Australian Flying — November-December 2017

That’s time-consuming and
error-prone, and no help to a GA
pilot who is learning, having fun,
or travelling serious distances.
This problem isn’t unique to
Australia. Other comparable
countries have recognised for
years that wordy area forecast
compositions aren’t effective
at getting the message across.
Canada, Britain and the United
States already produce low-level
graphical aviation forecasts.
Australia, so far, has not, and the
ARFOR does not comply with
ICAO. Although Australian
SIGWX charts are available for

f light levels, up until now there

have been no graphical forecasts

for low level use.

Various elements of the

Australian aviation industry

have long sought improvements.

In 2012, the Bureau of

Meteorology raised the idea of

a new, graphical, low-level area

forecast during consultation

activities. I joined the working

group progressing the concept in

2013, and for the last four years

we’ve been meeting with Bureau

meteorologists to define the new

forecast and agree how it should

be implemented.

australianflying.com.au 55

November – December 2017 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

ABOVE: The Way We Were: Flight
Forecast prepared for Ansett-
ANA Lockheed Electra VH-RMC,
Sydney to Melbourne 10 October,
1966) (credit: Capt Jason Hassard,
via Barry Bell/CAHS Collection)

RIGHT: ICAO-compliant
Graphical Area Forecasts
available in Canada and UK
(ICAO, NavCanada
& UK Met Office)

BELOW RIGHT: Multiple
ARFOR Sub-Divisions:
A Comprehension Test?