NOUS41 KWBC 221443
PNSWSH

TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE 08-67
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1045 AM EDT FRI AUG 22 2008

TO:      NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ OFFICES
         FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ USERS
         FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS
         OTHER USERS OF NWS AVIATION FORECASTS

FROM:    KEVIN L. JOHNSTON
         CHIEF...AVIATION SERVICES BRANCH 
     
SUBJECT: WEEKLY TEST TAFS TO ENSURE PROPER DECODING OF 30-HOUR
         TAF FORMAT TEST 

REFER TO SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE /SCN/ 08-15 AND TECHNICAL 
IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE /TIN/ 08-37.

NWS WILL BE CONDUCTING TESTING TO ENSURE THAT TAFS ISSUED BY THE 
NWS WILL BE RECEIVED AND READABLE BY ALL USERS.  THESE TESTS 
WILL BE WEEKLY IN NATURE...USUALLY TAKING PLACE WEDNESDAY FOR 
OPEN TESTING.  THE NEXT TEST DATE FOR OPEN TESTING WILL BE 
AUGUST 27 2008.  

IN ADDITION TO THE ROUTINE WEEKLY TESTING...SOME TESTS MAY BE 
TRANSMITTED AT ANY TIME AS CHALLENGES ARE DETECTED AND OVERCOME. 
ALL TESTING WILL USE THE SPECIAL WMO HEADER FTXX90 KWBC TO 
DISTINGUISH THE TEST TAFS FROM OPERATIONAL ONES.  IN ADDITION 
SOME OTHER NATIONS ARE ALSO USING THE FTXX90 CCCC /WHERE CCCC 
IDENTIFIES THE NATION/.  FOR EXAMPLE THE UNITED KINGDOM IS 
SENDING 30-HOUR TAF FORMAT TESTS UNDER FTXX90 EGGR.

A LINK TO THE TAF TESTBED AND TAF FORMAT EXAMPLES IS AVAILABLE
AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

     HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/TAF_TESTBED.SHTML


USERS WILL NEED TO CODE THEIR SYSTEMS FOR FTXX90 KWBC TO RECEIVE 
AVAILABLE TEST TAFS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS TECHNICAL INFORMATION 
NOTICE...PLEASE REFER TO SCN 08-15 OR CONTACT:

    MICHAEL GRAF
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
    SSMC-2 STATION 13314
    1325 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY
    SILVER SPRING MD 20910 
    PHONE: 301-713-1726 X 117 
    EMAIL: MICHAEL.GRAF@NOAA.GOV

OR: BETH MCNULTY
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
    SSMC-2 STATION 13322
    1325 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY
    SILVER SPRING MD 20910 
    PHONE: 301-713-1726 X 116 
    EMAIL: BETH.MCNULTY@NOAA.GOV

NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE 
LETTERS/:

     HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM

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