Home METAR
One of the tools I frequently use when planning my flights is the FAA Weather Cams site. Here, you can see the METAR and live cams of departure and arrival airports or just an airport along your route. Are you curious about the weather near you? Click on the link below and search for your home airport!
What is a METAR, you ask? Scroll down and find out!
I started my flight training in fixed-wing out of Mayfield-Graves County Airport (M25) in Mayfield, Kentucky. After only 4.5 hours, I knew my heart was in rotorcraft, so I switched to helicopters here in Kona, Hawaii, at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (PHKO). As my journey progresses, my home airport may or may not change. It's all about the journey and not the destination! The METAR above will reflect my current home airport which is PHKO.
What is a METAR? METAR is short for METeorological Terminal Air Reports
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METAR is a format for weather reporting that pilots and meteorologists predominately use.
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These reports are issued at each reporting location every hour and are considered valid weather information for 1 hour.
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Each METAR includes the airport identifier, time of observation, wind, visibility, runway visual range, present weather phenomena, sky conditions, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting.
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Weather (wx) is one of the most important factors when planning a flight. Checking wx early and often helps us determine whether we can fly our intended route or even fly at all on a given day.
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Below is an example from the National Weather Service. If you are interested in learning more, click on that link!
