Ungrounded

50 years ago the original short format probably made perfect sense. In that bygone era Teletype machines would have been on the ascendancy and the "state of communications art". I was just a little too young to notice at the time but I'm guessing that Morse Code would still have still been common enough in the military via HF wireless. And back then the number of computers capable of running software to automatically translate the forecast into a "common-man" plain English format would probably have been numbered on one hand. None of which is true today. Given the constraints of that time period I guess if I'd been asked to transfer all that forecast information via a telegraph straight key then it would have been very similarly abbreviated! Today the format smacks of a legacy system that is long past it's due date for a major overhaul. The only reason I can think of for keeping it off hand is that non-English speaking pilots are probably trained to read the format with equal facility. And that it's likely standardised around the World. But neither of these reasons would seem to preclude having an "official" computer generated plain English translation, which would seem to offer an increase in safety. In short. I think someone is dragging the chain on this one.

Thanks DrZoos! (losing track of the Avatar Zoos! But like them all!) My problem was that I was not using the whole ***AREA*** briefing but rather the location briefing for the location of interest. Area works. Location does not. As for what parts of the short format forecast that I don't understand? Nearly all of it!! I'm only just starting to look at this topic. I hope to use the translator as a teaching aid. I'm in agreement with SDQDI, it's high time AirServices (if it's their brief) provided an "official" plain English translation alongside the existing format. That way less occasional reading "stuff-ups" would happen and the skies would be just that little bit safer. But others will likely disagree and tell me why.

Hi All, Has anyone had success using this on-line tool? http://www.recreationalflying.com/resources/weather-inc-plain-english-converter.12/ When I paste in what I think is the correct briefing information from the NAIPS Internet Service all I get is a blank page with the heading;- "Disclaimer: These translations are not endorsed by Airservices, BOM or CASA." This is happening in Firefox 42.0 and Chrome 46.0. What am I doing wrong/missing??

Do most aircraft manufactured in the last 5 years already have a Mode S transponder with ADS-B capability? He wondered out loud.

Is it appropriate to appropriate? Sorry couldn't resist. Rhetorical. Back to the topic at hand...

Someone recently tried selling me some "Sapphire" extinguishers for a computer room. Very expensive and I have no idea if the system is available in smaller extinguisher sizes. But it seems to tick a lot of boxes. No powder to obscure the view. Purpose built to NOT cause damage to electronics. Reportedly harmless to people and the environment. PDF Brochure link below mentions "Military and aviation vehicles" so I guess it may be a good match for aircraft? Just thought I'd mention it. And "No" I didn't end up buying them... https://www.ansul.com/en/us/pages/ProductDetail.aspx?productdetail=SAPPHIRE+Systems+-+Halocarbon https://www.wormald.com.au/fire-products/fire-extinguishers/sapphire-mri-fire-extinguishers https://www.wormald.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/155447/Wormald_AUS_SapphireBrochure.pdf

Something like this? www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDTOtT2f8KEKE

Don't leap to any conclusions yet. Been reading Google translations of German aviators like us discussing the crash. Authorities not yet sure if it was an in-flight break up or if the aircraft crashed into high trees before decending. Wreckage over a wide area. Weather was very overcast and there appears to be some talk about a possible VFR into IMC event by pilot untrained for instrument flight.

Chuckle. With regard to TV content programming. One of the inventing Fathers of television, if not THE gentleman whom should be accredited with its invention, Philo Farnsworth had this to say about his invention:-

Hi there Happy. Entirely accidental I'm afraid. The ever present danger of surfing with a touch-screen tablet. A literal case of finger trouble.

I'm new here myself (first post). But thought I'd mention that I completely agree with what TezzaP said above. I too am very uneasy with heights. I once (foolishly) went up in a cherry-picker bucket to assist someone. They had to put me back down on the ground again. You can't be very helpful with both hands locked rigor mortis like to the bucket railing. But I have no problems in a 3 axis aircraft at all. Even when banked steeply, just like TezzaP. So while everyone’s different it may very well be that you will feel fine in an aircraft. Go try a TIF and find out. The RC aircraft are awesome! Steve.