Every now and then, we’ve been getting comments criticising the fact that there was a lot of information on the METAR page.
The intention of all of that information was to provide an easy navigation. When you asked for a METAR for an airfield, you’d get the nearest alternates. That way, you could click on its ICAO identifier and directly go to the METAR for that field.

We where also showing a map (smaller for mobile devices), Sunrise and Sunset times, coordinates and lots of other information.

It is true that as Meteo·Mobile grew, more and more information was displayed and some users who only wanted the METAR were paying a high price on page load time (specially on some mobile devices with a lower bandwidth)

We’ve been experimenting with different layouts, and have come with one that (we think) is a good compromise between speed and functionality.

Basically, what we’ve done is put all of that (extra) information available through links under the “Extra Information” tag.

Now, page load time should be noticeably higher. Although it is true that some of the information is an extra click away.

So we would definitely love hearing your opinion.
You can use the comments on this blog or drop us an email, whatever you prefer.

Once more, we are leading the way…
This time, we have developed Meto·Mobile Metar Alerts, a way to be informed the minute a METAR (or SPECI) Report is issued fulfilling certain user-defined requisites.

Instead of keeping refreshing your browser, seat back and relax, Meteo·Mobile will do the rest…

How does it work?

Just go to Meteo·Mobile Metar Alerts and configure your own alerts.
(You may need to Set your preferences before, since we’ll need you e-mail)

Once in Meteo·Mobile Alerts page, you’ll need to INSERT A NEW ALERT.

In order to do so, you’ll need to input the field’s ICAO code and the Conditions when you want to be alerted.

Entering the Alert Conditions

For now, we’ve defined three main conditions: Wind, Ceiling and Visibility. We’re working on other conditions like Temperature and others.

WIND Keyword: W>
Example: W>20 will trigger an alert if wind (or gusts) are above 20KT.

CEILING Keyword: BKN<
Example: BKN<030 will trigger an alert if the ceiling (BKN or OVC) is below 3000 feet AGL.

VISIBILITY Keyword: VM<
Example: VM<3000 will trigger an alert if the visibility (in meters) is below 3000 meters. The alert threshold must be a four-digit number. So if you want to have an alert for visibility below 500 meters, the alert must be configured like VM<0500.

Other Keywords: All Weather Phenomena METAR codes are rcognized (like FG, BR, TS, RA, SN, TCU, CB, etc)
Example: TCU will trigger an alert whenever it is present in the METAR.

Make sure you type the conditons in UPPERCASE and exactly as shown above.

Complex Alerts

But, what if you want to be alerted when the ceiling is below 3000′ AND wind is above 20KT?
Simple: Put both conditions separated by a semicolon, like this: BKN<030;W>20

And, what if I want to be alerted when there is TCU OR SN?
Simple: Put both conditions separated by a comma, like this: TCU,SN

You can combine as many ANDs and ORs as you like.
For example: W>20;BKN<030;SN,TCU,CB will trigger the alert whenever the wind is above 20KT and the ceiling is below 3000′ and there is Snow or Towering Cumulus or Cumulus Nimbus.

Great, isn’t it?

Alert Maintenance

Whenever you acces your alerts, you’ll be shown all of your pre-configured alerts. You’ll be able to EDIT them, DELETE them, or ENABLE/DISABLE them.

There is one thing you must keep in mind, though. Because our user registration relies on cookies, whenever you delete your cookies, Meteo·Mobile won’t recognize you anymore, and thus, you won’t be able to EDIT or DELETE your alerts. If  that day arrives, contact us and we’ll help you out.
We are working on a script to merge all previous alerts based on your email. So, make sure you register, and… Stay tuned!

We rely on cookies because it is very simple for you and gives you lots of functionalities even if you don’t register (like having your most demanded ICAO codes right in from of you when you visit Meteo·Mobile)

METAR AV8R 250000Z 9999 +SNTS 25/12 Q1013=

TAF AV8R 250000Z 251209/251210 20100KT 9999  TEMPO 2500/2502 SANTA VISIT BECMG 2502/2508 +FAVORABLE_WINDS +FLIGHT_TIME +HAPPINESS +CAVOK Q1013

You should feel that Metars and Tafs and maps load a lot faster now.
Also, cost will be greatly reduced for those that pay per traffic.

We’ve done this following Chris’s suggestion. Thank you, Chris.

What will you find when you follow the link?

Among other, information on the airport’s:

• Operations
• Communications
• Navaids
• Services (fuel…)
• Runways
• Ownership and management
• Operation statistics
• Instrument procedures and plates
• FBO
• Nearby hotels and car rental

For each country, you’ll now get the list of airports plus a link to a Google Map containing the airports for that country.

Here’s Australia’s example:

Here’s Spain’s example (same scale):

Here’s USA example (same scale, too):

We’re working on having those maps shown with color-coded icons based on current weather conditions (just give us some time…)

You’ll sure find some mistakes in our database (fields not appearing, or fields in places they don’t belong) In fact, I’m afraid one error made its way into the above US map (can you see it?)
Please leave us a note (here or through www.aviador.es feedback form and we’ll do our best to fix’em.

We’re also working on a mobile device option.

Here you can see a sample of the map in a route headed for Zurich Airport with all of the different flight conditions (VFR,MVFR,IFR and LIFR):

Some of you had asked to see color coded icons on the map based on flight conditions at the moment.
We’ve done just that!

Now, when you visit one of our maps, you’ll see the nearby airports (alternates) icon color based on weather conditions at the time you requested the METAR.

The color code is the same as explained here.

The icons are as follows:

• VFR flying conditions
• Marginal VFR flying conditions
• IFR flying conditions
• Limited IFR flying conditions

How do you see these maps?

On the Airport Information section of every METAR page, you have the airport’s ICAO and IATA codes, the current time, its coordinates (with a link to the map), its Sunrise and Sunset times. Just below this information you have a Google map showing a satellite image of the airport (except for US users who get the SkyVector version)

Clicking on the Google map will take you to a bigger map showing the nearby alternates, now with color coded icons.
US visitors will have to use the map link  below the ICAO and IATA codes, or click on the coordinates of the airport in the same section.

We sure hope you’ll enjoy this improvement and, again, want to THANK all of  YOU for visiting us, and specially those that send us suggestions (through comments on this blog or the FeedBack form)

Lately I’ve been following this issue. Little mistakes made when coding the time-stamp for the METAR render it useless…
Sometimes just after a date change, the weather observer uses the previous date number. Other times, an additional number slips into the date. Sometimes, I guess the weather observer just uses local time instead of UTC time.

The fact is that every day there are a few dozens of METARs that aren’t time-stamped right.

There is little we can do to help solve this issue, except for publishing it here.

I suppose the program that weather observers use to code the METAR isn’t prepared to trap those mistakes. I haven’t had the chance to check whether some country escapes from this type of error…

Are you a weather observer? Please, drop us a comment on this.

Here are some examples taken out of the last couple of days:

With revenues shrinking more and more, it doesn’t make sense anymore to take your space and bandwidth.

Not that the revenue from the other adds is great, but it does helps pay the costs of hosting. And we have a good, expensive hosting because that’s the only way we pilots can get a fast aviation weather report.

We would really like to hear from you on this whole advertising matter.
We understand that you pilots don’t like seeing advertising (specially on some advanced mobile devices which show even the bigger adds) But I’m sure you do understand that hosting needs to get paid for.

I’d be glad to debate about other options and opinions. Do you have any great ideas? Share them with us!