Narrative:

I realize that the new metar and taf WX reporting system is supposed to provide a more common format for ICAO operations. However it has had a very profound effect on the domestic operation. The new format has made the system very user unfriendly with the different symbols and especially using the celsius temperature system that is totally unfamiliar to united states pilots. There are numerous limitations, procedures and guidelines based totally on the fahrenheit temperature system. The new system results in a mental or graphic conversion of each of these temperature indications to provide necessary information for the safe conduct of aviation in the united states. During an emergency situation this would add to the confusion and has the potential for disaster. The best possible solution would be to abandon this unusable system and revert to the old system. Since I know that the pwrs in control of the FAA have never admitted to making a mistake, maybe we can get them to at least provide us with the information necessary for a safe flight. Please add fahrenheit temperature information to the new system. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that he is not the only pilot that complains about the new WX format since it is hard to retrain old thoughts and habits. He has used the old system for 38 yrs and even though he keeps a conversion chart handy, it still does not keep him from visualizing the WX and the dewpoint spread in his mind, and trying to make decisions based on the celsius scale is awkward. He stated that many pilots share his viewpoint. He realizes the reason for the change and knows that it should help safety among foreign pilots. But among united states pilots it is a hindrance and only creates an unsafe condition. He believes that if the inches of mercury can be included in the barometric pressure reading, the fahrenheit temperature reading can also be included!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT COMPLAINT WITH THE USE OF THE NEW WX RPT FORMAT NOT INCLUDING THE FAHRENHEIT TEMP SCALE.

Narrative: I REALIZE THAT THE NEW METAR AND TAF WX RPTING SYS IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A MORE COMMON FORMAT FOR ICAO OPS. HOWEVER IT HAS HAD A VERY PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE DOMESTIC OP. THE NEW FORMAT HAS MADE THE SYS VERY USER UNFRIENDLY WITH THE DIFFERENT SYMBOLS AND ESPECIALLY USING THE CELSIUS TEMP SYS THAT IS TOTALLY UNFAMILIAR TO UNITED STATES PLTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS LIMITATIONS, PROCS AND GUIDELINES BASED TOTALLY ON THE FAHRENHEIT TEMP SYS. THE NEW SYS RESULTS IN A MENTAL OR GRAPHIC CONVERSION OF EACH OF THESE TEMP INDICATIONS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY INFO FOR THE SAFE CONDUCT OF AVIATION IN THE UNITED STATES. DURING AN EMER SIT THIS WOULD ADD TO THE CONFUSION AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER. THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO ABANDON THIS UNUSABLE SYS AND REVERT TO THE OLD SYS. SINCE I KNOW THAT THE PWRS IN CTL OF THE FAA HAVE NEVER ADMITTED TO MAKING A MISTAKE, MAYBE WE CAN GET THEM TO AT LEAST PROVIDE US WITH THE INFO NECESSARY FOR A SAFE FLT. PLEASE ADD FAHRENHEIT TEMP INFO TO THE NEW SYS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE IS NOT THE ONLY PLT THAT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE NEW WX FORMAT SINCE IT IS HARD TO RETRAIN OLD THOUGHTS AND HABITS. HE HAS USED THE OLD SYS FOR 38 YRS AND EVEN THOUGH HE KEEPS A CONVERSION CHART HANDY, IT STILL DOES NOT KEEP HIM FROM VISUALIZING THE WX AND THE DEWPOINT SPREAD IN HIS MIND, AND TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE CELSIUS SCALE IS AWKWARD. HE STATED THAT MANY PLTS SHARE HIS VIEWPOINT. HE REALIZES THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE AND KNOWS THAT IT SHOULD HELP SAFETY AMONG FOREIGN PLTS. BUT AMONG UNITED STATES PLTS IT IS A HINDRANCE AND ONLY CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. HE BELIEVES THAT IF THE INCHES OF MERCURY CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE READING, THE FAHRENHEIT TEMP READING CAN ALSO BE INCLUDED!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.