In recent times I have been flying in Australia.Major ports e.g. Brisbane have fully completed Metars and this is reflected in AS2004. However, within 20 miles of YBBN is Archerfield Aerodrome (YBAF). This port also has Metars attached but frequently the cloud cover component is replaced by a series of ////. When this port becomes active clouds do a disappearing act only to reappear when YBBN becomes the active Metar. Does this incomplete Metar have an effect on As2004 or is it just coincidence.Yesterday I was approaching Brisbane from the south with T'Storms active in the area and a general overcast in place. A quick glance out of the study window showed T'storms active to the south of where I live (Brisbane). I thought great - interesting approach coming up.As I was vectored for an approach from the north (Rwy 19) all the clouds suddently went AWOL (the effects of YBAF) leaving very much CAVOK conditions. I continued the approach and landed with some cloud. As I taxyed in to park the YBBN suddenly kicked in and whoosh - overcast.Having said this I have had some very good cloud displays where AS2004 has not changed source Metars.Andy b

Andy,Yes, those //// could cause clouds to disappear. Let's see if Damian comes along. Thanks for the report!Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Support

It would appear that the //// are responsible for the loss of cloud cover. It has just happened to me again.When a flightplan is loaded and the various stations are identified would it not be possible to ignore the //// part of a metar and dynamically change the clouds between those that are complete.Andy b

Andy,I just sent Damian an e-mail about this. I gave you the credit in finding and reporting it.JimActiveSky Support

Hi Andy and Jim,Thanks.. I have confirmed this, but there is also another problem with cloud cover dissapearing due to FS9 re-interpolation, which I am working out a solution for. Fixing both of these should dramatically reduce the occurance of these kind of events. Thanks for the input Andy, and for making me aware of this Jim!-Damian