A better way to view METAR and TAF
If you're a pilot, work in aviation or are an aviation enthusiast then more than likely you use the METAR and TAF for your current and short-term weather inquiries. It's not that the data is necessarily any better or more accurate but that it's in a format that I'm familiar with and use all the time.
There are more than a handful of ways to retrieve METAR and TAF: Nav Canada, NAOO, and various aviation-related websites. But you're missing out if you haven't tried using the World Flight Planner to view METAR, TAF and other weather information. Access to weather information is free but if you want to use the other flight planning features, you need a subscription. But for the free weather, which is handy if you're out and about and thinking about flying, just click on the weather link in the top navbar to search for and view the latest airport and weather information. Or if you know the ICAO code for the airport you want then simply use that in combination with the country as such:
http://www.worldflightplanner.com/airports/CAN-CYVR (Vancouver International)
http://www.worldflightplanner.com/airports/USA-KLAX (Los Angeles International)
Unlike a lot of weather websites, aviation or otherwise, World Flight Planner has a custom view designed specifically for mobile devices. That means that viewing the weather is fast, easy and won't eat into your data plan. Support for geolocation means that if you don't know what your nearest airport is and your web browser or mobile device supports it, World Flight Planner will automatically determine the nearest airport and display its METAR and TAF. And, if the airport you are viewing doesn't have a METAR/TAF then World Flight Planner will automatically display the METAR/TAF from the nearest reporting station.
World Flight Planner also has a complete feature set for pre-flight planning so if you're looking for a way to plan more efficiently, with more detailed information and superior mapping, give it a try. More details are available in the product tour and all new-users get a free 30-day trial.
Disclaimer: I'm one of the co-founders of World Flight Planner. But the fact remains that the site is a great way to view aviation weather and is a great pre-flight planning tool for general aviation pilots.
