8.52 Interpret Domestic Meteorological Services, Reports and Forecasts

Domestic meteorological services, reports and forecasts provide pilots with the weather information required to make safe pre-flight and in-flight decisions. For VFR operations in New Zealand, pilots should use all available aviation weather information to assess whether the proposed flight can be conducted safely and legally.

8.52.2 Using information from domestic meteorological services, reports and forecasts decide which should be considered for an indicated flight between given locations.

For a planned VFR flight, the pilot should consider the weather information that applies to the departure aerodrome, route, destination, alternate aerodromes, and surrounding area.

Relevant information may include:

• METAR — current observed weather at an aerodrome.
• SPECI — special report issued when significant weather changes occur.
• TAF — forecast weather for an aerodrome.
• GRAFOR — area forecast for VFR route planning.
• SIGMET — significant en-route weather warnings.
• AIRMET — lower-level weather hazards relevant to light aircraft and VFR operations.
• ARFOR / area forecasts — broader regional weather information.
• Radar imagery — precipitation location, intensity, and movement.
• Satellite imagery — cloud areas, frontal systems, and general weather structure.
• Surface pressure charts — lows, highs, fronts, and expected wind patterns.
• Mountain forecasts, where flight near high terrain is involved.