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Flight planning Contents
In addition to weather information:
n UK and Foreign NOTAM information is available from the UK Aeronautical Information
Service at www.ais.org.uk where you can also access the UK AIP, its supplements, AICs
and a flight plan form.
n For abbreviated and updated information on certain UK airspace restrictions, call the
Page
AIS information line on 0500 354802 or +44 (0)20 8750 3939.
Introduction 2
Web services 4
Telephone services 6
Pilot’s pre-flight check
Designed for General Aviation pilots, but information applies to everyone. Met. decodes 8
SafetySense leaflets are in LASORS and the CAA website www.caa.co.uk/safetysense through TAF
"general aviation”.
METAR and SPECI
Metform 215
Valid medical, type/class rating?

90-day rule for passengers? En route information 18

Map/charts and information in date? www.ais.org.uk>VFR CHARTS VHF Volmet
Frequencies changed? www.ais.org.uk>VFR CHARTS ATIS
Flight plan required? GetMet page 22 or AIS website
File CANP/PINS? Freephone 0800 515544 or fax 0500 300120
Useful contacts 20
Mass/balance calculations? Flight manual, SafetySense leaflet 9
Filing flight plans 22
Weather forecast — route/area? F215/415, TAFs/METARs GET MET Pages 4­17
NOTAMs and aeronautical information checked? AIS website www.ais.org.uk
Route planned? Fuel? Diversion? Safety altitude? SafetySense leaflet 5
Take off/landing performance? Flight Manual, SafetySense leaflet 7
Temporary restricted airspace? AIS website or freephone 0500 354 802 or call +44 (0)20 8750 3939
Aircraft serviceable?

Pilot fit, both physically and mentally? SafetySense leaflet 24

Passengers briefed? SafetySense leaflet 2

While every effort is made to ensure that contents are accurate at the time of going to print,
readers should note that frequencies/reporting airfields, etc., may change during the year.
Updates to GetMet will be available from the Met Office website, as applicable.
Met Office and the Met Office logo are registered trademarks © Crown copyright 2011
All rights reserved Designed and produced by the Met Office 11/0163
2

Introduction
Common sense and the law require you to obtain all the necessary weather
information in order to plan and conduct your flight safely. Full information
on meteorological services can be found in the UK AIP in the General Section
at 3.5.

This booklet is intended to help you to obtain this information via internet, fax
and telephone. If you have any suggestions for improving this booklet, or need
further copies, please contact:

Met Office FitzRoy Road Exeter Devon EX1 3PB

Fax: 0870 900 5050
Email: [email protected]
www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation

If you are unable to use any of the services, the TAFs and METARs, or require
clarification for F214, F215, F414 and F415, special forecasts and route forecasts
please call:

0870 900 0100

For aircraft departing from Isle of Man and Channel Islands please call:

Isle of Man 01624 821641 (ATC Hours)

Jersey 01534 492256 (ATC Hours)

Prices stated in GetMet are correct at the time of going to press.

4 5
Web services
Online briefing for pilots
The Met Office’s online web services provide a
comprehensive range of weather briefing services
direct to your computer.

The service is FREE and contains essential pre-flight

information to help you get the most from your
flying. Services include:

n F214 / F215

n UK TAFs and METARs

n UK AIRMETs

n Ballooning forecasts
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Simply register online at:
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n Regional three-day planning forecasts for England,

Wales and Scotland

n Lightning observations
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8 9

Met. decodes Aerodrome forecast – TAF decode

Code element Example Decode Notes
1 Report type TAF ‘Terminal Aerodrome Forecast’ Name for an aerodrome forecast
2 Location EGSS ‘London Stansted’ Station four-letter ICAO indicator
3 Date/Time of origin 130500Z ‘For the 13th at oh, five, hundred, Zulu’
Zulu is equivalent to UTC
4 Validity time 1306/1406 ‘Valid from oh, six,hundred on the 13th to, oh, six, hundred on the 14th UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
5 Wind 31015G25KT ‘Three one zero degrees, fifteen knots, max twenty five knots’ VRB = Variable; 00000KT = calm. Wind direction is given in degrees true
6 Prevailing visibility or
CAVOK* 8000 ‘Eight kilometres’ 9999 = 10 km or more; 0000 = less than 50 metres
7 Significant weather -SHRA ‘Light rain showers’ See present weather table on METAR (page 18) for details;
NSW = No significant weather
8 Cloud FEW005 ‘Few at five hundred feet, scattered at FEW = 1-2 oktas; SCT = 3-4 oktas;
SCT010 one thousand feet, scattered BKN = 5-7 oktas; OVC = 8 oktas; ‘VV///’ = state of sky
SCT018CB cumulonimbus at one thousand eight obscured (cloud base not discernible); figures in lieu of ‘///’
BKN025 hundred feet. Broken at two thousand give forecast vertical visibility in hundreds of feet. NSC = no
five hundred feet’ significant cloud (none below 5,000 feet and no TCU or CB)
TCU and CB will be the only cloud types specified.
Cloud heights are given in feet above airfield height.
9 Significant changes
Probability PROB30 ‘30% probability’ Only 30% or 40% probability will be used.
Time 1314/1316 ‘from fourteen hundred on the 13th to sixteen hundred on Indicates beginning and end time of forecast period in UTC.
Change indicator BECMG 1314/1316 the 13th,’ or ‘becoming from fourteen hundred on the 13th to Also TEMPO = temporarily may be used.
FM131400 TSRA sixteen hundred on the 13th’ or ‘from fourteen hundred on Met. group follows indicating a change in some or all of
Met. groups BKN010CB the 13th’ followed by ‘Thunderstorm with rain, broken the elements forecast in the first part of the TAF.
cumulonimbus at one thousand feet’
* CAVOK will replace visibility and cloud groups. Note: CNL may be used to indicate that a TAF is cancelled.
Example 1. 24-hr TAF Example 2. 9-hr TAF
FTUK32 EGGY 110500 FCUK33 EGGY 300800
EGPK 110500Z 1106/1206 13010KT 9000 BKN010 EGTE 300800Z 3009/3018 23010KT 9999 SCT010 BKN018 BECMG 3011/3014
BECMG 1106/1108 BKN018 PROB30 TEMPO 1108/1116 17025G40KT 4000 TSRA 6000 -RA BKN012 TEMPO 3014/3018 2000 DZ OVC004 =
BKN012CB BECMG 1118/1121 3000 BR NSC= Decode
Decode Nine-hour TAF issued at 0800 Zulu on the 30th. Exeter valid from oh nine hundred on the 30th
Twenty four-hour TAF issued at 0500 UTC on the 11th. Prestwick valid from oh six hundred on to eighteen hundred Zulu on the 30th. Wind two three zero degrees ten knots. Ten kilometres or
the 11th to oh six hundred on the 12th. Wind one three zero degrees ten knots. Nine kilometres more visibility. Scattered at one thousand feet. Broken at one thousand eight hundred feet.
visibility. Broken at one thousand feet. Becoming from oh six hundred on the 11th to oh eight Becoming from eleven hundred on the 30th to fourteen hundred on the 30th, six kilometres,
hundred on the 11th, broken at one thousand eight hundred feet. 30% probability, temporarily slight rain. Broken at one thousand two hundred feet. Temporarily between fourteen hundred on
between oh eight hundred on the 11th to sixteen hundred on the 11th, wind one seven zero the 30th to eighteen hundred on the 30th. Two thousand metres visibility. Moderate drizzle.
degrees twenty five knots, gusting to forty knots. Four thousand metres visibility. Thunderstorm Overcast four hundred feet.
with moderate rain. Broken cumulonimbus at one thousand two hundred feet. Becoming from
eighteen hundred on the 11th to twenty one hundred on the 11th, three thousand metres
visibility, mist, no significant cloud.
10 11

Met. decodes Aerodrome actual weather –

METAR and SPECI decode
Code element Example Decode Notes
1. Identification
METAR or SPECI METAR Meteorological Airfield Report METAR – aviation routine report, SPECI – selected special (not from UK civil aerodromes)
Location indicator EGLL London Heathrow Station four-letter indicator
Date/time 291020Z ‘ten twenty Zulu on the 29th’
AUTO a fully automated report with no human intervention AUTO METARS may only be disseminated when an aerodrome is closed or at H24
aerodromes, where the accredited met. observer is on a CAA approved overnight duty break.
Users are reminded that reports of visibility, present weather and cloud from automated
systems should be treated with caution due to the limitations of the sensors themselves and
the spatial area sampled by the sensors

2. Wind
Wind direction/speed 31015G27KT ‘three one zero degrees, fifteen knots, gusting twenty seven Max only given if 10 KT than mean. VRB = variable. 00000KT = calm.
Extreme direction 280V350 knots’ ‘varying between two eight zero and three five zero Variation given in clockwise direction, but only when mean speed is greater than 3 KT.
degrees’ Wind direction is given in degrees true

3. Visibility
Prevailing visibility 3200 ‘three thousand two hundred metres’ 0000 = ‘less than 50 metres’ 9999 = ‘ten kilometres or more’. No direction is required

Minimum visibility 1200SW ‘twelve hundred metres to the south-west’ The minimum visibility is also included alongside the prevailing visibility when the visibility in one
(In addition to the direction, which is not the prevailing visibility, is less than 1,500 metres or less than 50% of the
prevailing visibility prevailing visibility and less than 5000 metres. A direction is also added as one of the eight if
required) points of the compass.

4. RVR R27R/1100 ‘RVR, runway two seven right, one thousand one RVR tendency (U = increasing; D = decreasing; N = no change) may be added after figure
hundred metres’ (not currently used in the UK) e.g. R27R/1100D P1500 = more than 1,500 m; M0050 = less
than 50 m. Significant variations – example: R24/0950V1100, i.e. varying between two values.
(Not from UK civil aerodromes)

5. Present weather +SHRA ‘heavy rain showers’ + = Heavy (well developed in the case of +FC and +PO); - = Light; no qualifier = Moderate.
BC = Patches BL = Blowing BR = Mist DR = Drifting,
DS = Duststorm DU = Dust DZ = Drizzle FC = Funnel cloud
FG = Fog FU = Smoke FZ = Freezing GR = Hail (>5 mm)
GS = Small hail or snow pellets HZ = Haze IC = Ice crystals
MI = Shallow PL = Ice pellets PO = Dust devils PR = Banks
RA = Rain SA = Sand SH = Showers SG = Snow grains
SN = Snow SQ = Squalls SS = Sandstorm TS = Thunderstorm
VA = Volcanic ash VC = In vicinity UP = Unidentified precipitation (AUTO METARS only)

Up to three groups may be present, constructed by selecting and combining from the above.
Group omitted if no weather to report.
12 13

Met. decodes Aerodrome actual weather –

METAR and SPECI decode
Code element Example Decode Notes
6. Cloud FEW005 ‘few at five hundred feet, scattered cumulonimbus FEW = ‘few’ (1-2 oktas), SCT = ‘Scattered’ (3-4 oktas), BKN = ‘Broken’ (5-7 oktas),
SCT010CB at one thousand feet, broken at two thousand five OVC = ‘Overcast’, NSC = no significant cloud (none below 5,000 ft and no TCU or CB)
BKN025 hundred feet’ There are only two cloud types reported; TCU = towering cumulus and CB = cumulonimbus.
VV/// = ‘state of sky obscured’ (cloud base not discernable). Figures in lieu of ‘///’ give vertical
visibility in hundreds of feet. Up to three, but occasionally more, cloud groups may be
reported. Cloud heights are given in feet above airfield height
NCD = no cloud detected (AUTO METARS only)

7. CAVOKý CAVOK ‘cav-oh-kay’ Visibility greater or equal to 10 km, no cumulonimbus or towering cumulus, no cloud below
5,000 ft or highest minimum sector altitude (MSA) (whichever is the greater) and no weather
significant to aviation.

8. Temp and dew point 10/03 ‘temperature ten degrees Celsius, dew point three degrees If dew point is missing, example would be reported as 10///. M indicates a negative value.
Celsius’

9. QNH Q0995 ‘nine nine five’ Q indicates millibars. If the letter A is used QNH is in inches and hundredths.

10. Recent weather RETS ‘recent thunderstorm’ RE = recent, weather codes given above. Up to three groups may be present.

11. Wind shear WS RWY24 ‘wind shear runway two four’ Will not be reported at present for UK aerodromes.

12. Colour state BLU Blue Military reports also display a colour state BLU, WHT, GRN, YLO1, YLO2, AMB or RED, coded
according to cloud and visibility. BLACK indicates the runway is unusable.

13. Trend BECMG ‘becoming from 1100, 230 degrees 35 KT, max 50 KT, A forecast of significant changes in conditions during the two hours after observation time.
FM1100 temporarily, 3,000 metres, moderate rain showers BECMG = Becoming TEMPO = Temporarily NOSIG = No sig change
23035G50KT NSW = No sig weather AT = At FM = From
3000 SHRA TL = Until NSC = No sig cloud
Any of the wind, visibility, weather or cloud groups may be used, and CAVOK. Multiple
groups may be present.

† CAVOK will replace visibility and cloud groups

Example SAUK02 EGGY 301220 METAR Example SAUK02 EGGY 301220 METAR
EGLY 301220Z 24015KT 200V280 8000 –RA FEW010 BKN025 18/15 Q0983 EGPZ 301220Z 30025G37KT 270V360 6000 1200NE +SHSN SCT005 BKN010CB
TEMPO 3000 RA BKN008= 03/M01 Q0999 RETS BECMG AT1300 9999 NSW SCT015=

An example of the above METAR for 1220 UTC on the 30th of the month, in plain language: An example of the above METAR for 1220 UTC on the 30th of the month, in plain language:

EGLY: Issued at 1220Z on 30th. Surface wind: mean 240 deg true, 15 KT; varying between 200 EGPZ: Issued at 1220Z on the 30th. Surface wind: mean 300 deg true, 25 KT; maximum 37 KT,
and 280 deg; prevailing visibility 8 km; weather: light rain; cloud: 1-2 oktas base 1,000 ft, 5-7 varying between 270 and 360 deg; prevailing visibility 6 km, minimum visibility 1,200 m (to north-
oktas 2,500 ft; temperature +18 þC, dew point: +15 þC; QNH 983 mb; Trend: temporarily 3,000 east); heavy shower of snow; Cloud. 3-4 oktas base 500 ft, 5-7 oktas CB base 1,000 ft;
m in moderate rain with 5-7 oktas 800 ft. temperature +3 þC, dew point –1 þC; QNH 999 mb; Thunderstorm since the previous report;
Trend: improving at 1300 Zulu to 10 km or more, nil significant weather, 3-4 oktas 1,500 ft.
14 15

Met. decodes Tolerances

Original forecast Revised opinion

Metform 216 General cloud base, 2500 FT or more < 2500 FT
Explanatory notes for the new Metform 215 AMSL
(amounts of SCT
1500 FT to 2500 FT
700 FT to 1500 FT
< 1500 FT or > 2500FT
< 700 FT or > 1500 FT
(Chart of forecast weather below 10,000 feet) or more) 500 FT to 700 FT < 500 FT or > 700 FT
The Metform 215 provides a forecast of in-flight weather conditions below 300 FT to 500 FT < 300 FT or > 500 FT
200 FT to 300 FT < 200 FT or > 300 FT
10,000 feet covering the British Isles and very near Continent for a 9-hour period SFC. to 200 FT > 200 FT
centred on a specified fixed time. It is designed for use as either an area forecast
or a route forecast. For simplicity the same codes have been used as are used in Visibility 8 KM or more < 8 KM
(general visibility) 5000 M to 8 KM < 5000 M or > 8 KM
the METAR code.
3700 M to 5000 M < 3700 M or > 5000 M
Information provided 2500 M to 3700 M < 2500 M or > 3700 M
1600 M to 2500 M < 1600 M or > 2500 M
(a) Charts 800 M to 1600 M < 800 M or > 1600 M
The chart area shows the forecast position, direction and speed of surface 000 M to 800 M > 800 M
fronts and pressure centres at the fixed time shown in the chart’s title box. There are also amendment criteria for the occurrence/non-occurrence of
weather, icing severity, turbulence severity and boundaries.
Zones of distinct weather are enclosed by continuous scalloped lines, each See UK AIP GEN 3.5 4.6d Amended Route/Area Forecast (Advisory Criteria).
zone being identified by a letter within a box. Sub-zones may also be Pressure centres and fronts
included and are indicated by a letter followed by a number e.g. A1. Where The surface positions of pressure centres are shown by an ‘X’ for low pressure
a zone is not linked to a front, the expected speed of movement of the and ‘O’ for high pressure accompanied by a letter ‘L’ (low) or ‘H’ (high) as
boundary may be given. appropriate.
(b) Tabular forecast Example pressure centres xL oH
For each zone (identified by its number on the left hand chart), the text will Surface frontal positions
detail the expected surface horizontal visibility, weather and cloud during
the period of validity, including any sub zones referred to within the text
and spatial or temporal variations within the zone. A general outlook is also
included and describes the principal weather changes expected during the
Warm front Cold front Occulusion Trough
7-hour period following the end of the chart validity.
Issue times Speed of movement of fronts and centres will be indicated by arrows and adjacent
The date and time at which the forecast is issued by the Met Office are shown at figures in knots.
the bottom left corner of the chart.
15 KT
Usually a speed of movement less than 5 knots is indicated as ‘SLOW’. Ridge
axes are not normally shown.

Abbreviations commonly used in tabular section – a full list of abbreviations

can be found in UK AIP, GEN 2.2
Amendments Points of the compass (N, NE, E, ENE etc.) may be used to express direction, or
Amendments will appear in black bold (italic and underlined) whenever an to refer to part of a zone.
element changes through thresholds agreed between the Met Office and the Surface horizontal visibility expressed in metres (M) or kilometres (KM) with
CAA Met Authority. The word ‘amended’ at the top will appear in red. change over at 5,000 metres.
16 17

Met. decodes
Weather
DZ drizzle GR hail RA rain SN snow
FG fog HZ haze BR mist FZ freezing
SH shower TS thunderstorm GS small hail/snow pellets GR hail
A – prefix (e.g. –DZ) indicates slight precipitation.
No prefix indicates moderate precipitation (e.g. DZ).
A + prefix indicates heavy precipitation (e.g. +RA).
Weather phenomena may also be written as a combination of abbreviations,
e.g. TSRASN (thunderstorm with moderate rain and snow).
Cloud
Cloud amount (FEW, SCT, BKN, OVC) and type will be followed by an icing
and turbulence symbol, if appropriate, and then the height of the cloud base
and tops above mean sea level (AMSL).
The familiar abbreviations for cloud type will be used.
Cloud tops extending above 10000 FT will be shown by XXX
The following symbols will be used to show icing in cloud:
Slight icing: not shown Metform 214

Moderate/severe icing (MOD/SEV icing): Complements Metform 215 (above) by providing forecast spot upper winds and
temperatures covering a similar area.
The following symbols will be used to show turbulence in cloud as well as
mechanical turbulence over land:
Metforms 415 and 414
Slight turbulence: not shown
Metforms 415 (significant weather) and 414 (upper winds/temps) are charts
Moderate/severe turbulence (MOD/SEV TURB):
prepared in a similar format (but no outlook) for low-level flights into Europe.
A forecast of CB or TS implies severe turbulence and or icing
An Outlook Chart is only included with the Met Office web version of the F215
The height of the 0 þC isotherm (or ‘freezing level’) is provided in the column and shows only the expected positions of the principal synoptic features and
to the right of the cloud and this can be used for guidance as to the level mean sea level isobars at the end of the period. Weather zones are not given on
above which icing is likely. The figure will indicate the average freezing level the prognosis chart.
within the area.
Mountain wave activity is included in the visibility and weather section with a
forecast vertical speed.
MAX maximum WKN weakening FPM feet per minute
VSP vertical speed MTW mountain waves
Hill FG is used to indicate hill fog and implies a surface visibility of less than
200 metres.
A full decode of the F215 is available at www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation.
18 19

En route information VHF Volmet VHF European VOLMET

Call sign/ID Frequency Operating Stations Contents Remarks
MHz hours VHF VOLMET is primarily designed for international commercial IFR operations.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Each broadcast should have a mean range of 200 NM at FL300. Coverage at low
levels will be significantly less than this. In addition to London Main, North and
LONDON 135.375 H24 Amsterdam 1. Half-hourly reports The spoken
VOLMET (continuous) Brussels (METAR) word South, as well as Scottish VOLMET, the following broadcasts may be received in
(MAIN) Dublin 2. The elements of each ‘SNOCLO’
some parts of the UK.
Glasgow report are broadcast will be
London Gatwick in the following added to AMSTERDAM BRUSSELS DUBLIN PARIS
London Heathrow order: the end 126.200 MHz 127.800 MHz 127.000 MHz 126.000 MHz
London Stansted of the
(a) Surface wind aerodrome
Manchester
(b) Visibility* Amsterdam Brussels Dublin Paris/CDG
Paris/Charles de report
(c) RVR if applicable Rotterdam Oostende Shannon Paris/Orly
Gaulle when that
(d) Weather aerodrome Brussels London/Heathrow Cork Lyon/Satolas
LONDON 128.600 H24 Birmingham Düsseldorf Luxembourg Belfast Geneva
(e) Cloud* is unusable
VOLMET (continuous) Bournemouth
(f) Temperature for take-offs Paris/CDG Amsterdam Glasgow Zurich
(SOUTH) Bristol
Cardiff (g) Dew point and London/Heathrow Paris/Orly Prestwick London/Heathrow
Jersey (h) QNH landings London/Gatwick Frankfurt Manchester London/Gatwick
London Luton (i) Recent weather if due to Copenhagen Cologne-Bonn London/Heathrow Brussels
Norwich applicable heavy snow Hamburg Düsseldorf London/Gatwick Amsterdam
Southampton on
(j) Wind shear if
Southend runways or
applicable
Exeter runway
(k) Runway snow
ýLONDON 126.600 H24 E Midlands contamination clearance
Aerodrome terminal information service (ATIS)
VOLMET (continuous) Humberside warning if applicable
Isle of Man Certain aerodromes provide weather and/or aerodrome information by
(l) TREND if applicable telephone, although not necessarily as a 24-hour service:
(NORTH) Leeds Bradford
Liverpool * or CAVOK
London Gatwick 3.Non-essential words Belfast City ATIS 02890 935124 Kirkwall ATIS 01856 878476
Manchester such as ‘surface wind’, Benbecula ATIS 01870 604818 Leeds Bradford ATIS 0113 2509696 x2489
Newcastle ‘visibility’, etc. are not Birmingham ATIS 0121 780 0910 Liverpool ATIS 08717 505150
Durham Tees Valley spoken Blackpool ATIS 01253 343434 x8315 London City ATIS 020 7646 0224
SCOTTISH 125.725 H24 Aberdeen/Dyce 4.Except for ‘SNOCLO’
Bournemouth ATIS 01202 364151 London Stansted ATIS 01279 669325
VOLMET (continuous) Belfast International (see Column 6). The
Edinburgh Cardiff ATIS 01446 729319 Lydd ATIS 01797 322 422
Runway State Group
Glasgow is not broadcast Carlisle ATIS 01228 574123 Manchester ATIS 0161 499 2324
Inverness Durham Tees Valley ATIS 09012 018111 Newcastle ATIS 0191 2143400
London Heathrow 5.All broadcasts are in East Midlands ATIS 0906 851 7567 Norwich ATIS 01603 420640
Prestwick English
Edinburgh ATIS 0131 333 6216 Shoreham ATIS 01273 467372
Stornoway
Sumburgh Glasgow ATIS 0141 887 7449 Southampton ATIS 02380 625877
Guernsey ATIS 01481 238957 Stornoway ATIS 01851 707444
† Broadcast range extended to cover south­east England and English Channel
Humberside ATIS 01652 682020 Sumburgh ATIS 01950 461037
It is not normally possible to receive VHF Volmet while abroad. However, certain short-wave portable radios
with an SSB function may be able to receive the regular HF transmissions of METAR and airfield information Inverness ATIS 01667 464255 Wick ATIS 01955 607596
from the RAF on 5,450 kHz and 11,253 kHz. These cover major military aerodromes in the UK and abroad. Jersey ATIS 01534 498073
TAFs and METARs for major civilian aerodromes are broadcast from Shannon on 3,413 kHz (night only),
5,505 kHz and 8,957 kHz (24 hours), and 13,264 kHz (day only).
20 21

Useful contacts CAA Airworthiness Evaluation

Important telephone numbers – AAIB (DfT) and Surveillance
n Accident reporting, AAIB (DETR) For matters relating to aircraft maintenance, contact your regional office.
Tel: 01252 512299 Fax: 01252 376999
Southern Manchester Stirling
n Emergency Alerting (Distress & Diversion) Cell, LATCC (NATS) Tel: 01293 768600 Tel: 0161 216 4500 Tel: 01786 431400
Tel: 01489 612406 Fax: 01293 768601 Fax: 0161 216 4549 Fax: 01786 448030

n Airprox reporting, UKAB Luton Stansted South Western

Tel: 0208 842 6051 Fax: 0208 842 6056 Tel: 01582 410304 Tel: 01279 466747 Tel: 01934 529850
Fax: 01582 457961 Fax: 01279 466757 Fax: 01934 522068
n Occurrence reporting, Safety Data Dept (CAA)
Tel: 01293 573220 Fax: 01293 573972
n Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting (CHIRP)
Tel: 0800 214645 (UK only)/01252 378947 Fax: 01252 378940

Other useful numbers

n Aircraft registration (CAA)
Tel: 020 7453 6666 Fax: 020 7453 6670 n NOTAMs and aeronautical information,
AIS (NATS)
n C of A, Permits to fly, Applications & Stirling
Tel: 020 8750 3773 Fax: 020 8750 3775
Approvals (CAA)
Tel: 01293 768374 Fax: 01293 573860 n Personnel licensing (CAA)
Tel: 01293 573700 Fax: 01293 573996
n Enforcement of regulations (CAA)
Tel: 020 7453 6193 Fax: 0207 453 6163 n Publications
Most are available on the CAA website
n Exemptions, permissions, etc., FOI (GA) (CAA) www.caa.co.uk/publications
Tel: 01293 573525 Fax: 01293 573973 Printed copies available from
n GA design certification (CAA) The Stationery Office (TSO)
Email: [email protected] Tel: 0870 600 5522
CAA publications listed on TSO website:
n Library (CAA) Manchester
www.tso.co.uk
Tel: 01293 573966 Fax: 01293 573181
n Safety Promotion, GASIL, etc. FOI (GA) (CAA)
n Medical Division (CAA)
Tel: 01293 573225 Fax: 01293 573973 Stansted
Tel: 01293 573700 Fax: 01293 573995

Luton
South Western
Southern

The CAA website www.caa.co.uk includes GA safety promotion information including /gasil
or /safetysense leaflets.
22

Filing flight plans

Guidance for completing flight plans is contained in AIP at ENR 1.10 – Flight
Planning, and Safety Sense Leaflets 20 and 27. File when flying IFR in controlled
airspace, when crossing an international boundary, or when flying over areas
with sparse populations.
If your aerodrome of departure does not have an ATS unit, the primary means
for filing flight plans should be through the Assisted Flight Planning Exchange
(AFPEX) service. This allows pilots and small aerodromes access to file their own
Informed
flight plans and other flight related messages. Plan your airline operations
The Civil Aviation Communications Centre (CACC) at Swanwick administers the
AFPEX service and staffs the AFPEX Helpdesk to assist in filing flight plans and
efficiently with ClearFlight
related messages. Permission to use AFPEX will only be granted to bona fide
users based in the UK only and may be obtained from the CACC by email to
[email protected]. Application forms are available on the
website www.flightplanningonline.co.uk and approved users are issued with
a LOGIN and unique password to access their personal mailbox.
An internet connection is essential but, once approved, an operator can file their
flight plan from any computer.
Pilots wishing to file a flight plan who do not have access to AFPEX, or are
unable to access the system for some reason, may use the AFTN Parent Unit
listed in the AIP at ENR 1.10 – Flight Planning, and Safety Sense Leaflet 20.
The contact number for the AFPEX Helpdesk can also be used to close a flight
plan or to cancel a state of emergency after landing if you have been
unfortunate enough to need to declare one. The number can also be used by
the nominated ‘responsible person’ to activate a flight plan, or in the event of
an aircraft not arriving at its destination, to initiate overdue action.

CACC Contact Numbers (available 24 hours a day):

Helpdesk Telephone: 0845 601 0483
Registration and Queries: 0845 601 0484
ClearFlight is our new global briefing service, designed to
make aviation weather information easier to access and interpret.

Contact us on +44 (0)1392 885680 or aviation@metoffice.gov.uk

Quote ‘GetMet’ as a reference. www.metoffice.gov.uk
24

Notes