The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is preparing to replace the trend type forecast (TTF) used to communicate weather trends for airfields with internationally recognised aerodrome forecasts (TAF) following a review completed in 2016.
TTFs are used by major airlines as a landing forecast and is often used for up-to-the-minute decisions by long haul pilots prior to descending for landing. The TTFs issued by major airports are also used by smaller aircraft landing elsewhere as an indication of regional weather patterns.
The review recommended that current TTF services at airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, and certain Defence airfields be replaced with TAF issued every three hours rather than the usual six. The new system is reportedly simpler and removes possible ambiguity in the existing system.
The three-hourly TAF will be known as TAF3. It will be amended more frequently than the current aerodrome forecasts to provide similar responsiveness and accuracy as the TTFs they replace; this is similar to an approach used in the US and Canada. The Gold Coast and Hobart do not currently have a TTF service but will gain a TAF3 service under the new model.
According to a BoM spokesperson, a TAF3 Implementation Working Group will “ensure a smooth transition to a TAF3 service at all current TTF locations plus Gold Coast and Hobart airports.”
The targeted date for TAF3 implementation is 21 May 2020, subject to consultation with industry and CASA.