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Wind direction true or magnetic?
Who/what gives true wind direction and what gives magnetic wind direction?.... for example do ATIS reports give wind in true or magnetic heading?
Please include things like: METARs, FSS, ATC, AWOS, etc.
3 Answers
- ?Lv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
A METAR/TAF & Winds and Temperatures Aloft Forecast (FD report) gives the wind direction it is coming FROM in relation to TRUE NORTH,and the velocity in terms of nauticail miles per hour.(knots)
If this is a verbal report given from ASOS, AWOS, ATIS or ATC, Winds are given in relationship to MAGNETIC north and the velocity in terms of MILES or Kilometers (depending on where in the world this report is based ) per hour.
To help remember this . If it is written it is true,
- Fan_Of_MsInd84Lv 48 years ago
Looking at the U.S. systems ATIS is magnetic north referenced (Airman's Information Manual para 4-1-13) The automated surface observing system (ASOS) and other automated systems produce ea true north referenced output for METAR and SPECI reports, 5 minute observations and the daily wx summary. When the asos is fitted with the ground to air radio feature it converts to magnetic before broadcast. Not sure what the digital ATIS in operation at some locations over ACARS provides.
