The information listed below for general aviation (VFR and IFR), represents the minimum set of aviation weather products that should be used by an aircraft operator for the planning and conduct of a flight in accordance with Civil Aviation Rules (CAR) Parts 1, 91, 119, 121, 125 and 135.
It’s recommended that additional aviation weather products should also be used, and these should be selected from the list of aviation weather products.
The products listed in the column titled ‘aviation weather product’ represent Meteorological Information as defined in CAR, Part 1 Definitions and Abbreviations.
| When to use | Type of information | Aviation weather product | Coverage/content |
| Preflight | Overview | NZ Situation (textual), GNZSIGWX, GRAFOR, AAW, surface weather charts (latest and forecast), radar and satellite imagery | New Zealand and Tasman Sea. To get the big picture and assess an initial VFR go/no go |
| Warnings and advisories | SIGMET (Textual and Graphical (GSM)), VAA, VAG, SWX advisory | New Zealand FIR (details of hazardous weather) | |
| Aerodrome | TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, ATIS, AWS*, BWR* | Departure, destination and alternate aerodromes. | |
| En-route planning | GNZSIGWX, GRAFOR, AAW | Intended route plus any planned alternate routes. | |
| Inflight | Hazardous weather and aerodrome update | SIGMET, TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, BWR*, ATIS | Update of preflight information. Hazardous weather and destination and alternate aerodromes. |
* To supplement METAR, SPECI or METAR AUTO reports, or as a substitute report in the absence of METAR, SPECI or METAR AUTO reports from the aerodrome(s) concerned. AWS and BWR are not an alternative to METAR, SPECI or METAR reports when such reports are available.
| When to use | Type of information | Aviation weather product | Coverage/content |
| Preflight | Overview | NZ Situation (textual), GNZSIGWX, GRAFOR, AAW, surface weather charts (latest and forecast), radar and satellite imagery |
New Zealand and Tasman Sea. To get the big picture |
| Warnings and advisories | SIGMET (Textual and Graphical (GSM)), VAA, VAG, SWX advisory | New Zealand FIR (details of hazardous weather) | |
| Aerodrome | TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, ATIS, AWS*, BWR* | Departure, destination and alternate aerodromes. | |
| En-route planning | GNZSIGWX, GRAFOR or ROFOR | Intended route plus any planned alternate routes. | |
| Inflight | Hazardous weather and aerodrome update | SIGMET, TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, BWR*, ATIS | Update of preflight information. Hazardous weather and destination and alternate aerodromes. |
* To supplement METAR, SPECI or METAR AUTO reports, or as a substitute report in the absence of METAR, SPECI or METAR AUTO reports from the aerodrome(s) concerned. AWS and BWR are not an alternative to METAR, SPECI or METAR reports when such reports are available.
The information listed below for domestic airlines and international flights, represents the minimum set of aviation weather products that should be used by an aircraft operator for the planning and conduct of a flight in accordance with Civil Aviation Rules, Parts: 1, 91, 119, 121, 125 and 129.
The products listed in the column titled “aviation weather product” represent Meteorological Information as defined in Civil Aviation Rule, Part 1 Definitions and Abbreviations.
The minimum level shown for international flights is based on the requirements specified in ICAO, Annex 3, and WMO, Technical Regulations.
It’s recommended that additional aviation weather products should also be used, and these should be selected from the list of aviation weather products.
| When to use | Type of information | Aviation weather product | Coverage/content |
| Preflight | Overview | NZ Situation (textual), GNZSIGWX, GRAFOR, AAW, surface weather charts (latest and forecast), radar and satellite imagery |
New Zealand and Tasman Sea. To get the big picture |
| Warnings and advisories | SIGMET (Textual and Graphical (GSM)), VAA, VAG, SWX advisory | New Zealand FIR | |
| Aerodrome | TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, ATIS, AWS*, BWR* | Departure, destination and alternate aerodromes. | |
| En-route planning | ROFOR and SIGWX chart | Intended route(s) and alternate routes | |
| Inflight | Hazardous weather and aerodrome update | SIGMET, TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, BWR*, ATIS | Update of preflight information. Hazardous weather and destination and alternate aerodromes. |
* To supplement METAR, SPECI or METAR AUTO reports, or as a substitute report in the absence of METAR, SPECI or METAR AUTO reports from the aerodrome(s) concerned. AWS and BWR are not an alternative to METAR, SPECI or METAR reports when such reports are available.
| When to use | Type of information | Aviation weather product | Coverage/content |
| Preflight | Overview | Satellite imagery | Snapshot indication of current observed en-route weather features (eg, CB) |
| Warnings and advisories | SIGMETs (Textual and Graphical (GSM))*, VAA, VAG, SWX advisory, TC advisory | New Zealand and Auckland Oceanic FIRs, and all other en-route FIRs | |
| Aerodrome | TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR AUTO, ATIS | Departure, destination and alternate aerodromes | |
| En-route planning |
Charts 1 (a) SIGWX (HI) (b) SIGWX (MID) 2 (c) WIND/TEMP |
FL250 - FL630 FL100 - FL250 FL340 (250 hPa) |
|
| Inflight | Hazardous weather and aerodrome update |
TAF, METAR/SPECI, METAR/AUTO Auckland VOLMET, ATIS |
Update of pre-flight information. Hazardous weather and destination and alternate aerodromes. |
1 The charts should cover the entire route (and alternate routes). Chart validity should cover the intended flight time plus two hours.
2 For EDTO flights only. Provided in addition to a SIGWX (HI) chart.
*GSM for New Zealand and Auckland Oceanic FIRs only.
