAF are the same as a METAR. Abbreviations are thesame as in a METAR with addition of a few more discussed later. Manyof the data elements are formatted as those in a METAR report. A TAFwill contain elements in the following order:

1. Type of report2. ICAO station identifier3. Date and time of issue4. Date and time valid5. Wind6. Visibility7. Weather phenomena8. Sky conditions9. Wind shear (as required)10. Forecast weather change indicator

TAFs available within the selected range of the selected area will be dis-played up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed in anencoded textual format.

NOTE: TAFs older than the forecast validity period are discarded.Amended or corrected TAFs generated within the issuance period areprovided as soon as they are available, and the previous outdated TAFis no longer transmitted.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual TAFs.



PIREP (VDL ONLY)

A PIREP (Pilot Weather Report) is an observation of conditions at a spe-cific location or along a specific route. These conditions are reported bypilots when communications are established with ground facilities suchEFAS, AFSS/FSS, ARTCC or ATC. Abbreviations are the same as in aMETAR. Pilots are encouraged to promptly volunteer these reports. APIREP will contain elements in the following order:1. Type of message (urgent or routine)2. Location in relation to an airport or VHF NAVAID3. Time observed4. Flight Level (may not always be present)5. Type of aircraft (may not always be present)6. Sky cover (may not always be present)7. Weather conditions (may not always be present)8. Temperature (may not always be present)9. Wind direction and speed (may not always be present)10. Turbulence (may not always be present)11. Icing (may not always be present)12. Remarks (may not always be present)

PIREPs available within the selected range of the selected area will bedisplayed up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed inan encoded textual format.

NOTE: PIREPs older than 120 minutes are discarded.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual PIREPs.

AIRMET

An AIRMET (Airman’s Meteorological Information) is an advisory of sig-nificant weather that could be hazardous to single engine, light aircraftand VFR pilots. However, parameters are such that the phenomenadoes not require issuance of a SIGMET. AIRMETs address detailsregarding IFR, extensive mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong sur-face winds, icing and freezing levels. AIRMETs are considered wide-spread because they must either be affecting or forecast to affect anarea at least 3,000 square miles. However, during the forecast period,the actual affected area may be much smaller. AIRMETs are issuedevery six hours and the maximum forecast period is 6 hours. AnAIRMET will contain elements in the following order:

1. Forecast Area2. Report Type



3. Date and time issued4. Report designation and reason for issuance5. Validity period6. Area of coverage7. Weather phenomenon details.

These reports are displayed in an encoded textual format.

NOTE: AIRMETs may be issued up to 15 minutes prior to the start of thevalidity period. The system will display the data age as zero until the startof the validity period. AIRMETs older than 360 minutes are discarded.Amended, updated or corrected AIRMETs generated withing theissuance period are provided as soon as they are available, and the pre-vious outdated AIRMET is no longer transmitted.

When an AIRMET is cancelled, neither the original report nor the cance-lation message can be displayed.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual AIRMETs.

SIGMET

A SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) is an advisory of non-convective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft. SIGMETsaddress details regarding severe icing not associated with thunder-storms, severe or extreme turbulence not associated with thunderstorms,dust or sand storms lowering visibility to less than 3 miles, volcanic ash.SIGMETs are considered widespread because they must either beaffecting or forecast to affect an area at least 3,000 square miles.However, during the forecast period, the actual affected area may bemuch smaller. SIGMETs are issued as needed and the maximum fore-cast period is 4 hours, except for 6 hours for conditions associated withhurricanes. A SIGMET will contain elements in the following order:1. Forecast Area2. Report Type3. Date and time issued4. Report designation and reason for issuance5. Validity period6. Area of coverage7. Location of weather phenomenon8. Weather phenomenon details.

These reports are displayed in an encoded textual format.

NOTE: SIGMETs older than the forecast period are discarded.Amended, updated or corrected SIGMETs generated withing theissuance period are provided as soon as they are available, and the pre-vious outdated SIGMET is no longer transmitted.




When an SIGMET is cancelled, neither the original report nor the cance-lation message can be displayed.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual SIGMETs.

CONVECTIVE SIGMET

A Convective SIGMET (Convective Significant Meteorological Information)is an advisory of convective weather that the forecaster believes haz-ardous to all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs address details regardingsevere thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms, a line of thunderstorms,or thunderstorms producing heavy precipitation affecting an area 40 per-cent or more of an area at least 3,000 square miles. Convective SIGMETsare issued hourly with a maximum forecast period of 2 hours. AConvective SIGMET will contain elements in the following order:

1. Region Identifier and issue date and time2. Report designator3. Validity period4. Area of coverage5. Location details6. Weather phenomena details

NOTE: Convective SIGMETs older than the forecast period are dis-carded. Amended, updated or corrected Convective SIGMETs generatedwithing the issuance period are provided as soon as they are available,and the previous outdated Convective SIGMET is no longer transmitted.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual ConvectiveSIGMETs.

ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY)

Alert Weather Watches (AWW) are Alert Severe Weather WatchBulletins that describe areas of possible severe thunderstorm or tornadodevelopment. These are watches, not warnings; and are issued asneeded. Severe weather may not actually develop. An Alert WeatherWatch will contain elements in the following order:

1. Report designation and date and time of issuance

2. Watch number, reason for issuance, area of coverage and validity period.

3. Watch coordinates

4. Forecast

NOTE: Alert Weather Watches older than the forecast period are discarded.

See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual Alert WeatherWatches.


VALUE ADDED SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS

The following is a discussion of weather products offered with the valueadded VDL subscription service. Accessing and navigating these ser-vices will be discussed in detail later in this addendum.

All basic and value-added products (except those identified as VDLOnly) can also be obtained through a single fee-based XM subscriptionservice.

NOTE: Airport and VOR icons, with their identifiers, will be displayed onthe graphical FIS maps at the range settings selected on Map SetupPage (2). However, only airport identifiers will be displayed on theGraphical METARs map display.

NEXRAD

Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) is formally designated WSR-88D,which stands for Weather Service Radar (Doppler) and was commis-sioned in 1988.

FIS VDL provides NEXRAD base reflectivity and XM WX providesNEXRAD composite reflectivity. Each NEXRAD ground radar site scan iscomposed of separate beam scans at several elevation angles for 360°around the site. Base reflectivity is the highest precipitation echo (reflec-tivity) contained in the lowest NEXRAD radar elevation angle scan (5°).Composite reflectivity provides the highest precipitation echoes within allof the elevation scan angles. The NEXRAD base or composite reflectivitymodes provide a display of echo intensity depicted by colors. NEXRADinformation is good for identifying precipitation intensity.

CAUTION: NEXRAD data must be used for strategic planning pur-poses only. Due to inherent delays and relative age of the datathat can be experienced, NEXRAD data cannot be used for tacticalavoidance of weather.

NEXRAD reflectivity imagesolder than 75 minutes arediscarded and no longer dis-played.

Figure 1 shows a typicalNEXRAD display. Politicalboundaries, rivers, lakes,and oceans are depicted inconjunction with weather.

The NEXRAD data map isalways displayed in a northup orientation.

Value Added Service Weather Products

Figure 1


The display range may be changed to zoom in on a specific area to geta more detailed weather picture, or zoom out to display a wider range.

NEXRAD ABNORMALITIES

The following is a list of NEXRAD abnormalities that may be experi-enced:

1. Each NEXRAD site can operate in two modes, "Clear Air" mode or"Precipitation" mode. When no significant precipitation exists in the scan-ning area of the radar a NEXRAD site produces images in the "Clear Air"mode. In this mode the radar is very sensitive to small targets, making itpossible to detect minute particles such as pollen, smoke and dust.

2. Ground clutter is detected when nearby buildings, trees, and towersreflect radar energy back to the NEXRAD site. Because NEXRAD is aDoppler radar, many stationary targets are filtered out. However, if atower or tree sways slightly in the wind, it will show up on the scan as atarget. These “moving” objects are the targets referred to as groundclutter. Radar returns from very near the site (within a radius 20-30 nau-tical miles) indicating very high reflectivities often include ground clutter.

3. Strobes are spurious radar data caused primarily by defractivebending of the beam back down to the ground. This often happens inareas where cool air interacts with prevailing warm air, such as alongcoastlines and over oceans or other large bodies of water. Blocky andlinear features are characteristics of strobes within the displayed data.

4. Sun strobes occur when a radar antenna points directly at the sun.This shows up as high reflectivity for one or two radials. Sun strobes areshown as bright colored spikes on the display.

5. Military planes deploy metallic dust known as 'chaff' to diffuse theirradar signatures and mask their presence on radar. Pilots frequentlypractice laying chaff trails over open ocean, although these trails oftendrift over land causing alterations in weather radar scans.

6. When a solid object, such as a mountain, intersects a radar beam, itblocks any reflectivity beyond that point and produces a shadow withinthe display.

7. When a building near a NEXRAD site is taller than the tower onwhich the radar antenna resides, it can block the beam, casting a long,narrow shadow (blank space) in the display.

8. NEXRAD sites sometimes return data that is entirely spurious. Thisis known as "going critical" and usually does not last longer than a fewhours.

9. Atmospheric temperature inversions cause radar returns from theEarth's surface resulting in Anomalous Propagation (AP) echoes on theradar display.



10. Echoes from migrating birds, bats, and insects will be displayed ascircular patterns of level 1 reflectivity centered near NEXRAD sites.

11. Significant variation in humidity with altitude can cause reflectionsfrom the Earth's surface. These reflections are also displayed as largecircular or oval areas of uniform low intensity.

12. Differences will be noted between the base reflectivity (VDL) andcomposite (XM) products. The base reflectivity product displays thelower extent of cloud masses, so the extent of water droplets appears tobe less. The composite product provides more airborne water reflectionseen at higher angles as viewed from the NEXRAD ground sites, sohigher level features of the convective activity will be given. For example,the "blowout" portion of thunderstorms (the anvil portion) containing highaltitude ice particles is often depicted as light precipitation and might beconfused for lower altitude light precipitation. Either base or compositeproduct provide accurate, but somewhat time delayed depiction of highlevels of precipitation for fully developed or late stage thunderstorms.

NEXRAD LIMITATIONS

The following are limitations on the use of NEXRAD data:

1. NEXRAD does not provide sufficient information to determine cloudlayers, precipitation characteristics (frozen vs. liquid, hail vs. rain, etc),nor does it provide information on turbulence, only the amount ofreflected energy from the precipitation.

2. The displayed NEXRAD product does not provide sufficient detail toinfer future weather trends. Due to delays involved in product creationand transmittal, the pilot should always review the age bar to determineinformation currency.

3. Due to NEXRAD sitelocation limitations, terrestrialblockages and outages,NEXRAD coverage gapsexist. Coverage gaps are dis-played as a cross hatchedpattern as shown in Figure 2.Lack of reflectivity in a cov-erage gap area should not beconstrued as a lack of precip-itation. Coverage gaps areportrayed indentically oneither VDL or XM.

4. The resolution of NEXRAD VDL data is 4 kilometers (km).Thus,when zoomed in on the display, each square block is 4 km on a side.The intensity level reflected by the square will be the highest level sam-pled within the 4 km area.


Figure 2

Coverage Gap


The resolution of NEXRAD XM data is 2 km. Thus, when zoomed in onthe display, each square block is 2 km on a side. The intensity levelreflected by the square will be the highest level sampled within the 2 kmarea.

INTENSITY

Precipitation intensity is depicted using colors as follows:

Green Light Level 1 15-30 dBz (10-30 dBz for XM))

Yellow Moderate Level 2 30-40 dBz

Red Heavy Level 3-4 40-50 dBz

Magenta Extreme Level 5-8 50+ dBz

The NEXRAD dBz levels, descriptions and colors are consistent withFAA guidelines.

Moving the joystick andpressing the MORE INFOsoftkey wil l display theNEXRAD legend as shownin Figure 3a (FIS VDL) and3b (XM WX).

The column labeled dBz is ameasure of the radar echointensity.

The strength of a radarreturn signal typically variesas a function of distance(i.e., weaker from distant tar-gets, stronger from thosenearby) and the object size.

Many weather sources avail-able on the internet usecolor coding that is differentthan the KMD 550/850 colorcoding. The dBz and inten-sity level can be used tocompare intensity levelsbetween different sources ofNEXRAD information sincemany internet weatherproviders wil l include alegend with dBz values indi-cated.

No Data, as shown in the legend, indicates the lack of coverage forreasons discussed previously.

Figure 3a


Figure 3b


PRECIPITATION TYPE(AT SURFACE)(XM ONLY)

The Precipitation Type (AtSurface) product is decodedthe same as the NEXRADinformation is. It is displayedas shown in Figure 4.

Moving the joy stick in anydirection displays the MOREINFO soft key on the rightside of the screen. Pressingthe RESET STICK soft keyor waiting 30 seconds willreturn the screen to the pre-vious Precipitation Typeselection.

When the MORE INFO softkey is pressed the Legendwindow is shown as inFigure 6.

Pressing the OVERLAYbutton displays overlayselection soft keys on theright side of the screen. Thisallows selection of any of thefive different overlays(depending upon availability)for the Precipitation Typescreen. Overlay types areFlight Plan, Storm Scope (ifinstalled), Data LinkLightning and SevereWeather Storm Track/StormCells. The overlay selectionsare highlighted on thelegend on the left side of thescreen. Press SAVE & EXITto complete the selection.

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6



Pressing and holding theOVERLAY key will displaythe FIS Overlays window.This window displays thestatus of the overlays thatare available to thePrecipitation Type screen asshown in Figure 8. Thewindow will no longer be dis-played when the overlay keyis released.

FREEZING LEVELS (XM ONLY)

The Freezing Level productdecoded and displayed in agraphical format as shown inFigure 9. The color code foreach altitude level is indi-cated in the legend box onthe right of the display.Additionally the “IN” box inthe legend indicates the cur-rent level the aircraft is in.

Figure 9

Figure 8

Figure 7



Moving the Joy stick wil lcause the MORE INFO andRESET STICK soft keys tobe displayed on the right.

Pressing the MORE INFOsoft key will display the fullFreezing Levels Legend.This includes the range ofeach level. Moving the joystick in any direction willrevert the display back to theFreezing Levels screen or itwill return to it in 30 seconds.

Pressing the OVERLAYbutton displays the overlayselection soft keys on theright side of the screen. Thisallows the flight plan to beoverlaid on the FreezingLevels screen. The selectionis made by pressing FLIGHTPLAN soft key on the rightside of the screen. Theoverlay selection is high-lighted on the legend on theleft side of the screen. PressSAVE & EXIT to completethe selection.

Figure 12

Figure 10

Figure 11



Pressing and holding theOVERLAY key will displaythe FIS Overlays window.This window displays thestatus of the overlays of theFreezing Levels screen asshown in Figure 13. Thewindow will no longer be dis-played when the overlay keyis released.

WINDS ALOFT (XM ONLY)

The Winds Aloft productshows wind speed anddirection on the surface andat the selected altitudes.Displayed altitudes are atthe surface (SFC) and from3000ft to 18,000ft in 3000ftincrements and from24,000ft to 42,000ft in 6000ftincrements. The displayedlevel can be changed bypressing either the FlightLevel up (FL UP) or FlightLevel down (FL DN) softkeys on the right of the dis-play as shown in Figure 14.

The Winds Aloft Screen willdisplay at zoom levels from50 to 500 NM. At the 320and 500 NM range only thewind barb for the maximummagnitude within the area isdisplayed.

When winds aloft informa-tion isn’t available for part ofa selected area, a hash gra-dient will highlight that areaas shown in Figure 15.

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 13



This condition will always betrue in the Rocky mountainarea at 3000ft and below.

When there is not any winddata available for theselected Flight Level themessage “WINDS ALOFTDATA AT THIS FLIGHTLEVEL NOT AVAILABLEDATA NOT RECEIVED” asshown in Figure 16.

Moving the joystick in anydirection displays the MOREINFO soft key as shown inFigure 17. Pressing theRESET STICK soft key orafter 30 seconds the displayreturns to the previousWinds Aloft selection.

Moving the joystick overWind Bar markers displaysthe Speed and wind direc-tion information associatedwith that particular marker.See Figure 18. Pressing theRESET STICK soft key orafter 30 seconds the displayreturns to the previousWinds Aloft selection.

Figure 18

Figure 17

Figure 16



Pressing the MORE INFOkey displays the Winds AloftLegend as shown in Figure19. Moving the joy Stick orafter 30 seconds the displayreturns to the previousWinds Aloft selection.

Figure 19



GRAPHICAL METAR

The graphical METAR isderived from the most cur-rently received textualMETAR or SPECI data fromreporting sites. This is dis-played on a map back-ground to enhance situa-tional awareness as shownon Figure 20.

The graphical METAR iconis gray when the textualMETAR or SPECI reportexceeds 75 minutes (AGED),but is less than the textual METAR expiration time of 120 minutes.Look at the textual report for ceiling and visibillty information.

CAUTION: Graphical METAR data must be used for strategic plan-ning purposes only. Due to inherent delays, areas of coverageand relative age and availability of the data that can be experi-enced, Graphical METAR data cannot be viewed as an absolutedepiction of conditions at a specific location.

Graphical METARs are shown using two color coded boxes, one indi-cating ceiling (upper box), the other visibility (lower box). Next to theboxes is the ICAO station identifier for the airport to which the METARpertains. Color coding for the boxes is specified in the table below:

Moving the joystick pointer to an area that will not highlight a specificreport then pressing the MORE INFO softkey will display the graphicalMETAR legend as shown in Figure 21.


Figure 20


GRAPHICAL AIRMET

The graphical AIRMET isderived from the locationdescription (if provided) inthe textual AIRMET and dis-played as a boundary boxwith the appropriate color forthe condition as shown inthe legend (for a description,see AIRMETs in the BasicWeather Services section).The “IN” box in the legendindicates the current aircraftposition is within the corre-sponding forecast condition.The boundaries are dis-played on a map back-ground to enhance situa-tional awareness as shownon Figure 22. Low LevelWind Shear and FreezingLevel information will not bedisplayed on the GRAPH-ICAL AIRMET; check thetextual AIRMETs for thisinformation.

NOTE: If no location descrip-tion is provided in the textual AIRMET the AIRMET cannot be depictedgraphically. These AIRMETs are denoted by displaying the AIRMETidentifier in green within the textual AIRMET.

GRAPHICAL SIGMET

The graphical SIGMET isderived from the locationdescription in the textualSIGMET and displayed as aboundary box with theappropriate color for thecondition (for a description,see SIGMETs in the BasicWeather Services section).This is displayed on a mapbackground to enhance situ-ational awareness as shownon Figure 23.


Figure 22

Figure 23

Figure 21


GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMET

The graphical ConvectiveSIGMET is derived from thelocation description in thetextual Convective SIGMETand displayed as a yellowboundary box (for a descrip-t ion, see CONVECTIVESIGMETs in the BasicWeather Services section).The “IN” box in the legendindicates the current aircraftposition is within the corre-sponding forecast condition.The boundaries are dis-played on a map backgroundto enhance situationalawareness as shown onFigure 24.

GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY)

The graphical Alert WeatherWatches (AWWs) arederived from the locationdescription in the textualAWW and displayed as aboundary box with theappropriate color for the con-dition as shown in the legend(for a description, seeALERT WEATHERWATCHES in the BasicWeather Services section).The “IN” box in the legendindicates the current aircraftposition is within the corre-sponding forecast condition.The boundaries are dis-played on a map backgroundto enhance situational aware-ness as shown on Figure 25.

Figure 25

Figure 24



STARTUP

If a display such as Figure26 is seen at startup, per-form the steps in Setting Upa FIS Subscription.

Figure 27 is displayed at theend of the startup processon the KMD 550/850 if a FISsystem is installed. PressOK to acknowledge that it isunderstood that FIS informa-tion is to be used as astrategic planning tool forpilot decisions on avoidinginclement weather areaswhich are beyond visualrange or where poor visibilityprecludes visual acquisitionof inclement weather.

Due to inherent delays,areas of coverage and rela-tive age and availability ofthe data that can be experi-enced, weather data cannotbe viewed as an absolutedepiction of conditions at a specific location.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

A current subscription (VDL or XM) and a current data card (VDL only)are required to receive services. Subscriptions are used to gain accessto services. Some VDL services are offered at no cost and others are feebased. All XM weather services are provided on a fee basis. All servicesnot identified as VDL Only are available with an XM subscription.

VDL SUBSCRIPTIONS

A subscription must be set up to continue receiving FIS VDL services,including no-charge products. This process can be performed either viawebsite, (http://www.bendixking.com) select Wingman Services, DataLink Weather, or alternatively by contacting Wingman Services at 800-247-0230 (or 913-712-3145). During this process, you will have theoption to subscribe to fee-based products, such as NEXRAD andGraphical METARs, and/or may choose to subscribe to basic textualproducts, such as TAFs, METARs/SPECIs, and PIREPs, which will con-tinue to remain free-of-charge.

Figure 27

Figure 26

Startup


NOTE: Although the basic textual products are free of charge, they stillrequire a subscription to receive the service as well as a current datacard.

To accommodate users with varying service needs (for example, duringdifferent flying seasons over the course of a year), the display unit allowsstorage for up to four individual subscriptions, in much the same way thata computer can support multiple user accounts with different passwords.Once entered, the display unit manages selection of the appropriate sub-scription without any operator intervention. A subscription code must beentered into the display unit whenever you add or renew a subscription.

When subscribing for a FIS VDL service package, you may specify thedate when service shall commence and the duration. If you subscribe tomultiple packages, the start date and duration of each can differ (ifdesired). For instance, a user may select the free text weather packagefor an entire year and also choose a graphical weather package for partof the year.

During the subscription process, you will receive 1 to 4 subscriptioncodes which you must enter into your display unit to permit access to allproducts. A subscription code is an alphanumeric sequence that permitsaccess to the FIS VDL broadcast network in much the same way that acomputer password permits access to a computer network. When yousubscribe for FIS VDL services, the online system will ask for a FISDisplay ID in order to provide you with the subscription code. The FISDisplay ID is a unique alphanumeric serial number associated with yourdisplay unit. This ID is obtained by viewing the FIS Subscription Statuspage on your display unit. After obtaining the subscription code (fromeither bendixking.com or via a phone call to Wingman Services), enterthis code into your display unit. The subscription code tells the displaythe service(s) to which you have subscribed and for what period of time.

Also, the data card must be updated at least once a year for continuanceof FIS subscription service. The validity period for the subscription dataon the data card is shown on the FIS Caution page at power on and alsoon the FIS Subscription Status Page. The data card contains both sub-scription data that is needed to access FIS products as well as the latestoperating software. By updating the data card at least once a year priorto the expiration date you will ensure uninterrupted FIS service and alsohave the latest version of software to utilize new FIS products as theybecome available. Note that data card updates are available every 28days and also include the latest version of Jeppesen navigation data.

FIS Subscriptions


SETTING UP A VDLSUBSCRIPTION

NOTE: The following detailsrequire selection of a KDR-510 as the source fordatalink weather data.

At least one subscriptionmust be set up, even toreceive the no-charge ser-vices. Up to four differentconcurrent subscriptions canbe set up depending on theservice packages desired.

NOTE: Entering more thanfour subscriptions will causeprevious subscriptions to beoverwritten.

To set up a subscription, per-form the following steps:

1. Press the AUX FunctionSelect Key to display theAuxiliary Mode Cover Pageas shown in Figure 28.

2. Press the WX SETUPsoftkey to display the WXSetup Cover Page as shownin Figure 29.

FIS Subscriptions

Figure 28

Figure 29

Select the desiredservices

Go to Bendixking.comor call 1-800-247-0230

to subscribe to FIS Services

Get Display IDfrom unit in airplane

Receive SubscriptionCode(s) and print them

out

Take printed out code(s)to the airplane and enter

code(s) on the FIS SubscriptionStatus Page

Update Data Card if needed.Update at least once per year

to ensure continued FIS Services

Enjoy flying with FISServices!

Enter Display ID duringregistration

(This is only required firsttime you subscribe)

How to Subscribe to FIS VDL Services


3. Press the FIS softkey todisplay the FIS Setup CoverPage as shown in Figure 30.

4. Press the FIS SUBSCRsoftkey to display Figure 31.On initial subscription setupthe subscription window willshow only blank spaces asshown in Figure 31, unlessservices were pre-provi-sioned at the factory. In thiscase some lines may not beblank. If adding another sub-scription, one or more pre-vious subscriptions may bedisplayed with the associ-ated validity period andstatus.

The unique identifier for theindividual KMD 550/850 isdisplayed in the FIS DisplayID window. The unique IDshown here is 0H0H000KX0.

Obtain the unique ID for yoursystem and visit the WingmanServices website onwww.bendixking.com or call1-800-247-0230. This ID willbe used to obtain aSubscription Access Code.

NOTE: For uninterrupted FISVDL services, the data cardmust be updated by the dateshown in “Data card updaterequired by” field.

5. After obtaining theSubscription Code, press theADD SUBSCR softkey to dis-play Figure 32.

FIS Subscriptions

Figure 31

Figure 32

Figure 30


6. The inner Control Knobselects the alphanumericcharacter and the outerControl Knob selects thecharacter position. Turn theinner Control Knob until thefirst character of theSubscription Code is dis-played in first space. Turnthe outer Control Knob clock-wise to move to the nextspace to the right. Turn theinner Control Knob until thesecond character of theSubscription Code is dis-played. Continue thissequence until the entireSubscription Code has beenentered as shown in Figure33.

After selecting the last char-acter space of theSubscription Code theENTER softkey is now avail-able.

7. After entering the lastSubscription Code character,press the ENTER softkey.The subscription should beaccepted and processed asshown in Figure 34.

If an incorrect code has beenentered, a message like thatshown in Figure 35 will bedisplayed.

FIS Subscriptions

Figure 33

Figure 34

Figure 35


8. After the subscription hasbeen accepted, Figure 36 willbe displayed showing thesubscription validity periodand status. If the subscriptionhas been entered prior to thebeginning of subscription ser-vice, the entered subscriptionwill begin when subscriptionservices are turned on.

CHECKING FIS VDLSUBSCRIPTIONS

To check FIS VDL subscrip-tion validity or status performthe following steps:

1. Repeat steps 1 through 3in the Setting Up a FIS VDLSubscription section.

2. Press the FIS SUBSCRsoftkey. A screen similar toFigure 37 should be dis-played. In this case subscrip-tion #1 has expired and sub-scription #2 is still valid.

The symbols that may appear in the Status column, and their meanings,are shown in Figure 38a. Again, subscriptions will only be valid when FISsubscription service is turned on.

NOTE: Only the validity period for subscriptions is shown on the display.To determine which products are available with each subscription,access the account on Wingman Services at www.bendixking.com.

FIS Subscriptions

Figure 37

Figure 38a

Figure 36


XM WX SUBSCRIPTIONS

An XM subscription must be set up to receive XM WX services. Thisprocess involves accessing the XM Radio website and a toll-free phonecall to XM Radio.

SETTING UP AN XM WX SUBSCRIPTION

NOTE: The following details require selection of an XM receiver (suchas a KDR-610 ) as the source for datalink weather data.

Setting up an XM WX subscription can be accomplished by followingthese steps:

1a.Retrieve the 8-digit ID from the KDR 610 label (should be attached tothe opposite end of the receiver from the connectors)

OR

1b.Apply power to the display and receiver, select the AUX key, the WXSETUP softkey, the FIS softkey, and finally the FIS SUBSCRIPTIONsoftkey. Record the 8-digit receiver ID displayed at the bottom of theFIS Subscription Status page.

2. Go to the website www.xmradio.com/weather/get_xm_wx.html toselect your weather subscription package.

3. Apply power to the XM receiver, and place the receiver's antennawhere the signal can be received from the XM satellites. Make certainthe antenna has a good view of the southern horizon.

4. With the Receiver ID and desired subscription package in hand, con-tact XM Radio at 1-800-985-9200 for assistance in activating yourreceiver and setting up a weather product subscription. The receiver

Figure 38b

FIS Subscriptions


should remain in view of the satellites during the subscriptionprocess.

5. Verify the activation of the receiver and the subscription validity byselecting and viewing the “FIS Subscription Status Page” on theKMD screen.

If for any reason the receiver was not exposed to the XM signal withinthe initial 24 hour broadcast period, or is not successfully authorized forsome other reason, a subsequent 15 minute resend of the subscriptioninformation can be obtained. Get the receiver ID (instructions in step 1aor 1b above), go to the website http://www.xmradio.com/refresh/, andfollow the instructions.

CHECKING XM WX SUBSCRIPTIONS

To check the FIS XM sub-scription and receiver status,apply power to the displayand receiver, select the AUXkey, then the WX SETUPsoftkey, the FIS softkey, andfinally the FIS SUBSCRsoftkey, as in step 1b previ-ously.

The Application IDs are dis-played along with thereceiver activation and sub-scription status. TheApplication IDs provide the groupings of products that are part of thesubscription package. Green checkmarks indicate those App IDs orproduct groups that are contained in the subscription package for the XMreceiver. Contact XM Radio at 1-800-985-9200 with the App ID informa-tion if the subscribed products are not received and displayed.

Figure 38c

Symbol Subscription Status Description

—

(white)No Information

The XM FIS receiver subscriptioninformation message has notbeen received.

Not Subscribed The user is not authorized for theApplication ID.

Subscribed The user is authorized for theApplication ID.

FIS Subscriptions


The following table lists the XM Radio assignment of App IDs for weatherproducts. Assignments within the broadcast data stream may changeand the most current assignments may not be reflected below. ContactXM concerning App ID information if the powered receiver has been inview of the satellites for 10 minutes or more and the correct products arenot received. Those products that are currently displayed on the KMD550/850 with the XM capable software release installed are set in boldfont.

FIS Subscriptions

App ID Product

App ID 10 Radar Coverage, METARs, County Warnings, City Forecasts

App ID 231 NEXRAD Radar, TAFs, Freezing Level, TFRs

App ID 232SCITs, Lightning, Storm (Echo) Tops, SurfacePrecipitation, Winds Aloft, AIRMETs, SIGMETs,Cloud Tops


Normal Operation

NORMAL OPERATION

To display the FIS pages, press the WX Function Select Key. Eachpress will cycle through Weather Radar (KMD 850 only), Stormscope®(if installed), FIS Graphics Page (Graphical METAR, NEXRAD,AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETs and Alert Weather Watches(VDL Only) depending on what was last selected) and FIS Text Page.

The MODE Power Key maybe used to select any of theavailable FIS weather pagesby displaying the SELECTFIS PRODUCT Menu asshown in Figure 39a (Figure39b and Figure 39c for XM).MODE will only be availablewhen the KMD 550/850 isactively receiving weatherdata. On startup, this maytake a few minutes. Availableweather products will be dis-played in black text. Productsthat are not yet available willbe displayed in blue text andwill not be selectable untilthey are available. WxWatches and PIREPs are notavailable for XM WX and willnot be listed.

Use the Joystick or theinner/outer Control Knobs toselect the desired weather

product. After the desired product isselected, press the SELECT Softkey.

KMD 850 Only

Stormscope®

WX Radar

☞

Only if Stormscope® is installed

Datalink Wx Graphical Products

Datalink Wx Textual Products

Figure 39a

Figure 39b


When the ControlKnob Icon is dis-played in the MODE

field at the top of the display,as shown here, either theinner or outer Control Knobmay be used to select andcycle through the availablegraphical weather productswithout having to use theSELECT FIS PRODUCTMenu.

NEXRAD PAGE

The following illustration describes the NEXRAD VDL display. TheNEXRAD XM display is the same except the FIS Icon is different andComposite Reflectivity is shown instead of Base Reflectivity.

1 Range Scale - Indicates selected range.

2 Available Functions - Displays icons representingdata available (black) and displayed (color).

3 North Pointer - Indicates north.

4 Range Rings - Outer ring radius is selected range and inner ring radius is onehalf the selected range.

5 MODE - Indicates the weather product being displayed.

6 Control Knob Icon - Displayed when the ControlKnobs are available for cycling through the graphicalweather products.

7 Joystick Label - Indicates joystick is active and can beused to pan map.

8 No Coverage Area - Crosshatch pattern indicatesarea of no coverage.

9 Precipitation - NEXRAD precipitation returns.

2

5

1

3

64

11

7

10

89

12

2

5

1

3

64

11

7

10

9

12

10 Aircraft Symbol - Indicates present aircraft position and heading (if available) or track.

11 Age of Data - Age of the data based on current time minus NEXRADissue time.

12 Age Status Bar - Indicates percentage of age versus elapsed time before expiration. The bar will be green the first 50% then turn yellow.

VDL System

XM WX System

Normal Operation

Figure 39c


Normal Operation

NEXRAD PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS

CAUTION: NEXRAD data must only be used for strategic planningpurposes. Due to inherent delays and relative age of the data thatcan be experienced, NEXRAD data cannot be used for tacticalavoidance of weather.

MODE - Displays the Select FIS Product Menu.

Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired weather activity to be viewed.

RNG▲▲//RNG▼▼ - Displays ZOOMING TO ### nm andadvances the indicator to the next range. The upperbutton increases range, the lower button decreases it.The selected range is displayed in the lower left cornerof the display with the outer range ring the displayedrange and the inner range ring is half the displayed

range. The RNG button labels will not be displayed when their respectiverange limits are reached.

OVLY - Allows selection of flight plan and DatalinkLightning and Storm Cell Identification and Tracking(SCIT) lightning data (if Stormscope® equipment isinstalled) for overlay on the FIS map.

Control Knobs - Used to select and/or cycle through theavailable graphical weather products displays.

SELECTING AND USINGTHE NEXRAD PAGE

1. Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FISGraphics Page is displayed.If necessary, turn the ControlKnob to obtain the NEXRADdisplay as shown in Figure40. NEXRAD BaseReflectivity (NEXRADComposite Reflectivity for XM) will be displayed in the MODE fieldlocated at the top center of the display.

Figure 40


NOTE: If a message such asthat shown in Figure 41 isdisplayed, it may be that thesystem has not had time toacquire a signal or hasacquired a signal and not yetreceived all the data for aNEXRAD image. If this mes-sage is still present aftermore than 5-10 minutes,refer to the Messages sec-tion of this addendum.

Always make note of the age of the data displayed in the bottom rightcorner. Remember, the older the age the more suspect the accuracy ofthe data. The colored bar will be green the first 50% of the expirationtime period for the displayed data then turn yellow. Also, delays occur-ring prior to the weather distributor time stamping the data are notreflected in the displayed age. These delays can range from one toseven minutes.

If no data update has been received for 75 minutes the NEXRAD imageis discarded and no longer displayed.

2. Press the RNG▲▲//RNG▼▼ Key to zoom in on the display. The map iscentered on the present position indicated by the symbolic aircraft.

3. To view a specific area of weather, move the joystick in the desireddirection. A pointer will appear on the display connected to the symbolicaircraft with a flashing line (see Figure 42). The distance and bearingbetween present positionand the pointer is shown atthe bottom center of the dis-play. As the joystick is heldthe pointer will continue tomove. When the pointerreaches the edge of the dis-play the map will pan to keepup with pointer movement.Release the joystick to stopmoving the pointer. Press theRNG▲▲//RNG▼▼ keys to zoomin or out on the pointer posi-tion. Figure 42

Figure 41

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

Pressing the MORE INFOsoftkey will display the VDLNEXRAD LEGEND (Figure43a) or the XM NEXRADLEGEND (Figure 43b). Toclear the legend from the dis-play, move the joystick. TheXM legend reflects the lowerlimit of 10 dBz for light precip-itation.

Press the RESET STICKsoftkey to return to the pre-sent position display. If noactions are taken for a periodof 30 seconds, the display willreturn to the present position.

4. Press the OVLY Key tooverlay flightplan or lightningdata on the NEXRAD map(see Figure 44). Lightningoverlay capability will only beavailable if a Stormscope® isinstalled with the system.

The FLIGHT PLAN andSTORMSCOPE softkeystoggle the respective overlayon or off as in Figure 45.

Figure 45

Figure 44

Figure 43a

Figure 43b


Press the SAVE & EXITsoftkey to retain the selec-tions on the display (seeFigure 46).

If the severe weather stormtrack (SCIT) overlay is activethe SCIT icon will be dis-played in the legend on theleft side of the screen.Where ever severe weatheris located the SCIT icon willbe displayed on the screen.The arrow of the icon will indi-cate the forecasted track ofthe weather (see Figure 47).

If the cursor is moved by thejoy stick over any of the SCITicons on the screen a pop upscreen showing Storm Top(in kft), Movement: (direction,speed in knots), Hail: (Maxhail size in inches) and AgeIcon: (also indicated expira-tion time). (Figure 48).

Figure 46

Normal Operation

Figure 47

Figure 48


1 Range Scale - Indicates selected range.2 Available Functions - Displays icons representing data available (black)

and displayed (color).3 Age Status Bar - Indicates percentage of age versus elapsed time

before expiration. The bar will be green the first 50% then turn yellow.4 North Pointer - Indicates north.5 MODE - Indicates the weather product being displayed.6 Control Knob Icon - Displayed when the Control Knobs are available for

cycling through the graphical weather products.7 Joystick Label - Indicates joystick is active and can be used to pan map.8 Range Rings - Outer ring radius is selected range and inner ring radius

is one half the selected range.9 Aircraft Symbol - Indicates present aircraft position and heading (if

available) or track.10 No Coverage Data Available - Indicates there is not any Freezing Levels

available in that area.

4

29

5

1 3

7

8

6

PRECIPITATION TYPE PAGE

PRECIPITATION TYPE COLOR CODING

Normal Operation


PRECIPITATION TYPE PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired PRECIPITATION TYPE icon to beviewed.

RNG▲▲//RNG▼▼ - Displays ZOOMING TO ### nm andadvances the indicator to the next range. The upperbutton increases range, the lower button decreases it.The selected range is displayed in the lower left cornerof the display with the outer range ring the displayedrange and the inner range ring is half the displayedrange. The RNG button labels will not be displayed

when their respective range limits are reached.

OVLY - Allows selection of flight plan data for overlayon the FIS map.


Normal Operation


Normal Operation



before expiration. The bar will be green the first 50% then turn yellow.4 North Pointer - Indicates north.5 MODE - Indicates the weather product being displayed.6 Control Knob Icon - Displayed when the Control Knobs are available

for cycling through the graphical weather products.7 Joystick Label - Indicates joystick is active and can be used to pan map.8 Range Rings - Outer ring radius is selected range and inner ring radius


available) or track.10 Freezing Level Color Key - Colors indicating Freezing Levels at the

height shown.

4

2

9

5

1 3

78

6FREEZING LEVELS PAGE

FREEZING LEVELS COLOR CODING


FREEZING LEVELS PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired FREEZING LEVELS icon to be viewed.





Normal Operation


Normal Operation



before expiration. The bar will be green the first 50% then turn yellow.4 North Pointer - Indicates north.5 MODE - Indicates the weather product being displayed.6 Control Knob Icon - Displayed when the Control Knobs are available

for cycling through the graphical weather products.7 Joystick Label - Indicates joystick is active and can be used to pan map.8 Range Rings - Outer ring radius is selected range and inner ring radius


available) or track.10 FL UP and FL DN – Increments the Winds Aloft flight level that is being

played.

4

2

9

5

1 3

7

8

6WINDS ALOFT PAGE

WINDS ALOFT SCALE


WINDS ALOFT PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired WINDS ALOFT icon to be viewed.





Normal Operation


Normal Operation

GRAPHICAL METARS PAGE

The following illustration describes the Graphical METARs display. Theonly difference between VDL and XM is the Datalink Wx Status icon.


and displayed (color).3 Graphical METAR Icon - Ceiling indicated in top box, visibility in the

bottom box and ICAO identifier of issuing airport. Note that ICAO identifiersare not displayed on all range settings.

4 North Pointer - Indicates north.5 MODE - Indicates the weather product being displayed.6 Control Knob Icon - Displayed when the Control Knobs are available for



available) or track.10 METAR Color Key - Colors indicating flight rules pertaining to ceiling

and visibility.

4

29

65

1

3

7

8

10

GRAPHICAL METARS PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired METAR icon to be viewed.





SELECTING AND USING THE GRAPHICAL METARS PAGE

1. Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FISGraphics Page is displayed.If necessary, turn the ControlKnob to obtain the GraphicalMETARs display as shown inFigure 49. GraphicalMETARs will be displayed inthe MODE field located at thetop center of the display.

NOTE: This page will not beaccessible until a valid FISsignal has been acquired andprocessed by the system.

Figure 49

Normal Operation



Normal Operation

2. Press the RNG▲▲//RNG▼▼Key to zoom in on the dis-play. The map is centered onthe present position indicatedby the symbolic aircraft.

3. To view a specificMETAR, move the joystick inthe desired direction. Apointer will appear on the dis-play connected to the sym-bolic aircraft with a flashingline (see Figure 50). The dis-tance and bearing betweenpresent position and thepointer is shown at thebottom center of the display.As the joystick is held thepointer will continue to move.When the pointer reaches theedge of the display the mapwill pan to keep up withpointer movement. Releasethe joystick to stop movingthe pointer. When the pointermoves over a graphicalMETAR icon, a box will popup containing the IDENT,NAME and CITY/STATEpertaining to the location andthe AGE of the report (seeFigure 51).

4. Press the RNG▲▲//RNG▼▼keys to zoom in or out on thepointer position.

5. Press the MORE INFOsoftkey to display the TextMETAR Page for the dis-played location as in Figure52.

6. Press the METAR MAP softkey to return to the previous display.

7. Press the RESET STICK softkey to return to the present position dis-play. If no actions are taken for a period of 30 seconds, the display willreturn to the aircraft present position display.

Figure 50

Figure 51

Figure 52


8. To view the graphicalMETAR LEGEND, move thejoystick pointer to an areawith no icons and press theMORE INFO softkey. Thelegend will be displayed as inFigure 53. Move the joystickto remove the legend fromthe display.

9. Press the OVLY Key tooverlay flightplan data on theGraphical METAR map (seeFigure 54).

The FLIGHT PLAN softkeytoggles the overlay on or offas in Figure 55.

Press the SAVE & EXITsoftkey to retain the selectionon the display.

Figure 53

Figure 55

Figure 54

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

GRAPHICAL AIRMETS PAGE

The following illustration describes the Graphical AIRMETs display. Theonly difference between VDL and XM is the Datalink Wx Status icon.


and displayed (color).3 North Pointer - Indicates north.4 MODE - Indicates the weather product being displayed.5 Control Knob Icon - Displayed when the Control Knobs are available for



available) or track.9 AIRMET Boundary - Color coded line indicating the boundaries of an

AIRMET.10 AIRMET Color Key - Colors indicating AIRMET type.11 IN - Indicates the current aircraft position is ìIN ” an IFR AIRMET.

4

2 9

6

5

1

3

7

8

10

11


GRAPHICAL AIRMETS PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired AIRMET to be viewed.



OVLY - Allows selection of flight plan and lightning data(if Stormscope® equipment is installed) for overlay onthe FIS map.


SELECTING AND USING THE GRAPHICAL AIRMETS PAGE

1. Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FISGraphics Page is displayed.If necessary, turn the ControlKnob to obtain the GraphicalAIRMETs display as shownin Figure 56. GraphicalAIRMETs will be displayed inthe MODE field located at thetop center of the display.



Figure 56

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

3. To view a specificAIRMET, move the joystick inthe desired direction andplace the pointer on thedesired AIRMET border (seeFigure 57). A box will pop upcontaining the AIRMET des-ignator, TYPE and the AGEof the report.


5. Press the MORE INFOSoftkey to display the TextAIRMET Page for the dis-played location as in Figure58. The text describingAIRMET location is displayedin green to help differentiatebetween location informationand weather information.When the text report isaccessed from the map, thetext will automatically bescrolled to the beginning ofthe weather information.Some report identifiers maybe highlighted in green(CHIZ02 and SLCZ01).These are AIRMET reportsthat contain insufficient loca-tion information to be dis-played on the AIRMET Map.

6. Press the AIRMET MAPSoftkey to return to the pre-vious display.

7. Press the RESET STICKSoftkey to return to the pre-sent position display. If no actions are taken for a period of 30 seconds,the display will return to the aircraft present position display.

8. To view the graphical AIRMET LEGEND, move the joystick pointer toan empty area on the map and press the MORE INFO softkey. Thelegend will be displayed as in Figure 59. Move the joystick to remove thelegend from the display.

Figure 59

Figure 58

Figure 57


9. Press the OVLY Key tooverlay flightplan and/orStormscope® data on theGraphical AIRMET map (seeFigure 60). If a Stormscope®system is not installed, theSTORMSCOPE Softkey willnot be displayed.

The FLIGHT PLAN softkeytoggles the overlay on or offas in Figure 61. TheSTORMSCOPE Softkey willtoggle the lightning displaysymbols on or off (if aStormscope® is installed).


Figure 61

Figure 60

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

GRAPHICAL SIGMETS PAGE

The following illustration describes the Graphical SIGMETs display. Theonly difference between VDL and XM is the Datalink Wx Status icon.





available) or track.9 SIGMET Boundary - Color coded line indicating the boundaries of a

SIGMET.10 SIGMET Color Key - Colors indicating SIGMET type.

4

2 9

6

5

1

3

7

8

10


GRAPHICAL SIGMETS PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired SIGMET to be viewed.





SELECTING AND USING THE GRAPHICAL SIGMETS PAGE

1. Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FISGraphics Page is displayed.If necessary, turn the ControlKnob to obtain the GraphicalSIGMETs display as shownin Figure 62. GraphicalSIGMETs will be displayed inthe MODE field located at thetop center of the display.


Figure 62

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

2. Press the RNG▲▲//RNG▼▼Key to zoom in on the dis-play. The map is centered onthe present position indicatedby the symbolic aircraft.

3. To view a specificSIGMET, move the joystick inthe desired direction andplace the pointer on thedesired SIGMET border (seeFigure 63). A box will pop upcontaining the SIGMET des-ignator, TYPE and the AGEof the report.


5. Press the MORE INFOSoftkey to display the TextSIGMET Page for the dis-played location as in Figure64. The text describingSIGMET location is displayedin green to help differentiatebetween location informationand weather information.When the text report isaccessed from the map, thetext will automatically bescrolled to the beginning ofthe weather information.

6. Press the SIGMET MAPSoftkey to return to the pre-vious display.

7. Press the RESET STICKSoftkey to return to the pre-sent position display. If noactions are taken for a period of 30 seconds, the display will return to theaircraft present position display.

8. To view the graphical SIGMET LEGEND, move the joystick pointer toan empty area on the map and press the MORE INFO softkey. Thelegend will be displayed as in Figure 65. Move the joystick to remove thelegend from the display.

Figure 63

Figure 64

Figure 65


9. Press the OVLY Key tooverlay flightplan and/orStormscope® data on theGraphical SIGMET map (seeFigure 66). If a Stormscope®system is not installed, theSTORMSCOPE Softkey willnot be displayed.



Figure 66

Figure 67

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMETS PAGE

The following illustration describes the Graphical Convective SIGMETsdisplay. The only difference between VDL and XM is the Datalink WxStatus icon.





available) or track.9 Convective SIGMET Boundary - Color coded line indicating the boundaries

of a Convective SIGMET.10 IN - Indicates the current aircraft position is “IN” a thunderstorm Convective

SIGMET.11 Convective SIGMET Color Key - Colors indicating Convective SIGMET

type.

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2 9

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3

7

8

10

11


GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMETS PAGE OPERATIONALCONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired Convective SIGMET to be viewed.





SELECTING AND USING THE GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVESIGMETS PAGE

1. Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FISGraphics Page is displayed.If necessary, turn the ControlKnob to obtain the GraphicalConvective SIGMETs displayas shown in Figure 68.Graphical Conv SIGMETswill be displayed in theMODE field located at the topcenter of the display.

NOTE: This page will not beaccessible until a valid FISsignal has been acquired and processed by the system.


Figure 68

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

3. To view a specificConvective SIGMET, movethe joystick in the desireddirection and place thepointer on the desiredConvective SIGMET border(see Figure 69). A box willpop up containing theConvective SIGMET desig-nator, TYPE and the AGE ofthe report.


5. Press the MORE INFOSoftkey to display the TextConvective SIGMET Pagefor the displayed location asin Figure 70. The textdescribing ConvectiveSIGMET location is displayedin green to help differentiatebetween location informationand weather information.When the text report isaccessed from the map, thetext will automatically bescrolled to the beginning ofthe weather information.

6. Press the C-SIG MAPSoftkey to return to the pre-vious display.

7. Press the RESET STICKSoftkey to return to the pre-sent position display. If noactions are taken for a periodof 30 seconds, the displaywill return to the aircraft pre-sent position display.

8. To view the graphical CONV SIGMET LEGEND, move the joystickpointer to an empty area on the map and press the MORE INFO softkey.The legend will be displayed as in Figure 71. Move the joystick toremove the legend from the display.

Figure 69

Figure 70

Figure 71


9. Press the OVLY Key tooverlay flightplan and/orStormscope® data on theGraphical ConvectiveSIGMET map (see Figure72). If a Stormscope®system is not installed, theSTORMSCOPE Softkey willnot be displayed.



Figure 72

Figure 73

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES PAGE (AWW)(VDL ONLY)

The following illustration describes the Graphical Alert Weather Watches(AWW) display.





available) or track.9 Weather Watch Boundary - Color coded line indicating the boundaries

of an Alert Weather Watch.10 IN - Indicates the current aircraft position is “IN” a severe thunderstorm

watch area.11 Weather Watch Color Key - Colors indicating Alert Weather Watch type.

4

2 9

6

5

1

3

7

8

10

11


GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES PAGEOPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick allows panning ofthe map and placement of the pointer over thedesired Weather Watch to be viewed.





SELECTING AND USINGTHE GRAPHICALALERT WEATHERWATCHES PAGE

1. Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FISGraphics Page is displayed.If necessary, turn the ControlKnob to obtain the GraphicalAlert Weather Watches dis-play as shown in Figure 74. Wx Watches (AWW) will be displayed in theMODE field located at the top center of the display.

NOTE: This page will not be accessible until a valid FIS signal has beenacquired and processed by the system.


Figure 74

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

3. To view a specific AlertWeather Watch, move thejoystick in the desired direc-tion and place the pointer onthe desired Weather Watchborder (see Figure 75). A boxwill pop up containing theWeather Watch designator,TYPE and the AGE of thereport.


5. Press the MORE INFOSoftkey to display the TextAlert Weather Watch Pagefor the displayed location asin Figure 76. The textdescribing AWW location isdisplayed in green to help dif-ferentiate between locationinformation and weatherinformation. When the textreport is accessed from themap, the text will automati-cally be scrolled to the begin-ning of the weather informa-tion.

6. Press the AWW MAPSoftkey to return to the pre-vious display.

7. Press the RESET STICKSoftkey to return to the pre-sent position display. If noactions are taken for a periodof 30 seconds, the displaywill return to the aircraft pre-sent position display.

8. To view the graphical WxWATCH (AWW) LEGEND,move the joystick pointer to an empty area on the map and press theMORE INFO softkey. The legend will be displayed as in Figure 77. Movethe joystick to remove the legend from the display.

Figure 75

Figure 76

Figure 77


9. Press the OVLY Key tooverlay flightplan and/orStormscope® data on theGraphical Alert WeatherWatch map (see Figure 78).If a Stormscope® system isnot installed, the STORM-SCOPE Softkey will not bedisplayed.



Figure 78

Figure 79

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

FIS TEXT PAGE

Press the WX Function Select Key until the FIS Text Page is displayed.The following illustration describes the FIS Text Page display. The onlydifference between VDL and XM is the Datalink Wx Status icon.

1

2

3

4

56 7 8

9

10

11

1213

1415

1 Text Field - The translated METARS data is displayed first in this windowfollowed by the encoded weather report is displayed in this field.

2 Available Functions - Displays icons representing data available (black)and displayed (color).

3 Selected Report Info - Displays name, city and state of selected report.4 Selected Area Identifier - Displays the identifier of the area selection.5 Area Selection - Pressing the CHANGE AREA soft key cycles between

Destination, Flightplan WPT, Nearest and User Defined.6 Mode - Pressing the MODE key will display the SELECT FIS PRODUCT

Menu.7 UTC - Current UTC time.8 Report - Each horizontal movement of the joystick will move the cursor

over the next report in the AVAILABLE REPORTS field.9 Available Reports - Shows available reports based on the selection in the

AREA field. Special, urgent or amended reports are highlighted in yellow.10 Scroll Bar Left/Right - Indicates there are more available reports than can

be displayed on the screen. Move the joystick left/right to cycle through thereports.

11 Change Area Soft Key - Cycles the AREA field between Destination,Flightplan Waypoint (FLPN WPT), Nearest and User Defined.

12 METAR Map Soft Key - When this key is pressed the graphical METARpage is displayed with the map centered on the selected METAR. This isonly available when valid data for graphical METARs is being received.

13 Age of Report - Age of report based on UTC time minus time of report.The bar indicates percentage of age versus elapsed time before expiration.The bar will be green the first 50% then turn yellow.

14 Knob Function Label - Indicates the knob function is set to DATA input(USER DEFINED) or SCAN data (FLPN WPT).

15 Scroll Bar Up/Down - Indicates there is more available data in this reportthan can be displayed on the screen. Move the joystick Up/Down to cyclethrough the reports.


FIS TEXT PAGE OPERATIONAL CONTROLS


Joystick - Moving the joystick right or leftmoves the cursor through the availablereports.

CHANGE AREA - Pressing the CHANGEAREA softkey will cycle through the fouroptions available for the AREA field in theupper right of the display. Available selections

are DESTINATION, NEAREST, FLPN WPT and USER DEFINED. Theclosest available weather reports for the selected AREA will be dis-played in the REPORTS AVAILABLE IN AREA field.

(PRODUCT) MAP - This softkey is availablewhen viewing textual weather products that areavailable graphically and will reflect the

selected weather product (METAR, AIRMET, SIGMET, etc.). When thissoftkey is pressed, the corresponding graphical weather product map willbe displayed with the map centered on the location of the selectedreport.

SCAN/DATA - The SCAN feature is onlyavailable when FLPN WPT is the selectedAREA. The DATA feature is available whenUSER DEFINED is selected. When theControl Knob function is set to SCAN, the

inner knob cycles through the available flight plan waypoints. When theControl Knob function is set to DATA, the outer knob moves the cursorto the desired character in the desired field. The inner knob allows theselection of the desired letter or number in each field.

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

USING THE FIS TEXT PAGE

Press the WX FunctionSelect Key until the FIS TextPage is displayed as shownin Figure 80.

NOTE: If a message such asthat shown in Figure 81(METARs or other weatherproduct) is displayed, it maybe that the system has nothad time to acquire a signal.If this message is still presentafter 5-10 minutes, refer tothe Messages section of thisaddendum.

If no report for the selectedweather product is availablein the selected area, NO(Selected Product) AVAIL-ABLE IN SELECTED AREAwill be displayed.

When viewing FIS textualreports of Area Products,such as AIRMETs (as inFigure 82), SIGMETs,Convective SIGMETs andWeather Watches (VDLOnly), the description of theaffected area will be dis-played in green. The descrip-tion of the weather phenom-enon will be displayed inblack. If the textual page isaccessed from one of thegraphical area productpages, the page will automat-ically be scrolled to thebeginning of the weatherdescription.

NOTE: If an AIRMET reportidentifier in the REPORTSAVAILABLE IN AREA field is highlighted in green, the description of theaffected area does not represent a polygon (e.g. area along and 25 nmeither side of a line from...) and cannot be displayed on the AIRMETmap.

Figure 80

Figure 81

Figure 82


CHANGING MODES & AREA

1. Press the MODE Key todisplay the SELECT FISPRODUCT Menu as shownin Figure 83. Use the Joystickor the Control Knobs toselect the desired textualproduct.

The type of report selected isthen displayed in the MODEfield at the top of the display.

Figure 84 shows the relation-ship between the selected AREA and the selected MODE. The systemfilters and then displays reports for the selected MODE based on the dis-tance from the selected AREA. The REPORTS AVAILABLE IN AREAfield lists closest first, furthest last.

For instance, the display shown in Figure 80 lists all available METARswithin 50nm of KIXD (the selected AREA). KIXD is also a reporting sta-tion which is listed first in the REPORTS AVAILABLE IN AREA. Use thejoystick to scroll across through the available reports. Urgent, special oramended reports will be highlighted in yellow.Note that the displayed report in Figure 80 is 61 minutes old. The barindicates a percentage of time left before expiration. The bar will begreen the first 50%, then turn yellow.

☞ ☞ ☞Destination Flightplan

Waypoint Nearest UserDefined

☞

Figure 85

METARs

TAFs

PIREPs & Area Products

Radius in Nautical Miles of Selected Area

0 50 100 150

Sel

ecte

d A

rea

Figure 84

Figure 83

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

2. Press the CHANGE AREA softkey to view reports for eitherNEAREST to present position, USER DEFINED location, DESTINA-TION (last waypoint in a flightplan) or FPLN WPT (any waypoint in anactive flightplan). The softkey cycles through the AREAs as shown inFigure 85.

These four selectable areas are used to make it easier to find all thereports near a specific location without having to know the exact identifierof the reporting station. Again, refer to Figure 84 to understand the rela-tionship between the selected AREA and the selected MODE.

SELECTING IDENTIFIERSUSING THE DATA/SCANKNOB

Scanning FlightplanWaypoints

If FPLN WPT is selected inthe AREA field (as shown inFigure 86), the SCAN Knobcan be used to sequencethrough all the waypoints onthe active flightplan. The nextwaypoint from the current position will be displayed.

Turn the inner knob clockwise to sequence forward through the way-points. Turn the inner counter-clockwise to sequence backward throughthe waypoints.

Finding User DefinedAreas By Identifier

If USER DEFINED has beenselected, as in Figure 87, usethe Control Knob to enterdata (note cursor position inFigure 87) or scan throughavailable location options.The following is an exampleof using this feature.

Figure 87

Figure 86


1. The cursor will be overthe first character of the way-point identifier. Select thedesired character by turningthe inner knob. The screenwill change to that shown inFigure 88.

2. Turn the outer knob oneclick clockwise to move thecursor to the next characterfield as shown in Figure 89.Turn the inner knob to selectthe desired character.

3. Turn the outer knob oneclick clockwise to move thecursor to the next characterfield. Turn the inner knob toselect the desired character.See Figure 90.

4. Turn the outer knob oneclick clockwise to move thecursor to the next characterfield. Turn the inner knob toselect the desired character.

Figure 90

Figure 89

Figure 88

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

5. Press the OK softkeywhen finished making selec-tions. The display will be asshown in Figure 91.

6. Move the joystick right orleft to view available reports.

NOTE: Available reportshighlighted in yellow, likeKMCW in Figure 91, indi-cates the report is a specialreport, urgent report or anamended or corrected report.

7. Press the METAR MAPsoftkey to display theselected report location (inthis case KCAV) centered onthe Graphical METAR dis-play as shown in Figure 92.

NOTE: The METAR MAPsoftkey is only availablewhen viewing METARs andvalid data for graphicalMETARs is being received.

Finding User Defined Areas by Name or City

When the identifier of the desired location is known, the method previ-ously described can be used to select it. However, if the identifier is notknown, the name of the location can be entered. The system will alsoallow entry of just the first few characters of the location name to helpfind it in the database. If nei-ther the identifier nor thelocation name is known, thecity/state can be scanned.

To Enter Location Name:

The following example showsentering EAGLE GROVEMUN as a location.

1. Turn the outer ControlKnob one click clockwise.Figure 93 will be displayed.

Figure 92

Figure 93

Figure 91


2. Continue to turn the outerknob clockwise to highlightthe N as shown in Figure 94.

3. Turn the inner knob coun-terclockwise until an E isselected as shown in Figure95.

4. Turn the outer knob clock-wise until the cursor is posi-tioned for the next character.Turn the inner knob to selecta A as in Figure 96.

Figure 96

Figure 95

Figure 94

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

5. Turn the outer knob clock-wise until the cursor is posi-tioned for the next characterentry.

Turn the inner knob to selecta G as in Figure 97.

6. Turn the outer knob clock-wise until the cursor is posi-tioned for the next desiredcharacter entry.

7. Turn the inner knob clock-wise to select a G as shownin Figure 98. The desiredlocation is now displayedbecause it is the first instancein the database with a G inthis field.

To Scan for LocationName:

Sometimes, only a portion ofthe airport name may cometo mind. The followingexample shows scanning forEAGLE GROVE MUN whenEAGLE is the only portion ofthe name remembered.

1. Repeat Step 1 through 6of the previous procedure.

2. Press the KNOB SCANsoftkey. The Control Knoblabel will now display SCAN .The knob label will now showSCAN as in Figure 99.

3. Turn the outer knob clock-wise until the cursor is posi-tioned as in Figure 99.

Figure 97

Figure 98

Figure 99


4. Turn the inner knob tosequence through all thelocation names in the data-base beginning with EAGLE.stopping at the desired nameas in Figure 100.

NOTE: This same methodmay be used with the nameof the city where the airport islocated.

This method is also used tochoose the desired airportamong those of identicalnames, but located in different cities.

Figure 100

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

FIS NETWORK STATUS PAGE (VDL ONLY)

The FIS Network Status Page displays the location and identifier ofinstalled VDL ground stations. This page can also be used to determinewhich stations are being received and the status of each station.

The following illustration describes the FIS Network Status Page display.

4

29

6

5

1

378

10

- Indicates selected range.


1. Press the AUX Function Select Keyto display the Auxiliary Mode CoverPage as shown in Figure 101.

2. Press the WX SETUPsoftkey to display the WXSetup Cover Page as shownin Figure 102.

3. Press the FIS softkey todisplay the FIS Setup CoverPage as shown in Figure103.

Figure 101

Figure 102

Figure 103

Normal Operation


Normal Operation

4. Press the FIS STATUSsoftkey to display the FISNetwork Status Page asshown in Figure 104. Aground station icon with“transmitting rays” emanatingfrom that location is a stationfrom which data wasreceived within the last 30seconds.

NOTE: At any given momentthe FIS receiver may not bereceiving the closest transmit-ting site. This is not aproblem since all stationstransmit the same data.

5. Ground station status andit’s identifier number can beviewed by moving the joy-stick to position the pointerover the desired ground sta-tion as shown in Figure 105.

NOTE: Visit Wingman Services at www.bendixking.com to view thelatest information about network transmitter locations and to cross-refer-ence ground station IDs with the location names.

Figure 104

Figure 105

MESSAGESThe following are descriptions of messages that may be displayed.

FIS ALERT, NO VALIDFIS SUBSCRIPTIONS

The message shown inFigure 106 would indicatethat no subscriptions havebeen set up or previouslyentered subscriptions haveexpired or will become validat a future date. This is theonly indication received whenan XM WX subscription hasexpired.

NO DATA RECEIVEDFROM FIS RECEIVER

If the KMD 550/850 display isunable to communicate withthe KDR 510 VDL Receiveror the KDR 610 XMReceiver, a message suchas that shown in Figure 107will be displayed.

If this message persists, itmay indicate a problem withthe Receiver or the wiringbetween the KDR 510/610and the KMD 550/850.

(PRODUCT) NOTAVAILABLE, DATANOT RECEIVED

If no valid graphical FIS datais received, a message suchas the NEXRAD Imageproduct example in Figure108 will be displayed.

This message usually means that the system is not in FIS VDL cov-erage, or the XM WX signal strength is poor.

The message can also occur while in coverage if not all of the data for aweather product has been received.

Messages

Figure 107

Figure 106

Figure 108



NO (PRODUCT) AVAIL-ABLE IN SELECTEDAREA

A message such as theMETARs example shown inFigure 109 will be displayed ifno data for the FIS productselected is available in theselected area.

This message means thatthe FIS system is workingproperly, there are simply noreports of the selected modewithin the area.

FIS ALERT, FIS DATANOT RECEIVED FOR15 MINUTES

This message will be dis-played (Figure 110) if FISdata has previously beenreceived, but it has been 15minutes or more since thelast reception. The messagecan be cleared by pressingthe OK softkey. The mes-sage will not appear againunless data is again receivedthen again lost for 15 min-utes.

NO (PRODUCT) AVAIL-ABLE, DATA NOTRECEIVED

This message will be dis-played as in the METARsexample in Figure 111 if noFIS product data has beenreceived.

This message means the FIS system has not received any data for theselected FIS weather product. This may be due to not being in FIS cov-erage or to poor signal strength.

Messages

Figure 111

Figure 110

Figure 109


INVALID ENTRY,PLEASE CHECKCODE(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 112) if aninvalid Subscription Code isentered. This may be due toan error entering theSubscription Code. Also, itmay be due to a SubscriptionCode being entered that isassociated with a differentDisplay ID.

ERROR PROCESSINGSUBSCRIPTION CODE(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 113) whenthere is a problem processingthe Subscription Code.Cycling power to the unit andre-entering the code usuallyresolves the problem. If thismessage persists, theproblem may be with theDatabase Card or thedecryption hardware.

FIS DECRYPTIONFAILURE. UNABLE TOACCEPT A NEW SUB-SCRIPTION CODE(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 114) if theinternal decryption hardwarehas failed or is otherwise notresponding to commands.

Messages

Figure 112

Figure 113

Figure 114


NETWORK STATUSNOT AVAILABLE,DATA NOT RECEIVED(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 115) if novalid network status data isavailable.

FIS ALERT, ONE ORMORE FIS SUBSCRIP-TIONS ARE CLOSE TOEXPIRING. PLEASEREVIEW YOUR SUB-SCRIPTIONS(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 116) if thesystem detects at least onesubscription is within 7 daysof it’s displayed ending date.

FIS ALERT, ONE ORMORE FIS SUBSCRIP-TIONS HAVEEXPIRED. PLEASEREVIEW YOUR SUB-SCRIPTIONS(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 117) if thesystem detects at least onesubscription is within the 1day of it’s displayed endingdate. Services pertaining tothis subscription will still beaccessible.

Messages

Figure 115

Figure 116

Figure 117


FIS ALERT, DATACARD UPDATEREQUIRED FOR CON-TINUED RECEPTIONOF FIS DATA(VDLONLY)

If the system detects that thesystem date is within 30 daysof the ending date of the datacard a message such as thatshown in Figure 118 will bedisplayed. This is a reminder.FIS services will continue tofunction until reaching theending date of the data card.

FIS ALERT, NEW DATACARD NOT YETVALID. UNABLE TORECEIVE FIS DATA(VDL ONLY)

This message will be dis-played (Figure 119) if thesystem detects the systemdate is prior to the startingdate of the data card.

FIS ALERT, DATACARD HAS EXPIRED.UNABLE TO RECEIVEFIS DATA(VDL ONLY)

If the system detects thesystem date is after theending date of the data carda message such as thatshown in Figure 120 will bedisplayed. FIS services willnot be accessible.

Messages

Figure 118

Figure 119

Figure 120


FIS ALERT, FIS SUB-SCRIPTION ERROR.SWITCH OFF ANDREPLACE DATA CARD(VDL ONLY)

A message such as thatshown in Figure 121 will bedisplayed if there is aproblem internal to the datacard.

FIS ALERT, FISDECRYPTION ERROR.UNABLE TO RECEIVEFIS DATA(VDL ONLY)

This message is similar inappearance to that shown inFigure 121. This messageindicates that a decryptionhardware failure hasoccurred after system startupand a successful self-test.

Figure 121

Messages

Revision 6 Feb/2009 A-1KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum

Appendix A

Understanding Weather Reports

APPENDIX A

UNDERSTANDING TEXTUAL AVIATIONWEATHER REPORTSUNDERSTANDING METARS

Refer to the numbers on the following diagram to find the appropriatedescriptions.

1. Type of Report: METAR (SPECI will be seen here if this is aSpecial Weather Report)

2. ICAO Station Identifier: KPIT

This is the location for which the METAR pertains.

3. Date and Time of Issue: 201955Z

The 20th day of the month at 1955Zulu or UTC.

4. AUTO indicates the reporting station is an automated station. If the reporting station is a manned station this element will be omitted. Also, if a report from an automated station is modified by a person this element will be omitted. “COR” indicates a corrected report.

5. Wind: 22015G25KT

220 is the 3 digit true direction to the nearest 10°. Airport advisoryservice, ATIS and ATC towers report wind direction as magnetic.“VRB” in this place indicates variable winds less than or equal to 6knots. If wind direction is varying more than 60° with speeds over 6knots, an entry similar to “180V260” will be displayed in this place.This example actually shows wind direction varying by 80°.

15 is the 2 or 3 digit wind speed (in knots).

25 is the 2 or 3 digit wind gust speed in knots (KT) because it follows aG (Gust).

6. Visibility: 3/4SM R28R/2600FT

3/4 indicates 3/4 statute mile (SM) visibility.

Runway Visual Range (RVR) for R28R (runway 28 right) is 2600

METAR KPIT 201955Z AUTO 22015G25KT 3/4SM R28R/2600FT TSRA OVC010CB

18/16 A2992 RMK SLPO13 T01760158 PK WND 22030/15 $

1 3 4 52 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

feet (2600FT). An “M” in this distance number indicates visibility isless than the lowest reportable sensor value. A “P” indicates visibilityis greater than the highest reportable sensor value.

NOTE: Only reported at those locations with certified RVR reportingcapability.

7. Significant Present Weather: TSRA

TS is a two letter designation for thunderstorm. Other possible des-ignations could be as follows:

BC PatchesBL BlowingDR Low DriftingFZ Supercooled/FreezingMI ShallowPR PartialSH Showers

The second two letter designator, RA, indicates moderate rain.Moderate is indicated by the absence of a “+”, “-” or “VC” precedingthe designation. These preceding designations represent the fol-lowing:

+ Heavy- LightVC In the vicinity

Other possible designations could be as follows:BR MistDS Dust StormDU Widespread DustDZ DrizzleFC Funnel Cloud+FC Tornado/Water SpoutFG FogFU SmokeGR HailGS Small Hail/Snow PelletsHZ HazeIC Ice CrystalsPE Ice PelletsPO Dust/Sand WhirlsPY SpraySA SandSG Snow GrainsSN SnowSQ SquallSS SandstormUP Unknown Precipitation (Automated Observations)VA Volcanic Ash

A-2Revision 6 Feb/2009KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum

Appendix A



Appendix A


8. Sky Condition: OVC010CB

OVC indicates the sky is overcast. Cloud cover is based on the skybeing divided into eighths or octas. Overcast means the sky is 8octas covered. The cloud cover designators are as follows:

SKC Sky ClearCLR Clear below 12,000 ft. (automated observing systems)FEW 1-2 OctasSCT 3-4 OctasBKN 5-7 OctasOVC 8 octas

“VV” may also be encountered here indicating an indefinite ceiling.For example, VV004 would indicate a vertical visibility of 400 feet.

010 indicates clouds are at 1000 feet.

CB denotes cloud type is cumulonimbus. “TCU” is another possibledesignator meaning towering cumulus. CI is cirrus.

9. Temperature/Dew Point: 18/16

18 indicated the temperature is 18° Celsius. An “M” preceding thetemperature means the temperature is below 0° Celsius.

16 indicated the dew point is 16° Celsius. An “M” preceding the dewpoint means the dew point is below 0° Celsius.

10. Altimeter Setting: A2992

A indicates the setting is in inches of mercury.

2992 is the altimeter setting. The first two digits are inches and thesecond two are hundredths.

11. Remarks: RMK SLP013 T01760158 PK WND 22030/15

RMK designates the beginning of the remarks. Remarks can con-tain anything, but often include the following:

SLP indicates sea level pressure in millibars from selected stations.

013 indicates pressure is 1001.3 millibars.

T01760158. Selected stations may also include a 9 place code indi-cating temperature and dewpoint to the nearest 1/10 degree. Tdenotes temperature. 0 indicates temperature is above 0° Celsius.A “1” in this position indicates a temperature below 0° Celsius. 176indicates a temperature of 17.6° Celsius. The next 0 indicates thedew point is above 0° Celsius. A “1” in this position indicates a dewpoint below 0° Celsius. 158 indicates a dewpoint of 15.8° Celsius.

PK WND 22030/15. Selected stations may include peak wind obser-vations which will appear in the remarks element.


Appendix A


PK WND denotes peak wind.

200 indicates wind direction from 200°.

30/15 indicates a maximum instantaneous wind of 30 knots occurredat 15 minutes past the hour.

12. Maintenance Indicator: $

$ designates that the sensor needs maintenance.

NOTE: When the maintenance indicator is shown, some of the data maybe inaccurate.

UNDERSTANDING TAFS

Refer to the numbers on the following diagram to find the appropriatedescriptions.

1. Type of Report: TAF

TAF indicates a Terminal Area Forecast. TAF AMD indicates anamended forecast.

2. ICAO Station Identifier: KPIT

This is the airport for which the TAF pertains.

3. Date and Time of Issue: 091730Z

The 9th day of the month at 1730Zulu or UTC.

4. Date and Time Valid: 091818

The 9th day of the month, valid for 24 hours from 091800Z to101800Z. An amended forecast (TAF AMD) will be valid for only thetime interval remaining, usually less than 24 hours.

TAF KPIT 091730Z 091818 22020KT 3SM -SHRA BKN020

FM2030 30015G25KT 3SM SHRA OVC015 WS015/30045KT

TEMPO 2022 1/2SM TSRA OVC008CB

FM0100 27008KT 5SM -SHRA BKN020 OVC040 PROB40 0407

00000KT 1SM -RA BR

FM1000 22010KT 5SM -SHRA OVC020 BECMG 1315 20010KT

P6SM NSW SKC

1 3 4 52 6 7 8

910

11 1514131216 17 18

1920

21


Appendix A


5. Forecast Wind: 22020KT

See #5 in the UNDERSTANDING METARs section for details.

6. Forecast Visibility: 3SM

See #6 in the UNDERSTANDING METARs section for details, except RVR is not included in a TAF

7. Forecast Weather Phenomenon: -SHRA


8. Sky Conditions: BKN020


9. Beginning of Changed Forecast Conditions: FM1000

FM denotes “from” and 1000 indicates 1000Z. “From” means a sig-nificant change in prevailing conditions is expected. The describedconditions follow this element and supercede all previous forecastconditions.

10. Forecast Wind: 22010KT


11. Forecast Visibility: 5SM


12. Forecast Weather Phenomenon: -SHRA


13. Forecast Sky Conditions: OVC020


14. Change in Conditions: BECMG 1315

BECMG indicates “becoming” over the time interval between 1300Z(13) and 1500Z (15). “Becoming” describes a gradual change inforecast conditions. The described conditions follow this elementand supercede previously reported like elements.

15. Wind Becoming: 20010KT

See #5 in the UNDERSTANDING METARs section for details. Thiselement may be omitted if no change is expected.

16. Visibility Becoming: P6SM


17. Weather Phenomenon Becoming: NSW

NSW indicates “No Significant Weather”. See #7 in the UNDER-STANDING METARs section for details.


Appendix A


18. Sky Conditions Becoming: SKC


19. Change in Conditions: TEMPO 2022

TEMPO indicates “temporary” changes expected as describedbetween 2000Z (20)and 2200Z (22). “Temporary” indicates a tem-porary fluctuation in conditions, usually lasting less than one hour.The described conditions follow this element.

20. Low Level Windshear: WS015/30045KT

WS indicates “windshear” not associated with convective activity.015 indicates the windshear is expected at 1500 feet. AGL Wind isexpected from 300° (300) at 45 knots (45KT).

21. Change in Conditions: PROB40 0407

PROB40 indicates a 40% “probability” of described conditionsoccurring between 0400Z (04)and 0700Z (07). The described con-ditions follow this element.

UNDERSTANDING PIREPS

The following is an example of a typical PIREP with an explanation ofthe elements.

1. Station Identifier: KCRW

This is the station identifier of the nearest weather reporting locationto the reported conditions.

2. Report Type: UA

Reports will be routine (UA) or urgent (UUA).

3. Location: OV KBKW 360015-KCRW

OV indicates the report is in relation to a VOR. KBKW is the VORidentifier, in this case Beckley VOR. 360015-KCRW indicates posi-tion as related to the VOR. In this case, 15 miles out on the 360degree radial. KCRW indicates this is a leg to the Charleston, WestVirginia VOR.

KCRW UA/OV KBKW 360015-KCRW/TM 1815/FL120/TP BE99/SK IMC/

WX RA/TA M08/WV 290030/TB LGT-MDT/IC LGT RIME/RM MDT MXD

ICG DURGC KROA NWBND FL080-100 1750Z

1 32


Appendix A


The next series of elements contain data that is read much like that inMETARs and TAFs. Each element starts with a 2-letter designatorwhich denotes the type of data with that element. The following definesthe element designators:

/TM: Time as Coordinated Universal Time

/FL: Altitude as Flight Level

/TP: Aircraft Type

/SK: Sky Cover (may include cloud height and coverage)

/WX: Weather Phenomenon (can include flight visibility, precipitationand restrictions to visibility.

/TA: Outside air temperature at altitude in degrees Celsius./WV: Wind (direction in degrees magnetic north and speed in knots)

/TB: Turbulence (refer to the Airman’s Information Manual)CAT - Clear Air TurbulenceCHOP - Choppy TurbulenceOCNL - OccasionalNEG - No TurbulenceABV - AboveBLO - Below

LGT - Light - Momentarily causes slight, erratic changes inaltitude and/or attitude.

MOD - Moderate - Greater intensity changes in altitude and/orattitude, but aircraft remains in positive control at all times.Usually causes changes in indicated airspeed.

SEV - Severe - Causes large and abrupt changes to aircraftaltitude and/or attitude. Large variations in indicated airspeedand momentary loss of control.

EXTRM - Extreme - Aircraft is violently tossed about and isnearly impossible to control. May cause structural damage.

/IC: Icing (refer to the Airman’s Information Manual)CLR - ClearMX - Mixed (combination of rime and clear icing)NEG - No IcingABV - AboveBLO - Below

Trace - Ice becomes perceptible. Rate of evaporation isalmost equal to the rate of accumulation. Deicing/anti-icingequipment is not utilized unless encountered for a period oftime greater than 1 hour.

A-8Revision 6 Feb/2009

LGT - Light - Rate of accumulation may be a problem if flightis prolonged for longer than 1 hour without deicing/anti-icingequipment. Deicing/anti-icing removes and/or prevents accu-mulation.

MOD - Moderate - The rate of accumulation is such that evenshort encounters become potentially hazardous. Use ofdeicing/anti-icing equipment or diversion is necessary.

SEV - Severe - Flight diversion is necessary. Deicing/anti-icing equipment is not effective.

/RM: Remarks (for reporting elements not included or to clarify pre-viously reported items). Remarks can include anything. The example translates to “moderate (MDT) mixed (MXD) icing during climb (DURGC) from Roanoke, VA (KROA) northwestbound (NWBND) between Flight Level 080 and 100 (FL080100) at 1750Z”.

UNDERSTANDING AIRMETS

The following is an example of a typical AIRMET with an explanation ofthe elements.

1. Forecast Area: CHIT

This is the forecast area identifier of the issuing Weather ServiceForecast Office.BOS BostonCHI ChicagoDFW Dallas/Ft. WorthMIA MiamiSFO San FranciscoSLC Salt Lake City

The T denotes the reason for the AIRMET. This could be one of thefollowing:

KMD 550/850 FIS AddendumAppendix A


CHIT WA 151900 AMD

AIRMET TANGO UPDT 2 FOR TURB

VALID UNTIL 160100

AIRMET TURB...KS MO

FROM MCI TO STL TO SGF TO ICT TO MCI

MOD TURB BLW 100 EXPCD

CONDS IPVG AFT 160000Z

1 3 4

5

2

6

789

10

Revision 6 Feb/2009 A-9

S Sierra IFR Ceilings < 1,000 feet and/or visibility < 3 miles affecting > 50% of the area atone time or extensive mountain obscu-ration.

T Tango Turbulence Moderate turbulence, sustained suface winds of ≥ 30 knots at the surface or low level windshear.

Z Zulu Icing Moderate icing and/or freezing levels.

AIRMET items are considered widespread. Widespread is consid-ered an area ≥ 3,000 square miles.

2. Report Type: WA

WA identifies an AIRMET.

3. Date and Time Issued: 151900

15 indicates the 15th day of the month. 1900 indicates UTC.

NOTE: AIRMETs may be issued up to 15 minutes prior to the start of thevalidity period. The FIS system will display the data age as zero until thestart of the validity period.

4. AMD indicates an amended report. Reports can be amended dueto changing weather conditions or issuance/cancelation of aSIGMET. COR in this field would indicate a corrected AIRMET.RTD indicates a delayed AIRMET.

5. This line indicates that there is a second (2) update (UPDT) to thisAIRMET issued for turbulence (FOR TURB). More than one meteo-rological condition may be addressed as shown in the following:

FOR IFR AND MTN (mountain) OBSCN (obscuration)

FOR ICE AND FRZLVL (freezing level)

FOR STG (strong) SFC (surface) WINDS AND LLWS (low levelwind shear)

6. This updated AIRMET is valid until 0100 UTC on the 16th day (16)of the month. An AIRMET does not contain an explicit validity starttime.

7. This AIRMET forecasts turbulence (TURB) for the states of KS(Kansas) and MO (Missouri). Geographic areas are also coveredsuch as CSTL WTRS (coastal waters). Other geographic abbrevia-tions are used as well (see Appendix A).

8. The affected area is defined by lines FROM MCI (Kansas City) TOSTL (St. Louis) TO SGF (Springfield) TO ICT (Wichita) and back TOMCI. Areas can be defined by lines between points which are air-port or navaid identifiers.




9. Moderate (MOD) turbulence (TURB) below (BLW) 10,000 feetexpected (EXPCD).

10. Conditions (CONDS) improving (IPVG) after (AFT) the 16th day (16)of the month 0000 UTC.

If conditions end more than one hour prior to the indicated expirationtime, an amended AIRMET will be issued stating it’s cancellation. If con-ditions end within one hour of the indicated expiration time, the AIRMETwill be allowed to expire without cancellation. Once the report is can-celled or expires, the FIS system no longer broadcasts the report.

UNDERSTANDING SIGMETS

The following is an example of a typical SIGMET issued for turbulencewith an explanation of the elements.

1. Forecast Area: CHIR

This is the forecast area identifier of the issuing Weather ServiceForecast Office.BOS BostonCHI ChicagoDFW Dallas/Ft. WorthMIA MiamiSFO San FranciscoSLC Salt Lake City

The R denotes report ROMEO. A new alphabetic designator isgiven each time a SIGMET is issued for a new weather phenom-enon. The order of issuance is as follows:

N NOVEMBERO OSCARP PAPAQ QUEBECR ROMEOU UNIFORMV VICTORW WHISKEY



CHIR UWS 041430

SIGMET ROMEO 1 VALID UNTIL 041830

KY TN WV VA OH

FROM CVG TO EKN TO PSK TO VXV TO CVG

OCNL SEV TURB BTN 300 AND 360. RPRTD BY AIRCRAFT.

CONDS CONTG BYD 1830Z.

SLM/GTB

1 3

45

2

6

7

8


X XRAYY YANKEE

SIGMETs are issued for:Severe icing not associated with thunderstormsSevere or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT)Dust storms or sandstorms lowering visibilities to < 3 milesVolcanic ash

2. Report Type: UWS

UWS indicates this is the first issuance of report ROMEO.Subsequent reports for ROMEO would display WS.

3. Date and Time Issued: 041430.


4. This line indicates that SIGMET ROMEO 1 is VALID UNTIL the 4thday (04) of the month at 1830 UTC.

Each subsequent report issued for this same weather phenomenondesignated ROMEO would increment the number. For example,ROMEO 2, ROMEO 3 and so on.

5. Area of coverage by state or geographic area. In addition to stateabbreviations, other area abbreviations may be seen here, such as,TX CSTL WTRS (Texas Coastal Waters).

6. Location of weather phenomenon. Three letter designators fornavaids or airports are used to describe boundaries of coverage. Ifthe weather phenomenon extends across multiple forecast areas,the location is described as if no boundaries exist.

7. Details of weather phenomenon. The example is typical of a syn-opsis for turbulence:

OCNL (occasional) SEV (severe) TURB (turbulence) BTN(between) 300 (30,000 feet) AND 360 (36,000 feet). RPRTD(reported) BY AIRCRAFT. CONDS (conditions) CONTG (contin-uing) BYD (beyond 1830Z.

More typical examples of descriptors used in other SIGMET weatherphenomenon are as follows:

MOD (moderate) TOSTG (strong) UDDFS (updrafts and downdrafts)UPDFTS (updrafts)DWNDFTS (downdrafts)INVOF (in vicinity of) MTNS (mountains)BLO (below) 360BTWN (between) FRZLVL (freezing level) AND 360ABV (above) 360




RPRTD (reported) BY ACFT (aircraft) IN VCNTY (vicinity)RPRTD BY SVRL (several) ACFT

8. Issuers initials.

If conditions end more than one half hour prior to the indicated expirationtime, and the report does not state that conditions will continue, a cancel-lation will be issued with CNCL SIGMET as the report designator. If con-ditions are expected to continue, a new SIGMET will be issued. If condi-tions end within one half hour of the indicated expiration time, theSIGMET will be allowed to expire without cancellation. Once the reportis cancelled or expires, the FIS system no longer broadcasts the report.

UNDERSTANDING CONVECTIVE SIGMETS

The following is an example of a typical Convective SIGMET with anexplanation of the elements.

1. Station Identifier: MKCC

MKC is the station identifier of the Aviation Weather Center (AWC)in Kansas City.

The C denotes the report is for the Central portion of the continentalUnited States. The choices are as follows:

C CentralE EastW West

Convective SIGMETs are issued for:

Severe weather including: (a)Surface winds ≥ 50 knots, (b) Surface hail ≥ 3/4 inch in diameter or (c) Tornadoes

Embedded thunderstorms (obscured by haze or other phenomena)

Line of thunderstorms

Thunderstorms ≥ VIP level 4 affecting ≥ 40% of an area ≥ 3000 sq.mi.



MKCC WST 221855

CONVECTIVE SIGMET 20C

VALID UNTIL 2055Z

ND SD

FROM 60W MOT-GFK-ABR-90W MOT

INTSFYG AREA SVR TSTMS MOVG FROM 2445. TOPS ABV FL450.

WIND GUSTS TO 60KT RPRTD. TORNADOES…HAIL TO 2 IN…WIND

GUSTS TO 65KT PSBL ND PTN.

1 3

4

2

5

67

8


2. Report Type: WST

WST indicates this is a convective SIGMET.


22 indicates the 22nd day of the month. 1855 indicates UTC.

4. This line is the identifying number of the Convective SIGMET.Numbering begins daily at 0000 UTC. The C denotes the Centralportion of the country.

5. This line indicates that CONVECTIVE SIGMET 20C is VALIDUNTIL 2055Z time. Expiration time is two hours after issuance, butConvective SIGMETs are issued hourly and replace the previoushour’s product.

Each subsequent report issued for this same weather phenomenonwould increment the number. For example, 21C, 22C and so on.

6. Area of coverage by state ND (North Dakota) and SD (SouthDakota) or geographic area. In addition to state abbreviations, otherarea abbreviations may be seen here, such as FL CSTL WTRS(Florida Coastal Waters).

7. Location of weather phenomenon (may be an area, single cell orline). Three letter designators for navaids or airports are used todescribe boundaries of coverage.

The starting and ending point are identical for an area of thunder-storms, like this: FROM 90W MOT-GFK-ABR-90W MOT (from 90nm west of Minot, ND to Grand Forks, ND to Aberdeen, SD to 90 nmwest of Minot, ND).

A Single Cell thunderstorm 35 nm west of Kansas City would looklike this: 35WMKC

A Line of severe thunderstorms would look like this: FROM 90SESGF-70NE TXK-50NE LFK (from 90 nm southeast of Springfield,MO to 70 nm northeast of Texarkana, AR to 50 nm northeast ofLufkin, TX).

8. Details of weather phenomenon. Convective SIGMET details aremostly in plain language with some abbreviations. This example istypical for an area of severe thunderstorms:

INTSFYG (intensifying) AREA (of) SVR TSTMS (severe thunder-storms) MOVG (moving) FROM 2445 (240 degrees at 45 knots).Storm TOPS ABV (above) FL450 (flight level 4-5-0). WIND GUSTSTO 60KT (knots) RPRTD (reported). TORNADOES…HAIL TO 2 IN(inches in diameter)…WIND GUSTS TO 65 KT (knots) PSBL (pos-sible) in the ND PTN (North Dakota portion).




For a single cell thunderstorm:

ISOLD (isolated) SVR TSTM (severe thunderstorm) D30 (30 nm indiameter) MOVG (moving) FROM 2520 (250 degrees at 20 knots).Storm TOPS ABV (above) FL450 (flight level 4-5-0). HAIL TO 2 IN(inches in diameter) WIND GUSTS TO 65 KT (knots) PSBL (pos-sible).

For a line of thunderstorms 25 nm wide:

LINE (line of) SVR TSTMS (severe thunderstorms) 25 MI WIDEMOVG (moving) FROM 2745 (270 degrees at 45 knots). StormTOPS ABV (above) FL450 (flight level 4-5-0). WIND GUSTS TO60KT (knots) RPRTD (reported). TORNADOES…HAIL TO 2 IN(inches in diameter)…WIND GUSTS TO 65 KT (knots) PSBL (pos-sible).

UNDERSTANDING ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (AWW)

The following is an example of a typical Alert Weather Watch with anexplanation of the elements.

1. Station Identifier: SPC

SPC is the station identifier for the Storm Prediction Center inNorman, Oklahoma.

AWWs are issued for:

TornadoDamaging winds or winds > 58 knotsHail ≥ 3/4 inch in diameter.

2. Report Type: AWW

AWW indicates this is an Alert Weather Watch.



SPC AWW 162236

WW 1162 SEVERE TSTM MS AL FL AND ADJ CSTL WTRS

162300Z - 170400Z

AXIS..75 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..

45SW MOB/MOBILE AL/ - 30SSE DHN/DOTHAN AL/

..AVIATION COORDS.. 65NM N/S /37SW MOB - 51WNW TLH/

HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1 1/4 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60

KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 400. MEAN WIND VECTOR 23035.

1 3

4

2

6

7

8

5

9




4. WW 1162 is the identifying number of the Alert Weather Watch.Numbering begins yearly at 0000.

5. This line indicates the type of weather and the affected areas.SEVERE TSTM (severe thunderstorm) for MS (Mississippi) AL(Alabama) FL (Florida) AND ADJ CSTL WTRS (adjacent coastalwaters).

6. This line indicates that the watch is valid from 162300Z - 170400Z(the 16th at 2300 Zulu to the 17th at 0400 Zulu).

7. Coordinates of the watch box area. Draw a line 75 STATUTEMILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE.. The endpoints of the lineare 45SSW MOB/MOBILE AL/-30SSE DHN/DOTHAN AL/ (45miles south-southwest of Mobile, Alabama and 30 miles south-southeast of Dothan, Alabama). Connect the lines to form the box.Sometimes it might be defined as EAST AND WEST OF A LINE.. orEITHER SIDE OF A LINE..

8. Aviation coordinates of the watch box area. Draw a line 65NM N/S /(65 nautical miles north and south) of a line). The endpoints of theline are 37SW MOB - 51WNW TLH/ (37 nautical miles southwest ofMobile, Alabama and 51 nautical miles west-northwest ofTallahassee, Florida). Connect the lines to form the box.

9. Details of the forecast weather. AWW details are mostly in plain lan-guage with some abbreviations. This is an example of a typicalproduct.

HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1 1/4 INCHES (hail diameter poten-tial of one and one quarter inches) WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS (windgust potential of 60 knots) MAX TOPS TO 400 (maximum tops ofthe storms is 40,000 feet). MEAN WIND VECTOR 23035 (motion ofstorm is 230 degrees at 35 knots).




Appendix A



Revision 6 Feb/2009 B-1

Common Weather Abbreviations

KMD 550/850 FIS AddendumAppendix B

ABNDT AbundantABNML AbnormalABT AboutABV AboveAC Convective outlook

or altocumulusACC Altocumulus castel-

lanus cloudsACCAS Altocumulus castel-

lanus cloudsACFT MSHP Aircraft MishapACCUM AccumulateACFT AircraftACLT AccelerateACLTD AcceleratedACLTG AcceleratingACLTS AcceleratesACPY AccompanyACRS AcrossACSL Altocumulus

standing lenticularACTV ActiveACTVTY ActivityACYC AnticycloneADJ AdjacentADL AdditionalADQT AdequateADQTLY AdequatelyADRNDCK AdirondackADVCT AdvectADVCTD AdvectedADVCTG AdvectingADVCTN AdvectionADVCTS AdvectsADVN AdvanceADVNG AdvancingADVY Advisory

ADVYS AdvisoriesAFCT AffectAFCTD AffectedAFCTG AffectingAFDK After darkAFOS Automated Field

Operations SystemAFSS Automated Flight

Service StationAFT AfterAFTN AfternoonAGL Above ground levelAGN AgainAGRD AgreedAGRS AgreesAGRMT AgreementAHD AheadAIRMET Airman’s Meteoro-

logical InformationAK AlaskaAL AlabamaALF AloftALG AlongALGHNY AlleghenyALP Airport Location

PointALQDS All quadrantsALSTG Altimeter settingALT AltitudeALTA AlbertaALTHO AlthoughALTM AltimeterALUTN AleutianAMD AmendAMDD AmendedAMDG AmendingAMDT Amendment

APPENDIX B

COMMON WEATHER ABBREVIATIONS

AMP AmplifyAMPG AmplifyingAMPLTD AmplitudeAMS Air massAMT AmountANLYS AnalysisANS AnswerAO1 Automated

Reporting StationAO2 Automated

Reporting StationAOA At or aboveAOB At or belowAP Anomalous

PropagationAPCH ApproachAPCHG ApproachingAPCHS ApproachesAPLCN AppalachianAPLCNS AppalachiansAPPR AppearAPPRG AppearingAPPRS AppearsAPRNT ApparentAPRNTLY ApparentlyAPRX ApproximateAPRXLY ApproximatelyAR ArkansasARL Air Resources LabARND AroundARPT AirportASAP As soon as possibleASL Above Sea LevelASMD As AmendedASOS Automated Surface

Observing SystemASSOCD AssociatedASSOCN AssociationATCT Air Traffic Control

TowerATLC AtlanticATTM At this time

ATTN AttentionAUTO Automated reportAVBL AvailableAVG AverageAVN Aviation modelAWC Aviation Weather

CenterAWIPS Advanced Interactive

Weather Processing System

AWOS Automated Weather Observing system

AWT AwaitingAWW Alert Weather WatchAZ ArizonaAZM AzimuthB BeganBACLIN BaroclinicBAJA Baja, CaliforniaBATROP BarotropicBC British Columbia or

patches (descriptor used with FG)

BCFG Patchy fogBCH BeachBCKG BackingBCM BecomeBCMG BecomingBCMS BecomesBD Blowing dustBDA BermudaBDRY BoundaryBECMG BecomingBFDK Before darkBFR BeforeBGN BeginBGNG BeginningBGNS BeginsBHND BehindBINOVC Breaks in overcastBKN BrokenBL BlowingBLD Build

B-2Revision 6 Feb/2009






BLDG BuildingBLDS BuildsBLDUP BuildupBLKHLS Black HillsBLKT BlanketBLKTG BlanketingBLKTS BlanketsBLO Below or below

cloudsBLW BelowBLZD BlizzardBN Blowing sandBND BoundBNDRY BoundaryBNDRYS BoundariesBNTH BeneathBOOTHEEL BootheelBR Branch or mist

(METAR, used only for visibility between 5/8 and 6 miles)

BRF BriefBRG BranchingBRK BreakBRKG BreakingBRKHIC Breaks in higher

cloudsBRKS BreaksBRKSHR BerkshireBRKSHRS BerkshiresBRM BarometerBRN Bulk Richardson

NumberBRS BranchesBS Blowing snowBTWN BetweenBWER Bounded weak

echo regionBYD BeyondC CelsiusCA California or cloud-

to-air lightning in PIREPs

CAA Cold air advectionCAPE Convective available

potential energyCARIB CaribbeanCAS Committee for

Aviation ServicesCASCDS CascadesCAT Clear air turbulenceCAVOK Ceiling and visibility

OKCAVU Ceiling and visibility

unlimitedCB CumulonimbusCBMAM Cumulonimbus

Mammatus cloudsCC CirrocumulusCCCC Generic WMO format

code group for a four-letter location identifier

CCL Convective conden-sation level

CCLDS Clear of cloudsCCLKWS CounterclockwiseCCSL Cirrocumulus

standing lenticularCCx Code used in the

WMO abbreviated heading to indicate a corrected forecast, where x is the letter A through X

CDFNT Cold frontCDFNTL Cold frontalCFP Cold front passageCG Cloud to ground

(lightning)CHC ChanceCHCS ChancesCHG ChangeCHGD ChangedCHGG ChangingCHGS ChangesCHI Cloud-Height

indicatorCHINO Sky condition at




secondary location not available

CHOP Turbulence type characterized by rapid, rhythmic jolts

CHSPK ChesapeakeCI CirrusCIG CeilingCIGS CeilingsCIN Convective inhibitionCLD CloudCLDNS CloudinessCLDS CloudsCLKWS ClockwiseCLR ClearCLRG ClearingCLRS ClearsCMPLX ComplexCNCL CancelCNCLD CanceledCNCLG CancelingCNCLS CancelsCNDN CanadianCNTR CenterCNTRD CenteredCNTRLN CenterlineCNTRS CentersCNTRL CentralCNTY CountyCNTYS CountiesCNVG ConvergeCNVGG ConvergingCNVGNC ConvergenceCNVTN ConvectionCNVTV ConvectiveCNVTVLY ConvectivelyCONFDC ConfidenceCO ColoradoCOMPAR CompareCOMPARG ComparingCOMPARD ComparedCOMPARS Compares

COMPR CompareCOMPRG ComparingCOMPRD ComparedCOMPRS ComparesCOND ConditionCONS ContinuousCONT ContinueCONTD ContinuedCONTLY ContinuallyCONTG ContinuingCONTRAILS Condensation trailsCONTS ContinuesCONTDVD Continental DivideCONUS Continental U.S.COORD CoordinateCOR CorrectionCPBL CapableCPC Climate Prediction

CenterCRC CircleCRCLC CirculateCRCLN CirculationCRLC CirculateCRLN CirculationCRNR CornerCRNRS CornersCRS CourseCS CirrostratusCSDR ConsiderCSDRBL ConsiderableCST CoastCSTL CoastalCT ConnecticutCTC ContactCTGY CategoryCTSKLS CatskillsCU CumulusCUFRA Cumulus fractusCVR CoverCVRD CoveredCVRG Covering




CVRS CoversCWSU Center Weather

Service UnitsCYC CyclonicCYCLGN CyclogenesisDABRK DaybreakDALGT DaylightDBL DoubleDC District of ColumbiaDCR DecreaseDCRD DecreasedDCRG DecreasingDCRGLY DecreasinglyDCRS DecreasesDE DelawareDEG DegreeDEGS DegreesDELMARVA Delaware-Maryland-

VirginiaDFCLT DifficultDFCLTY DifficultyDFNT DefiniteDFNTLY DefinitelyDFRS DiffersDFUS DiffuseDGNL DiagonalDGNLLY DiagonallyDIGG DiggingDIR DirectionDISC DiscontinueDISCD DiscontinuedDISCG DiscontinuingDISRE DisregardDISRED DisregardedDISREG DisregardingDKTS DakotasDLA DelayDLAD DelayedDLT DeleteDLTD DeletedDLTG Deleting

DLY DailyDMG DamageDMGD DamagedDMGG DamagingDMNT DominantDMSH DiminishDMSHD DiminishedDMSHG DiminishingDMSHS DiminishesDNDFTS DowndraftsDNS DenseDNSLP DownslopeDNSTRM DownstreamDNWND DownwindDP DeepDPND DeepenedDPNG DeepeningDPNS DeepensDPR DeeperDPTH DepthDR Low Drifting

(descriptor used with DU, SA or SN

DRDU Drifting dustDRFT DriftDRFTD DriftedDRFTG DriftingDRFTS DriftsDRSA Low drifting sandDRSN Low drifting snowDRZL DrizzleDS DuststormDSCNT DescentDSIPT DissipateDSIPTD DissipatedDSIPTG DissipatingDSIPTN DissipationDSIPTS DissipatesDSND DescendDSNDG DescendingDSNDS Descends




DSNT DistantDSTBLZ DestabilizeDSTBLZD DestabilizedDSTBLZG DestabilizingDSTBLZS DestabilizesDSTBLZN DestabilizationDSTC DistanceDTRT DeteriorateDTRTD DeterioratedDTRTG DeterioratingDTRTS DeterioratesDU Widespread dust

stormDURC During climbDURD During descentDURG DuringDURGC During climbDURGD During descentDURN DurationDVLP DevelopDVLPD DevelopedDVLPG DevelopingDVLPMT DevelopmentDVLPS DevelopsDVRG DivergeDVRGG DivergingDVRGNC DivergenceDVRGS DivergesDVV Downward vertical

velocityDWNDFTS DowndraftsDWPNT Dew pointDWPNTS Dew pointsDX DuplexDZ Drizzle (METAR)E EastEBND EastboundEFCT EffectELNGT ElongateELNGTD ElongatedELSW Elsewhere

EMBD EmbeddedEMBDD EmbeddedEMERG EmergencyENCTR EncounterENDG EndingENE East-northeastENELY East-northeasterlyENERN East-northeasternENEWD East-northeastwardENHNC EnhanceENHNCD EnhancedENHNCG EnhancingENHNCS EnhancesENHNCMNT EnhancementENRT EnrouteENTR EntireERN EasternERY EarlyERYR EarlierESE East-southeastESELY East-southeasterlyESERN East-southeasternESEWD East-southeastwardESNTL EssentialESTAB EstablishEST EstimateESTS EstimatesETA Estimated time of

arrival or ETA model

ETC Et ceteraETIM Elapsed timeEVE EveningEWD EastwardEXCLV ExclusiveEXCLVLY ExclusivelyEXCP ExceptEXPC ExpectEXPCD ExpectedEXPCG ExpectingEXTD Extend




EXTDD ExtendedEXTDG ExtendingEXTDS ExtendsEXTN ExtensionEXTRAP ExtrapolateEXTRAPD ExtrapolatedEXTRM ExtremeEXTRMLY ExtremelyEXTSV ExtensiveF FahrenheitFA Aviation area fore-

castFAH FahrenheitFAM FamiliarFC Funnel cloud

(+FC = Tornado or water spout)

FCST ForecastFCSTD ForecastedFCSTG ForecastingFCSTR ForecasterFCSTS ForecastsFEW Few (used to

describe cloud cover or weather phenomena, >0 octas to 2 octas cloud amount)

FG Fog (METAR, only when visibility is less than 5/8 mile)

FIBI Filed but impracti-cable to transmit

FIG FigureFILG FillingFIR Flight information

regionFIRAV First availableFIS Flight Information

ServiceFIS-B Flight Information

Service - BroadcastFIRST First observation

after a break in cov-

erage at manual station

FL Florida or flight levelFLG FallingFLRY FlurryFLRYS FlurriesFLT FlightFLW FollowFLWG FollowingFM FromFMGGgg From the time (UTC)

indicated by GGgg. Generic WMO formatcode group, indi-cating a significant and rapid (in less than 1 hour) change to a new set of prevailing conditions

FMT FormatFNCTN FunctionFNT FrontFNTL FrontalFNTS FrontsFNTGNS FrontogenesisFNTLYS FrontolysisFORNN ForenoonFPM Feet per minuteFQT FrequentFQTLY FrequentlyFRM FormFRMG FormingFRMN FormationFROPA Frontal passageFROSFC Frontal surfaceFRQ FrequentFRST FrostFRWF Forecast wind factorFRZ FreezeFRZLVL Freezing levelFRZN FrozenFRZG Freezing


FT Feet or Terminal Forecast

FTHR FurtherFU SmokeFV Flight visibilityFVRBL FavorableFWD ForwardFYI For your informationFZ FreezingFZRANO Freezing rain

sensor not availableG GustGA GeorgiaGEN GeneralGENLY GenerallyGEO GeographicGEOREF Geographical refer-

enceGF FogGICG Glaze icingGLFALSK Gulf of AlaskaGLFCAL Gulf of CaliforniaGLFMEX Gulf of MexicoGLFSTLAWR Gulf of St.

LawrenceGND GroundGNDFG Ground fogGOES Geostationary

Operational Environmental Satellite

GR Hail (greater than 1/4 inch in diam-eter)

GRAD GradientGRDL GradualGRDLY GraduallyGRT GreatGRTLY GreatlyGRTR GreaterGRTST GreatestGRTLKS Great LakesGS Small hail or snow

pellets (smaller than

1/4 inch in diameter)GSTS GustsGSTY GustyGTS Global Telecommuni-

cation SystemGV Ground visibilityHAZ HazardHCVIS High clouds visibleHDFRZ Hard freezeHDSVLY Hudson ValleyHDWND Head windHGT HeightHI High or HawaiiHIER HigherHIFOR High level forecastHLF HalfHLTP HilltopHLSTO HailstonesHLYR Haze layerHND HundredHPC Hydrometeorological

Prediction CenterHR HourHRS HoursHRZN HorizonHTG HeatingHURCN HurricaneHUREP Hurricane reportHV HaveHVY HeavyHVYR HeavierHVYST HeaviestHWVR HoweverHWY HighwayHZ HazeIA IowaIC Ice crystals or iceICAO International Civil

Aviation Organization

ICG IcingICGIC Icing in clouds




ICGICIP Icing in clouds and in precipitation

ICGIP Icing in precipitationID IdahoIFR Instrument flight

rulesIL IllinoisIMC Instrument meteo-

rolgical conditionsIMDT ImmediateIMDTLY ImmediatelyIMPL ImpulseIMPLS ImpulsesIMPT ImportantINCL IncludeINCLD IncludedINCLG IncludingINCLS IncludesINCR IncreaseINCRD IncreasedINCRG IncreasingINCRGLY IncreasinglyINCRS IncreasesINDC IndicateINDCD IndicatedINDCG IndicatingINDCS IndicatesINDEF IndefiniteINFO InformationINLD InlandINSTBY InstabilityINTCNTL IntercontinentalINTER IntermittentINTL InternationalINTMD IntermediateINTMT IntermittentINTMTLY IntermittentlyINTR InteriorINTRMTRGN Intermountain

regionINTS IntenseINTSFCN Intensification

INTSFY IntensifyINTSFYD IntensifiedINTSFYG IntensifyingINTSFYS IntensifiesINTSTY IntensityINTVL IntervalINVRN InversionIOVC In overcastINVOF In vicinity ofIP Ice pelletsIPV ImproveIPVG ImprovingIR InfraredISOL IsolateISOLD IsolatedJCTN JunctionJTSTR Jet streamKFRST Killing frostKLYR Smoke layer aloftKOCTY Smoke over cityKS KansasKT KnotsKY KentuckyL LeftLA LouisianaLABRDR LabradorLAPS Local Analysis and

Prediction SystemLAMP Local AWIPS MOS

ProgramLAST Last observation

before a break in coverage at a manual station

LAT LatitudeLAWRS Limited aviation

weather reporting station

LCL Local or Lifted condensation level

LCLY LocallyLCTD LocatedLCTN Location




LCTMP Little change in tem-perature

LDG LandingLEVEL LevelLFM Limited fine mesh

modelLFTG LiftingLGRNG Long-rangeLGT LightLGTR LighterLGWV Long waveLI Lifted IndexLIFR Low instrument

flight rulesLIS Lifted IndicesLK LakeLKS LakesLKLY LikelyLLJ Low level jetLLWAS Low-level wind

shear alert systemLLWS Low-level wind

shearLMTD LimitedLMTG LimitingLMTS LimitsLN LineLNS LInesLO LowLONG LongitudeLONGL LongitudinalLRG LargeLRGLY LargelyLRGR LargerLRGST LargestLST Local standard timeLTD LimitedLTG LightningLTGCA Lightning cloud-to-

airLTGCC Lightning cloud-to-

cloudLTGCG Lightning cloud-to-

groundLTGCCCG Lightning cloud-to-

cloud cloud-to-ground

LTGCW Lightning cloud-to-water

LTGIC Lightning in cloudLTL LittleLTLCG Little changeLTR LaterLTST LatestLV LeavingLVL LevelLVLS LevelsLWR LowerLWRD LoweredLWRG LoweringLYR LayerLYRD LayeredLYRS LayersM Minus or Less than

lowest sensor valueMA MassachusettsMAN ManitobaMAX MaximumMB MillibarsMCD Mesoscale discus-

sionMD MarylandMDFY ModifyMDFYD ModifiedMDFYG ModifyingMDL ModelMDLS ModelsMDT ModerateMDTLY ModeratelyME MaineMED MediumMEGG MergingMESO MesoscaleMET MeteorologicalMETAR Aviation Routine




Weather ReportMETRO MetropolitanMEX MexicoMHKVLY Mohawk ValleyMI Michigan , shallow,

or mileMID MiddleMIDN MidnightMIL MilitaryMIN MinimumMIFG Shallow fogMISG MissingMLTLVL Melting levelMN MinnesotaMNLD MainlandMNLY MainlyMO MissouriMOD ModerateMOGR Moderate or greaterMOS Model Output

StatisticsMOV MoveMOVD MovedMOVG MovingMOVMT MovementMOVS MovesMPH Miles per hourMRGL MarginalMRGLLY MarginallyMRNG MorningMRTM MaritimeMS MississippiMSG MessageMSL Mean sea levelMST MostMSTLY MostlyMSTR MoistureMT MontanaMTN MountainMTNS MountainsMULT Multiple

MULTILVL MultilevelMVFR Marginal visual

flight rulesMWO Meteorological

Watch OfficeMX Mixed (character-

ized as a combina-tion of clear and rime ice

MXD MixedN NorthN/A Not applicableNAB Not aboveNAT North AtlanticNATL NationalNAV NavigationNAVAID Electronic naviga-

tion aid facility (lim-ited to VOR or VORTAC for PIREPs)

NB New BrunswickNBND NorthboundNBRHD NeighborhoodNC North CarolinaNCDC National Climatic

Data CenterNCEP National Center of

Environmental Prediction

NCO NCEP Central Operations

NCWX No change in weather

ND North DakotaNE NortheastNEB NebraskaNEC NecessaryNEG NegativeNEGLY NegativelyNELY NortheasterlyNERN NortheasternNEWD NortheastwardNEW ENG New England




NFLD NewfoundlandNGM Nested grid modelNGT NightNH New HampshireNHC National Hurricane

CenterNIL NoneNJ New JerseyNL No layersNLT Not later thanNLY NortherlyNM New MexicoNMBR NumberNMBRS NumbersNMC National

Meteorological Center

NML NormalNMRS NumerousNNE North-northeastNNELY North-northeasterlyNNERN North-northeasternNNEWD North-northeast-

wardNNW North-northwestNNWLY North-northwesterlyNNWRN North-northwesternNNWWD North-northwest-

wardNNNN End of messageNOAA National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration

NOPAC Northern PacificNOS National Ocean

ServiceNOSPECI No SPECI reports

are taken at stationNPRS NonpersistentNR NearNRLY NearlyNRN NorthernNRW Narrow

NS Nova ScotiaNSC No significant cloudNSW No significant

weatherNTFY NotifyNTFYD NotifiedNV NevadaNVA Negative vorticity

advectionNW NorthwestNWD NorthwardNWLY NorthwesterlyNWRN NorthwesternNWS National Weather

ServiceNY New YorkNXT NextOAT Outside air temper -

atureOBND OutboundOBS ObservationOBSC ObscureOBSCD ObscuredOBSCG ObscuringOCFNT Occluded frontOCLD OccludeOCLDS OccludesOCLDD OccludedOCLDG OccludingOCLN OcclusionOCNL OccasionalOCNLY OccasionallyOCR OccurOCRD OccurredOCRG OccurringOCRS OccursOFC OfficeOFCM Office of the

Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

OFP Occluded frontal passage

OFSHR Offshore




OH OhioOHD OverheadOK OklahomaOMTNS Over mountainsONSHR On shoreOR OregonORGPHC OrographicORIG OriginalOSV Ocean station

vesselOTLK OutlookOTP On topOTR OtherOTRW OtherwiseOUTFLO OutflowOV OverOVC OvercastOVHD OverheadOVNGT OvernightOVR OverOVRN OverrunOVRNG OverrunningOVTK OvertakeOVTKG OvertakingOVTKS OvertakesP Higher than greatest

sensor valueP6SM Visibility forecast to

be greater than 6 statute miles

PA PennsylvaniaPAC PacificPATWAS Pilot's automatic

telephone weather answering service

PBL Planetary boundary layer

PCPN PrecipitationPD PeriodPDS PeriodsPDMT PredominantPE Ice pelletsPEN Peninsula

PERM PermanentPGTSND Puget SoundPHYS PhysicalPIBAL Pilot balloon obser-

vationPIREP Pilot weather reportPK WND Peak windPL Ice pelletsPLNS PlainsPLS PleasePLTO PlateauPM PostmeridianPNHDL PanhandlePNO Precipitation amount

not availablePO Dust/ sand swirlsPOS PositivePOSLY PositivelyPPINA Radar weather

report not availablePPINE Radar weather

report no echoes observed

PPSN Present positionPR PartialPRBL ProbablePRBLY ProbablyPRBLTY ProbabilityPRECD PrecedePRECDD PrecededPRECDG PrecedingPRECDS PrecedesPRES PressurePRESFR Pressure falling

rapidlyPRESRR Pressure rising

rapidlyPRFG Partial fogPRIM PrimaryPRIN PrincipalPRIND Present indications

are...PRJMP Pressure jump




PROB ProbabilityPROBC C Forecaster’s

assessment of the probability of occur-rence of a thunder-storm or precipita-tion event, along with associated weather elements (wind, visibility, and/or sky condi-tion) whose occur-rences are directly related to, and con-temporaneous with, the thunderstorm or precipitation event

PROC ProcedurePROD ProducePRODG ProducingPROG ForecastPROGD ForecastedPROGS ForecastsPRSNT PresentPRSNTLY PresentlyPRST PersistPRSTS PersistsPRSTNC PersistencePRSTNT PersistentPRVD ProvidePRVDD ProvidedPRVDG ProvidingPRVDS ProvidesPS PlusPSBL PossiblePSBLY PossiblyPSBLTY PossibilityPSG PassagePSN PositionPSND PositionedPTCHY PatchyPTLY PartlyPTNL PotentialPTNLY PotentiallyPTNS Portions

PUGET Puget SoundPVA Positive vorticity

advectionPVL PrevailPVLD PrevailedPVLG PrevailingPVLS PrevailsPVLT PrevalentPWB Pilot weather

briefingPWINO Precipitation identi-

fier sensor not avail-able

PWR PowerPY SprayQN QuestionQPFERD NCEP excessive

rainfall discussionQPFHSD NCEP heavy snow

discussionQPFSPD NCEP special

precipitation discus-sion

QSTNRY QuasistationaryQTR QuarterQUAD QuadrantQUE QuebecR Right (with reference

to runway designa-tion) or rain

RA Rain (METAR)RADAT Radiosonde addi-

tional dataRAOB Radiosonde obser-

vationRCA Reach Cruising

AltitudeRCH ReachRCHD ReachedRCHG ReachingRCHS ReachesRCKY RockyRCKYS RockiesRCMD Recommend




RCMDD RecommendedRCMDG RecommendingRCMDS RecommendsRCRD RecordRCRDS RecordsRCV ReceiveRCVD ReceivedRCVG ReceivingRCVS ReceivesRDC ReduceRDGG RidgingRDR RadarRDVLP RedevelopRDVLPG RedevelopingRDVLPMT RedevelopmentRE RegardRECON ReconnaissanceREF ReferenceRES ReserveREPL ReplaceREPLD ReplacedREPLG ReplacingREPLS ReplacesREQ RequestREQS RequestsREQSTD RequestedRESP ResponseRESTR RestrictRGD RaggedRGL Regional modelRGLR RegularRGN RegionRGNS RegionsRGT RightRH Relative humidityRHINO RHI not operativeRI Rhode IslandRIME Type of icing char-

acterized by a rough,milky, opaque appearance

RIOGD Rio Grande

RLBL ReliableRLTV RelativeRLTVLY RelativelyRM RemarksRMK RemarkRMN RemainRMND RemainedRMNDR RemainderRMNG RemainingRMNS RemainsRNFL RainfallRNG RangeROT RotateROTD RotatedROTG RotatingROTS RotatesRPD RapidRPDLY RapidlyRPLC ReplaceRPLCD ReplacedRPLCG ReplacingRPLCS ReplacesRPRT ReportRPRTD ReportedRPRTG ReportingRPRTS ReportsRPT RepeatRPTG RepeatingRPTS RepeatsRQR RequireRQRD RequiredRQRG RequiringRQRS RequiresRRx Code used in the

WMO abbreviated heading to indicate a delayed forecast, where x is the letter A through X

RS Receiver stationRSG RisingRSN Reason




RSNG ReasoningRSNS ReasonsRSTR RestrictRSTRD RestrictedRSTRG RestrictingRSTRS RestrictsRTRN ReturnRTRND ReturnedRTRNG ReturningRTRNS ReturnsRUC Rapid Update CycleRUF RoughRUFLY RoughlyRVR Runway Visual

RangeRVRNO RVR system not

availableRVS ReviseRVSD RevisedRVSG RevisingRVSS RevisesRW Rain showerRWY RunwayRY RunwayS SouthSA Sand (METAR)SAB Satellite Analysis

BranchSAO Surface observationSASK SaskatchewanSATFY SatisfactorySBND SouthboundSBSD SubsideSBSDD SubsidedSBSDNC SubsidenceSBSDS SubsidesSC South Carolina or

stratocumulusSCND SecondSCNDRY SecondarySCSL Stratocumulus

standing lenticularSCT Scatter or Scattered

(describing cloud cover or weather phenomena, 3 to 4 octas cloud amount

SCTD ScatteredSCTR SectorSD South DakotaSE SoutheastSEC SecondSELY SoutheasterlySEPN SeparationSEQ SequenceSERN SoutheasternSEV SevereSEWD SoutheastwardSFC SurfaceSFERICS AtmosphericsSG Snow grainsSGFNT SignificantSGFNTLY SignificantlySH ShowersSHFT ShiftSHFTD ShiftedSHFTG ShiftingSHFTS ShiftsSHLD ShieldSHLW ShallowSHRT ShortSHRTLY ShortlySHRTWV ShortwaveSHUD ShouldSHWR ShowerSIERNEV Sierra NevadaSIG SignatureSIGMET Significant meteoro-

logical informationSIMUL SimultaneousSK Sky coverSKC Sky clearSKED ScheduleSLD SolidSLGT Slight




SLGTLY SlightlySLO SlowSLOLY SlowlySLOR SlowerSLP Slope or sea level

pressureSLPG SlopingSLPNO Sea-level pressure

not availableSLT SleetSLW SlowSLY SoutherlySM Statute mileSMK SmokeSML SmallSMLR SmallerSMRY SummarySMS Sunchronous mete-

orological satelliteSMTH SmoothSMTHR SmootherSMTHST SmoothestSMTM SometimeSMWHT SomewhatSN Snow SNBNK SnowbankSND SandSNFLK SnowflakeSNGL SingleSNOINCR Snow increaseSNOINCRG Snow increasingSNST SunsetSNW SnowSNWFL SnowfallSOP Standard operating

procedureSP Snow pelletsSPC Storm Prediction

CenterSPCLY EspeciallySPD SpeedSPECI Special observation

SPENES Satellite precip.estimate statement

SPKL SprinkleSPLNS Southern PlainsSPRD SpreadSPRDG SpreadingSPRDS SpreadsSPRL SpiralSQ SquallSQAL SquallSQLN Squall lineSR SunriseSRN SouthernSRND SurroundSRNDD SurroundedSRNDG SurroundingSRNDS SurroundsSS Sunset or sand

storm (METAR)SSE South-southeastSSELY South-southeasterlySSERN South-southeasternSSEWD South-southeastwardSSW South-southwestSSWLY South-southwesterlySSWRN South-southwesternSSWWD South-southwest-

wardST StratusSTAGN StagnationSTBL StableSTBLTY StabilitySTD StandardSTDY SteadySTFR Stratus fractusSTFRM StratiformSTG StrongSTGLY StronglySTGR StrongerSTGST StrongestSTLT SatelliteSTM Storm




STMS StormsSTN StationSTNRY StationarySUB SubstituteSUBTRPCL SubtropicalSUF SufficientSUFLY SufficientlySUG SuggestSUGG SuggestingSUGS SuggestsSUP SupplySUPG SupplyingSUPR SuperiorSUPSD SupersedeSUPSDG SupersedingSUPSDS SupersedesSVG ServingSVR SevereSVRL SeveralSW SouthwestSW- Light snow showerSW+ Heavy snow showerSWD SouthwardSWLG SwellingSWLY SouthwesterlySWODY1 SPC Severe

Weather Outlook for Day 1

SWOMCD SPC Mesoscale discussion

SWRN SouthwesternSWWD SouthwestwardSX Stability indexSXN SectionSYNOP SynopticSYNS SynopsisSYS SystemT ThunderTA TemperatureTACAN UHF Tactical Air

Navigation AidTAF Terminal Area

ForecastTB TurbulenceTCNTL TranscontinentalTCU Towering cumulusTDA TodayTEI Text element indi-

catorTEMP TemperatureTEMPO TemporaryTHD ThunderheadTHDR ThunderTHK ThickTHKNG ThickeningTHKNS ThicknessTHKR ThickerTHKST ThickestTHN ThinTHNG ThinningTHNR ThinnerTHNST ThinnestTHR ThresholdTHRFTR ThereafterTHRU ThroughTHRUT ThroughoutTHSD ThousandTHTN ThreatenTHTND ThreatenedTHTNG ThreateningTHTNS ThreatensTIL UntilTKOF TakeoffTM TimeTMPRY TemporaryTMPRYLY TemporarilyTMW TomorrowTN TennesseeTNDCY TendencyTNDCYS TendenciesTNGT TonightTNTV TentativeTNTVLY Tentatively




TOC Top of ClimbTOP Top of CloudsTOPS TopsTOVC Top of overcastTP Type of aircraftTPG ToppingTRBL TroubleTRIB TributaryTRKG TrackingTRML TerminalTRMT TerminateTRMTD TerminatedTRMTG TerminatingTRMTS TerminatesTRNSP TransportTRNSPG TransportingTROF TroughTROFS TroughsTROP TropopauseTRPCD Tropical continental

air massTRPCL TropicalTRRN TerrainTRSN TransitionTRW ThunderstormTRW+ Thunderstorm with

heavy rain showerTS Thunderstorm

(METAR)TS + Thunderstorm with

heavy snowTSFR TransferTSFRD TransferredTSFRG TransferringTSFRS TransfersTSHWR ThundershowerTSNO Thunderstorm infor-

mation not availableTSNT TransientTSQLS ThundersquallTSTM ThunderstormTSW Thunderstorm with

snow showersTSW+ Thunderstorm with

heavy snow showersTURBC TurbulenceTURBT TurbulentTWD TowardTWDS TowardsTWI TwilightTWR TowerTWRG ToweringTX TexasUA Pilot weather reportsUDDF Up- and downdraftsUN UnableUNAVBL UnavailableUNEC UnnecessaryUNKN UnknownUNL UnlimitedUNRELBL UnreliableUNRSTD UnrestrictedUNSATFY UnsatisfactoryUNSBL UnseasonableUNSTBL UnstableUNSTDY UnsteadyUNSTL UnsettleUNSTLD UnsettledUNUSBL UnusableUP Unknown precipita-

tion (used only by automated sites incapable of discrimi-nation)

UPDFTS Updrafts UPR UpperUPSLP UpslopeUPSTRM UpstreamURG UrgentUSBL UsableUT UtahUTC Universal Time

Coordinate




UUA Urgent PIREP Weather Reports

UVV Upward vertical velocity

UWNDS Upper windsV VariesVA Virginia or Volcanic

Ash VAAC Volcanic Ash

Advisory CenterVAAS Volcanic Ash

Advisory StatementVAD Velocity azimuth

displayVAL ValleyVARN VariationVC VicinityVCNTY VicinityVCOT VFR conditions on

topVCTR VectorVCTS Thunderstorms in

the vicinityVDUC VAS Data Utilization

Center (NSSFC)VFR Visual flight rulesVFY VerifyVFYD VerifiedVFYG VerifyingVFYS VerifiesVHF Very High FrequencyVIS VisibilityVSNO Visibility at second-

ary location not avail-able

VLCTY VelocityVLCTYS VelocitiesVLNT ViolentVLNTLY ViolentlyVLY ValleyVMC Visual meteorolog-

ical conditionsVOL Volume

VOR VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range

VORT VorticityVORTAC VOR and TACAN

combinationVR VeerVRB VariableVRG VeeringVRBL VariableVRISL Vancouver Island,BCVRS VeersVRT MOTN Vertical motionVRY VeryVSB VisibleVSBY VisibilityVSBYDR Visibility decreasing

rapidlyVSBYIR Visibility increasing

rapidlyVT VermontVV Vertical velocity or

vertical visibilityVWP VAD Wind profilerW WestWA WashingtonWAA Warm air advectionWAFS Word Area Forecast

SystemWBND WestboundWDLY WidelyWDSPRD WidespreadWEA WeatherWFO Weather Forecast

OfficeWFSO Weather Forecast

Service OfficeWFP Warm front passageWI WisconsinWIBIS Will be issuedWINT WinterWK Weak




WKDAY WeekdayWKEND WeekendWKNG WeakeningWKNS WeakensWKR WeakerWKST WeakestWKN WeakenWL WillWLY WesterlyWMO World Meteorological

OrganizationWND WindWNDS WindsWNW West-northwestWNWLY West-northwesterlyWNWRN West-northwesternWNWWD West-northwest-

wardWO WithoutWPLTO Western PlateauWRM WarmWRMG WarmingWRMR WarmerWRMST WarmestWRMFNT Warm frontWRMFNTL Warm frontalWRN WesternWRNG WarningWRS WorseWS Wind shearWSHFT WindshiftWSFO Weather Service

Forecast OfficeWSO Weather service

officeWSR-88D NWS Doppler

RadarWSTCH Wasatch RangeWSW West-southwestWSWLY West-southwesterlyWSWRN West-southwesternWSWWD West-southwest-

ward

WTR WaterWTSPT WaterspoutWUD WouldWV West Virginia or windWVS WavesWW Severe weather

watchWWD WestwardWWS Severe weather

watchesWX WeatherWY WyomingXCP ExceptXPC ExpectXPCD ExpectedXPCG ExpectingXPCS ExpectsXPLOS ExplosiveXTND Extend

XTRMLY Extremely

YDA Yesterday

YKN Yukon

YLSTN Yellowstone

Z Zulu time

ZN Zone

ZNS Zones







N

Honeywell AerospaceBusiness and General AviationHoneywell International Inc.One Technology Center23500 West 105th StreetOlathe, KS 66061Telephone: (913) 712-0400FAX: (913) 712-1302www.honeywell.com

006-18227-0000Rev. 6 02/09© 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009 Honeywell International Inc.

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