Author Topic: METARs and Radar - why the inconsistent units?  (Read 1275 times)

grahambaker

METARs and Radar - why the inconsistent units?
« on: September 25, 2020, 05:21:46 pm »
It's bugged me (only a little, I'll admit) that despite the standard navigation unit for distance (rather than length) being nautical miles, PAW insists on using kilometres on the radar screen and traffic table. It's a mental translation that people shouldn't have to do, especially if trying to correlate with, say, a Traffic Service. We all know the brain goes to mush when flying.

I've just watched the YouTube on the METAR facility. It's great, but why are the colour codes based on miles, when the METAR themselves this side of the Atlantic are expressed metres?  Furthermore, are these nautical or statute miles?

It would take little effort to clean up these, and it would add a little polish, rather than grubby marks, to a great product.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2020, 08:00:44 pm by GrahamBaker »