Readback: May 2019

The number is (650) 446-6777. Just text the word METAR or TAF followed by the ICAO airport identifier of interest and youll quickly get a reply with the requested information. Even international airports are available. If you want to get hourly updates, you can subscribe (for free) by putting SUB first in your text message. Thus, to get hourly METARS, for instance, for Walla Walla, WA, (KALW) youd text SUB METAR KALW until you no longer wanted them and sent STOP METAR KALW.

Editorial Staff

Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

WXbyTXT.com offers a free text-message service for accessing METAR/TAF weather and subscribing to hourly updates.
Pilots have the option to cancel IFR and proceed VFR with Tower in visual conditions, and requesting "VFR On Top" on an IFR clearance remains a valid procedure.
Garmin GTN VNAV functionality is complex and requires significant practice and instruction; specialized simulator training, such as that provided by SIMPRO, is highly effective for recurrency and emergency preparedness.

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This One Is Free

I just read the Readback comments from Mr. McIrvin and Mr. Colton in the March 2019 issue regarding subscription fees for weather by text message. I glossed over the December 2018 Readback item because I’ve usedWXbyTXT.com. for years and it’s always been free.

The number is (650) 446-6777. Just text the word “METAR” or “TAF” followed by the ICAO airport identifier of interest and you’ll quickly get a reply with the requested information. Even international airports are available. If you want to get hourly updates, you can “subscribe” (for free) by putting “SUB” first in your text message. Thus, to get hourly METARS, for instance, for Walla Walla, WA, (KALW) you’d text “SUB METAR KALW” until you no longer wanted them and sent “STOP METAR KALW.”