GetMet

Make a difference to your flying

with accurate weather briefing
Introduction
Common sense and the law require you to obtain all the necessary
weather information in order to plan and conduct your flight
safely. Full information on meteorological services can be found in
the UK AIP in the General Section at 3.5.

This booklet is intended to help you to obtain this information

via internet, fax and telephone. If you have any suggestions for
improving this booklet, or need further copies, please contact:

Met Office
FitzRoy Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 3PB
Fax: 0870 900 5050
Email: aviation@metoffice.gov.uk
www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation

If you are unable to use any of the services, the TAFs and METARs,
or require clarification for F214, F215, F414 and F415, special
forecasts and route forecasts please call:
0370 900 0100

For aircraft departing from Isle of Man and Channel Islands

please call:
Isle of Man 01624 821641 (ATC Hours)
Jersey 01534 492256 (ATC Hours)

Prices stated in GetMet are correct at the publication.

1
Online briefing for pilots
The Met Office’s online web services provide a comprehensive
range of weather briefing services direct to your computer.

The service is FREE and contains essential pre-flight information to

help you get the most from your flying. Services include:
• F214 / F215
• UK TAFs and METARs
• UK AIRMETs
• Ballooning forecasts
• Satellite and rainfall imagery

For instant access, simply register at:

www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation

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Forecaster consultancy Payment and help
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Met. decodes
Aerodrome forecast – TAF decode

Code element Example Decode Notes

1 Report type TAF ‘Terminal Aerodrome Forecast’ Name for an aerodrome forecast
2 Location EGSS ‘London Stansted’ Station four-letter ICAO indicator
3 Date/Time of origin 130500Z ‘For the 13th at oh, five, hundred,
Zulu is equivalent Zulu’
to UTC
4 Validity time 1306/1406 ‘Valid fromoh, six,hundred on the UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
13th to, oh, six, hundred on the 14th
5 Wind 31015G25KT ‘Three one zero degrees, fifteen VRB = Variable; 00000KT = calm. Wind direction is given in degrees
knots, max twenty five knots’ true
6 Prevailing visibility 8000 ‘Eight kilometres’ 9999 = 10 km or more; 0000 = less than 50 metres
or CAVOK*
7 Significant weather -SHRA ‘Light rain showers’ See present weather table on METAR (page 18) for details; NSW = No
significant weather
8 Cloud FEW005 ‘Few at five hundred feet, scattered FEW = 1-2 oktas; SCT = 3-4 oktas; BKN = 5-7 oktas; OVC = 8 oktas;
SCT010 at one thousand feet, scattered ‘VV///’ = state of sky obscured (cloud base not discernible); figures
SCT018CB cumulonimbus at one thousand in lieu of ‘///’ give forecast vertical visibility in hundreds of feet. NSC
BKN025 eight hundred feet. Broken at two = no significant cloud (none below 5,000 feet and no TCU or CB)
thousand five hundred feet’ TCU and CB will be the only cloud types specified. Cloud heights are
given in feet above airfield height.
9 Significant changes PROB30 ‘30% probability’ ‘from fourteen Only 30% or 40% probability will be used. Indicates beginning and
Probability Time 1314/1316 hundred on the 13th to sixteen end time of forecast period in UTC. Also TEMPO = temporarily may
Change indicator BECMG hundred on the 13th,’ or ‘becoming be used. Met. group follows indicating a change in some or all of the
Met. groups 1314/1316 from fourteen hundred on the 13th elements forecast in the first part of the TAF.
FM131400 to sixteen hundred on the 13th’ or
TSRA ‘from fourteen hundred on the 13th’
BKN010CB followed by ‘Thunderstorm with
rain, broken cumulonimbus at one Note: CNL may be used to indicate that a TAF is cancelled.
thousand feet’ * CAVOK will replace visibility and cloud groups

6 7
Example 1 Example 2
24-hr TAF 9-hr TAF
FTUK32 EGGY 110500 FCUK33 EGGY 300800
EGPK 110500Z 1106/1206 13010KT 9000 BKN010 EGTE 300800Z 3009/3018 23010KT 9999 SCT010 BKN018 BECMG
BECMG 1106/1108 BKN018 PROB30 TEMPO 1108/1116 3011/3014
17025G40KT 4000 TSRA 6000 -RA BKN012 TEMPO 3014/3018 2000 DZ OVC004 =
BKN012CB BECMG 1118/1121 3000 BR NSC=
Decode
Decode
Nine-hour TAF issued at 0800 Zulu on the 30th. Exeter valid from
Twenty four-hour TAF issued at 0500 UTC on the 11th. Prestwick oh nine hundred on the 30th to eighteen hundred Zulu on the
valid from oh six hundred on the 11th to oh six hundred on the 30th. Wind two three zero degrees ten knots. Ten kilometres or
12th. Wind one three zero degrees ten knots. Nine kilometres more visibility. Scattered at one thousand feet. Broken at one
visibility. Broken at one thousand feet. Becoming from oh six thousand eight hundred feet. Becoming from eleven hundred on
hundred on the 11th to oh eight hundred on the 11th, broken at the 30th to fourteen hundred on the 30th, six kilometres, slight
one thousand eight hundred feet. 30% probability, temporarily rain. Broken at one thousand two hundred feet. Temporarily
between oh eight hundred on the 11th to sixteen hundred on between fourteen hundred on the 30th to eighteen hundred
the 11th, wind one seven zero degrees twenty five knots, gusting on the 30th. Two thousand metres visibility. Moderate drizzle.
to forty knots. Four thousand metres visibility. Thunderstorm Overcast four hundred feet.
with moderate rain. Broken cumulonimbus at one thousand two
hundred feet. Becoming from eighteen hundred on the 11th to
twenty one hundred on the 11th, three thousand metres visibility,
mist, no significant cloud.

8 9
Flight planning
In addition to weather information:
• UK and Foreign NOTAM information is available from the UK
Aeronautical Information Service at www.ais.org.uk where you
can also access the UK AIP, its supplements, AICs and a flight
plan form.
• For abbreviated and updated information on certain UK airspace
restrictions, call the AIS information line on 0500 354802
or +44 (0)20 8750 3939.

Pilot’s pre-flight check

Designed for General Aviation pilots, but information applies to everyone.
SafetySense leaflets are in LASORS and the CAA website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.caa.co.uk/safetysense through “general aviation”.
Valid medical, type/class rating?
90-day rule for passengers?
Map/charts and information in date? www.ais.org.uk>VFR CHARTS
Frequencies changed? www.ais.org.uk>VFR CHARTS
Flight plan required? GetMet page 22 or AIS website
File CANP/PINS? Freephone 0800 515544 or fax 0500 300120
Mass/balance calculations? Flight manual, SafetySense leaflet 9
Weather forecast — route/area? F215/415, TAFs/METARs GET MET Pages 417
NOTAMs and aeronautical information checked? AIS website www.ais.org.uk
Route planned? Fuel? Diversion? Safety altitude? SafetySense leaflet 5
Take off/landing performance? Flight Manual, SafetySense leaflet 7
Temporary restricted airspace? AISwebsite or freephone 0500 354 802 or call +44 (0)20 8750 3939
Aircraft serviceable?
Pilot fit, both physically and mentally? SafetySense leaflet 23
Passengers briefed? SafetySense leaflet 2
10 11
Met. decodes
Aerodrome actual weather — METAR and SPECI decode
Code element Example Decode Notes
1. Identification METAR EGLL Meteorological Airfield Report METAR – aviation routine report, SPECI – selected special (not from UK
METAR or SPECI Location 291020Z London Heathrow ‘ten twenty Zulu civil aerodromes) Station four-letter indicator AUTO METARS may only be
indicator Date/time AUTO on the 29th’ a fully automated disseminated when an aerodrome is closed or at H24 aerodromes, where the
report with no human intervention accredited met. observer is on a CAA approved overnight duty break. Users are
reminded that reports of visibility, present weather and cloud from automated
systems should be treated with caution due to the limitations of the sensors
themselves and the spatial area sampled by the sensors.
2. Wind 31015G27KT ‘three one zero degrees, fifteen Max only given if 10 KT than mean. VRB = variable. 00000KT = calm. Variation
Wind direction/speed 280V350 knots, gusting twenty seven knots’ given in clockwise direction, but only when mean speed is greater than 3 KT.
Extreme direction ‘varying between two eight zero Wind direction is given in degrees true.
and three five zero degrees’
3. Visibility 3200 ‘three thousand two hundred 0000 = ‘less than 50 metres’ 9999 = ‘ten kilometres or more’. No direction
prevailing visibility 1200SW metres’ ‘twelve hundred metres to is required The minimum visibility is also included alongside the prevailing
Minimum visibility (In the south-west’ visibility when the visibility in one direction, which is not the prevailing
addition to the prevailing visibility, is less than 1,500 metres or less than 50% of the prevailing visibility
visibility required) and less than 5000 metres. A direction is also added as one of the eight if
points of the compass.
4. RVR R27R/1100 ‘RVR, runway two seven right, one RVR tendency (U = increasing; D = decreasing; N = no change) may be added
thousand one hundred metres’ after figure (not currently used in the UK) e.g. R27R/1100D P1500 = more than
1,500 m; M0050 = less than 50 m. Significant variations – example:
R24/0950V1100, i.e. varying between two values. (Not from UK civil aerodromes).
5. Present weather +SHRA ‘heavy rain showers’ + = Heavy (well developed in the case of +FC and +PO); -= Light; no qualifier =
Moderate.
BC = Patches BL = Blowing BR = Mist DR = Drifting
DS = Duststorm DU = Dust DZ = Drizzle FC = Funnel cloud
FG = Fog FU = Smoke FZ = Freezing GR = Hail (>5 mm)
GS = Small hail or snow pellets HZ = Haze IC = Ice crystals
MI = Shallow PL = Ice pellets PO = Dust devils PR = Banks
RA = Rain SA = Sand SH = Showers SG = Snow grains
SN = Snow SQ = Squalls SS = Sandstorm TS = Thunderstorm
VA = Volcanic ash VC = In vicinity UP = Unidentified precipitation (AUTO
METARS only)
Up to three groups may be present, constructed by selecting and combining
from the above. Group omitted if no weather to report.
12 13
Met. decodes
Aerodrome actual weather — METAR and SPECI decode

Code element Example Decode Notes

6. Cloud FEW005 ‘few at five hundred feet, scattered FEW = ‘few’ (1-2 oktas), SCT = ‘Scattered’ (3-4 oktas), BKN = ‘Broken’ (5-7
SCT010CB cumulonimbus at one thousand oktas), OVC = ‘Overcast’, NSC = no significant cloud (none below 5,000
BKN02 feet, broken at two thousand five ft and no TCU or CB) There are only two cloud types reported; TCU =
hundred feet’ towering cumulus and CB = cumulonimbus. VV/// = ‘state of sky obscured’
(cloud base not discernable). Figures in lieu of ‘///’ give vertical visibility in
hundreds of feet. Up to three, but occasionally more, cloud groups may be
reported. Cloud heights are given in feet above airfield height NCD = no
cloud detected (AUTO METARS only).
7. CAVOK* CAVOK ‘cav-oh-kay’ Visibility greater or equal to 10 km, no cumulonimbus or towering cumulus,
no cloud below 5,000 ft or highest minimum sector altitude (MSA)
(whichever is the greater) and no weather significant to aviation.
8. Temp and dew 10/03 ‘temperature ten degrees Celsius, If dew point is missing, example would be reported as 10///. M indicates a
point dew point three degrees Celsius’ negative value.
9. QNH Q0995 ‘nine nine five’ Q indicates millibars. If the letter A is used QNH is in inches and hundredths.
10. Recent weather RETS ‘recent thunderstorm’ RE = recent, weather codes given above. Up to three groups may be present.
11. Wind shear WS RWY24 ‘wind shear runway two four’ Will not be reported at present for UK aerodromes.
12. Colour state BLU Blue Military reports also display a colour state BLU, WHT, GRN, YLO1, YLO2, AMB
or RED, coded according to cloud and visibility. BLACK indicates the runway
is unusable.
13. Trend BECMG ‘becoming from 1100, A forecast of significant changes in conditions during the two hours after
FM1100 230 degrees 35 KT, max 50 observation time.
23035G50KT KT, temporarily, 3,000 metres, BECMG = Becoming TEMPO = Temporarily NOSIG = No sig change
3000 SHRA moderate rain showers NSW = No sig weather AT = At FM = From
TL = Until NSC = No sig cloud
Any of the wind, visibility, weather or cloud groups may be used, and
CAVOK. Multiple groups may be present.

* CAVOK will replace visibility and cloud groups

14 15
Example Example
SAUK02 EGGY 301220 METAR SAUK02 EGGY 301220 METAR
EGLY 301220Z 24015KT 200V280 8000 –RA FEW010 BKN025 EGPZ 301220Z 30025G37KT 270V360 6000 1200NE +SHSN
18/15 Q0983 SCT005 BKN010CB
TEMPO 3000 RA BKN008= 03/M01 Q0999 RETS BECMG AT1300 9999 NSW SCT015=

An example of the above METAR for 1220 UTC on the 30th of the An example of the above METAR for 1220 UTC on the 30th of the
month, in plain language: month, in plain language:

EGLY: Issued at 1220Z on 30th. Surface wind: mean 240 deg true, EGPZ: Issued at 1220Z on the 30th. Surface wind: mean 300 deg
15 KT; varying between 200 and 280 deg; prevailing visibility true, 25 KT; maximum 37 KT, varying between 270 and
8 km; weather: light rain; cloud: 1-2 oktas base 1,000 ft, 5-7 oktas 360 deg; prevailing visibility 6 km, minimum visibility 1,200 m
2,500 ft; temperature +18 °C, dew point: +15 °C; QNH 983 mb; (to northeast); heavy shower of snow; Cloud. 3-4 oktas base
Trend: temporarily 3,000 m in moderate rain with 5-7 oktas 500 ft, 5-7 oktas CB base 1,000 ft; temperature +3 °C, dew point
800 ft. –1 °C; QNH 999 mb; Thunderstorm since the previous report;
Trend: improving at 1300 Zulu to 10 km or more, nil significant
weather, 3-4 oktas 1,500 ft.

16 17
Metform 215 (b) Tabular forecast

Explanatory notes for the new Metform 215 (Chart of forecast For each zone (identified by its number on the left hand chart),
weather below 10,000 feet). the text will detail the expected surface horizontal visibility,
weather and cloud during the period of validity, including any
The Metform 215 provides a forecast of in-flight weather sub zones referred to within the text and spatial or temporal
conditions below 10,000 feet covering the British Isles and very variations within the zone. A general outlook is also included
near Continent for a 9-hour period centred on a specified fixed and describes the principal weather changes expected during
time. It is designed for use as either an area forecast or a route the 7-hour period following the end of the chart validity.
forecast. For simplicity the same codes have been used as are used
in the METAR code.

Information provided
(a) Charts

The chart area shows the forecast position, direction and

speed of surface fronts and pressure centres at the fixed time
shown in the chart’s title box.

Zones of distinct weather are enclosed by continuous

scalloped lines, each zone being identified by a letter within
a box. Sub-zones may also be included and are indicated by a
letter followed by a number e.g. A1. Where a zone is not linked
to a front, the expected speed of movement of the boundary
may be given.

18 19
Issue times
The date and time at which the forecast is issued by the Met Office
is shown at the bottom left corner of the chart.

Time when Metform Fixed forecast time Period of validity Outlook to Prognosis chart to
becomes available (Met Office website only)
0330 UTC 1200 UTC 0800 — 1700 UTC 2359 UTC 1800 UTC
0930 UTC 1800 UTC 1400 — 2300 UTC 0600 UTC 0000 UTC
1530 UTC 000 UTC 2000 — 0500 UTC 1200 UTC 0600 UTC
2130 UTC 0600 UTC 0200 — 1100 UTC 1800 UTC 1200 UTC

Amendments
Amendments will appear in black bold (italic and underlined)
whenever an element changes through thresholds agreed
between the Met Office and the CAA Met Authority. The word
‘amended’ at the top will appear in red.
Tolerances

Original forecast Revised opinion

General cloud base, 2500 FT or more < 2500 FT
AMSL (amounts of 1500 FT to 2500 FT < 1500 FT or > 2500FT
SCT or more) 700 FT to 1500 FT < 700 FT or > 1500 FT
500 FT to 700 FT < 500 FT or > 700 FT
300 FT to 500 FT < 300 FT or > 500 FT
200 FT to 300 FT < 200 FT or > 300 FT
SFC. to 200 FT > 200 FT
Visibility 8 KM or more < 8 KM
(general visibility) 5000 M to 8 KM < 5000 M or > 8 KM
3700 M to 5000 M < 3700 M or > 5000 M
2500 M to 3700 M < 2500 M or > 3700 M
1600 M to 2500 M < 1600 M or > 2500 M
800 M to 1600 M < 800 M or > 1600 M There are also amendment criteria for the occurrence/non-occurrence of
weather, icing severity, turbulence severity and boundaries.
000 M to 800 M > 800 M See UK AIP GEN 3.5 4.6d Amended Route/Area Forecast (Advisory Criteria).
20 21
Pressure centres and fronts Speed of movement of fronts and centres will be indicated by
arrows and adjacent figures in knots.
What is a front?
The surface positions of pressure centres are shown by an ‘X’ for low
pressure and ‘O’ for high pressure accompanied by a letter ‘L’ (low) or
‘H’ (high) as appropriate.

Example pressure centres 15 KT

xL oH Usually a speed of movement less than 5 knots is indicated as
‘SLOW’. Ridge axes are not normally shown.
Surface frontal positions
Abbreviations commonly used in tabular section – a full list of
abbreviations can be found in UK AIP, GEN 2.2.
Points of the compass (N, NE, E, ENE etc.) may be used to express
direction, or to refer to part of a zone.
Surface horizontal visibility expressed in metres (M) or kilometres
(KM) with change over at 5,000 metres.

Warm front Cold front

Occulusion Trough

22 23
Met. decodes
Weather
DZ drizzle GR hail RA rain Slight icing: not shown
SN snow FG fog HZ haze
Moderate/severe icing (MOD/SEV icing):
BR mist FZ freezing SH shower
TS thunderstorm GR hail GS small hail/snow pellets The following symbols will be used to show turbulence in cloud as
well as mechanical turbulence over land:
A – prefix (e.g. –DZ) indicates slight precipitation. No prefix
indicates moderate precipitation (e.g. DZ). A + prefix indicates Slight turbulence: not shown
heavy precipitation (e.g. +RA). Weather phenomena may also
Moderate/severe turbulence
be written as a combination of abbreviations, e.g. TSRASN
(MOD/SEV TURB):
(thunderstorm with moderate rain and snow).
A forecast of CB or TS implies severe turbulence and or icing
Cloud
Cloud amount (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) and type will be followed
by an icing and turbulence symbol, if appropriate, and then the
height of the cloud base and tops above mean sea level (AMSL).

The familiar abbreviations for cloud type will be used. Cloud tops
extending above 10,000 FT will be shown by ‘XXX’ The following
symbols will be used to show icing in cloud:

24 25
The height of the 0 °C isotherm (or ‘freezing level’) is provided Metform 214
in the column to the right of the cloud and this can be used for
guidance as to the level above which icing is likely. The figure will Complements Metform 215 (above) by providing forecast spot
indicate the average freezing level within the area. upper winds and temperatures covering a similar area.

Mountain wave activity is included in the visibility and weather Metforms 415 and 414
section with a forecast vertical speed.
Metforms 415 (significant weather) and 414 (upper winds/temps)
MAX maximum WKN weakening FPM feet per minute are charts prepared in a similar format (but no outlook) for
VSP vertical speed MTW mountain waves low-level flights into Europe. An Outlook Chart is only included
with the Met Office web version of the F215 and shows only the
Hill FG is used to indicate hill fog and implies a surface visibility of expected positions of the principal synoptic features and mean sea
less than 200 metres. level isobars at the end of the period. Weather zones are not given
on the prognosis chart.
A full decode of the F215 is available at:
www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation

26 27
En route information VHF Volmet
Call sign/ID Frequency MHz Operating hours Stations Contents Remarks
1 2 3 4 5 6
LONDON 135.375 H24 Amsterdam 1. Half-hourly reports (METAR) The spoken word ‘SNOCLO’
VOLMET (continuous) Brussels 2. The elements of each report are will be added to the end of
(MAIN) Dublin broadcast in the following order: the aerodrome report when
Glasgow
London Gatwick (a) Surface wind that aerodrome is unusable
London Heathrow (b) Visibility* for take-offs and landings
London Stansted (c) RVR if applicable due to heavy snow on
Manchester (d) Weather runways or runway snow
Paris/Charles de Gaulle (e) Cloud* clearance
LONDON 128.600 H24 Birmingham (f) Temperature
VOLMET (continuous) Bournemouth (g) Dew point
(SOUTH) Bristol (h) QNH
Cardiff
Jersey (i) Recent weather if applicable
London Luton (j) Wind shear if applicable
Norwich (k) Runway contamination warning
Southampton if applicable
Southend (l) TREND if applicable
Exeter
*or CAVOK
†LONDON 126.600 H24 E Midlands 3. Non-essential words such as
VOLMET (continuous) Humberside
Isle of Man ‘surface wind’, ‘visibility’,
(NORTH) etc. are not spoken
Leeds Bradford
Liverpool 4. Except for ‘SNOCLO’ (see Column
London Gatwick 6). The Runway State Group is not
Manchester broadcast
Newcastle
Durham Tees Valley 5.All broadcasts are in English
SCOTTISH 125.725 H24 Aberdeen/Dyce
VOLMET (continuous) Belfast International
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Inverness
London Heathrow
Prestwick
Stornoway * Broadcast range extended to cover southeast England and English Channel
Sumburgh
28 29
It is not normally possible to receive VHF Volmet while abroad.
However, certain short-wave portable radios with an SSB function
may be able to receive the regular HF transmissions of METAR and
airfield information from the RAF on 5,450 kHz and 11,253 kHz.
These cover major military aerodromes in the UK and abroad. TAFs
and METARs for major civilian aerodromes are broadcast from
Shannon on 3,413 kHz (night only), 5,505 kHz and 8,957 kHz
(24 hours), and 13,264 kHz (day only).

VHF European VOLMET

VHF VOLMET is primarily designed for international commercial
IFR operations. Each broadcast should have a mean range of 200
NM at FL300. Coverage at low levels will be significantly less than
this. In addition to London Main, North and South, as well as
Scottish VOLMET, the following broadcasts may be received in
some parts of the UK.

Amsterdam BRUSSELS DUBLIN PARIS

126.200 MHz 127.800 MHz 127.000 MHz 126.000 MHz
Amsterdam Brussels Dublin Paris/CDG
Rotterdam Oostende Shannon Paris/Orly
Brussels London/Heathrow Cork Lyon/Satolas
Düsseldorf Luxembourg Belfast Geneva
Paris/CDG Amsterdam Glasgow Zurich
London/Heathrow Paris/Orly Prestwick London/Heathrow
London/Gatwick Frankfurt Manchester London/Gatwick
Copenhagen Cologne-Bonn London/Heathrow Brussels
Hamburg Düsseldorf London/Gatwick Amsterdam

30 31
 Useful contacts
Aerodrome terminal information service (ATIS)
Other useful numbers
Certain aerodromes provide weather and/or aerodrome
General Aviation Unit (GAU) Licensing Department (CAA)
information by telephone, although not necessarily as a 24-hour
Tel: 01293 3988 Tel: 01293 573700
service.
Email: ga@caa.co.uk Fax: 01293 573996
www.caa.co.uk/ga Email: FCLweb@caa.co.uk
Belfast City ATIS 02890 935124
Benbecula ATIS 01870 604818 Aircraft registration (CAA) Publications
Birmingham ATIS 0121 767 1260
Tel: 020 7453 6666 Most are available on the CAA
Bournemouth ATIS 01202 364151
Fax: 020 7453 6670 website
Cardiff ATIS 01446 729319
Carlisle ATIS 01228 574123
www.caa.co.uk/publications
Aviation Services (CAA) Tel: 0870 600 5522
Durham Tees Valley ATIS 09012 018111
Edinburgh ATIS 0131 333 6216
Tel: 01293 768374 CAA publications listed on TSO
Glasgow ATIS 0141 887 7449 Fax: 01293 573860 website: www.tso.co.uk
Guernsey ATIS 01481 238957 Email: apply@caa.co.uk
Humberside ATIS 01652 682020 Safety Promotion
Inverness ATIS 01667 464255 Investigations and Enforcement GASCo (General Aviation Safety
Jersey ATIS 01534 446301 Team (IET) Council)
Kirkwall ATIS 01856 878476 Tel: 0207 453 6186 Tel: 01634 200203
Leeds Bradford ATIS 0871 288 2288 ext 2489 Fax: 0207 04536175 www.gasco.org.uk
Liverpool ATIS 08717 505150 Email: IETmailbox@caa.co.uk
London City ATIS 020 7646 0224 The CAA website
London Stansted ATIS 01279 669325 Aviation Health Unit (CAA) www.caa.co.uk includes GA
Lydd ATIS 01797 322 422
Tel: 01293 573700 safety promotion information
Manchester ATIS 0161 209 2860
Newcastle ATIS 0191 2143400
Fax: 01293 573995 including /gasil or /safetysense
Norwich ATIS 01603 420640 leaflets.
Shoreham ATIS 0844 225 4201
NOTAMs and aeronautical
Southampton ATIS 02380 625877 information, AIS (NATS)
Stornoway ATIS 01851 707444 AIS information line:
Sumburgh ATIS 01950 461037 0500 354802
Wick ATIS 01955 607596 or +44 (0)20 87503939
Fax: 020 8750 3775
32 33
Important telephone numbers CAA airworthiness evaluation
Accident reporting, AAIB
Tel: 01252 512299 and surveillance
Fax: 01252 376999
For all matters, including those relating to aircraft maintenance, please
Emergency Alerting (Distress & Diversion) Cell, LATCC (NATS) contact the General Aviation Unit.
Tel: 01489 612406
Airprox reporting, UKAB
Occurrence reporting, Safety Data Dept (CAA)
Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting (CHIRP)
Tel: 0800 214645 (UK only)/01252 378947
Fax: 01252 378940
www.chirp.co.uk/submit-a-report
General Aviation Unit (GAU)
Tel: 01293 3988
Email: ga@caa.co.uk
www.caa.co.uk/ga
Aircraft registration (CAA)
Tel: 020 7453 6666
Fax: 020 7453 6670
Investigations and Enforcement Team (IET)
Tel: 0207 453 6186
Fax: 0207 453 6175
Email: IETmailbox@caa.co.uk
NOTAMs and aeronautical information
AIS (NATS) Tel: 0500 354802 or +44 (0)20 87503939
Fax: 020 8750 3775
Licensing DepartmentPersonnel licensing (CAA)
Tel: 01293 573700
Fax: 01293 573996
Email: FCLweb@caa.co.uk
34 35
Filing flight plans
Guidance for completing flight plans is contained in AIP at ENR The contact number for the AFPEX Helpdesk can also be used to
1.10 – Flight Planning, and Safety Sense Leaflets 20 and 27. close a flight plan or to cancel a state of emergency after landing
File when flying IFR in controlled airspace, when crossing an if you have been unfortunate enough to need to declare one. The
international boundary, or when flying over areas with sparse number can also be used by the nominated ‘responsible person’
populations. to activate a flight plan, or in the event of an aircraft not arriving at
its destination, to initiate overdue action.
If your aerodrome of departure does not have an ATS unit, the
primary means for filing flight plans should be through the
CACC contact numbers (available 24 hours a day):
Assisted Flight Planning Exchange (AFPEX) service. This allows
pilots and small aerodromes access to file their own flight plans Helpdesk Telephone: 0845 601 0483
and other flight related messages. Registration and queries Telephone: 0845 601 0484

The Civil Aviation Communications Centre (CACC) at Swanwick

administers the AFPEX service and staffs the AFPEX Helpdesk
to assist in filing flight plans and related messages. Permission
to use AFPEX will only be granted to bona fide users based in
the UK only and may be obtained from the CACC by email to
flightplanningonline@nats.co.uk. Application forms are available
on the website www.flightplanningonline.co.uk and approved
users are issued with a LOGIN and unique password to access their
personal mailbox.

An internet connection is essential but, once approved, an

operator can file their flight plan from any computer.

Pilots wishing to file a flight plan who do not have access to AFPEX,
or are unable to access the system for some reason, may use the
AFTN Parent Unit listed in the AIP at ENR 1.10 – Flight Planning,
and Safety Sense Leaflet 20.

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