Fly! II and Metar

[Guest jjlobo]

I'm back with this METAR problem in Fly. I've posted this problem last year and followed some received recommendation. However, my Fly! (and I hope only mine) metar dosen't work at all.See the two examples below. I've created them by my own. Fly load all of them but it simple mix stations and it is a mass. And worst, sometimes overviewing the weather in Fly, it reports rain for the station I'm in and there is no rain there.I have also downloaded Metar using Enviro! and the problem is the same. Fly mix stations.Have somebody experienced the same problem? Should I expect that I'll be able to fix it? Could somebody try to use this two examples and report if it has worked?----------------------------------------------------------------First Example - Flying in Brazil----------------------------------------------------------------2003/04/12 18:29SBPA 121829Z 26018KT 7800 -RA SCT029 OVC133 26/24 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBFL 121829Z 03003KT 1300 CAVOK 21/17 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBCT 121829Z 07015KT 6500 OVC009 FEW152 23/16 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBSP 121829Z 25024KT 2300 -RA SCT005 OVC149 28/20 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBKP 121829Z 12009KT 3900 BKN004 FEW017 26/21 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBSJ 121829Z 34018KT 7800 -RA SCT015 OVC146 29/21 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBYS 121829Z 32018KT 7800 -RA OVC009 BKN197 31/24 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBRP 121829Z 34000KT 9999 CAVOK 25/24 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBRJ 121829Z 24027KT 2300 +RA FEW008 SCT094 BKN290 34/34 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBVT 121829Z 03027KT 2300 +RA FEW030 SCT092 BKN240 34/32 A29922003/04/12 18:29SBBH 121829Z 07012KT 5200 FEW021 OVC125 24/22 A2992-----------------------------------------------------------Second Example - Flying in US-----------------------------------------------------------2003/04/12 18:29KMIA 121829Z 26018KT 7800 -RA SCT029 OVC133 26/24 A29922003/04/12 18:29KTPA 121829Z 03003KT 1300 CAVOK 21/17 A29922003/04/12 18:29KORD 121829Z 07015KT 6500 OVC009 FEW152 23/16 A29922003/04/12 18:29KLAX 121829Z 25024KT 2300 -RA SCT005 OVC149 28/20 A29922003/04/12 18:29KSAN 121829Z 12009KT 3900 BKN004 FEW017 26/21 A29922003/04/12 18:29KSFO 121829Z 34018KT 7800 -RA SCT015 OVC146 29/21 A29922003/04/12 18:29KJFK 121829Z 32018KT 7800 -RA OVC009 BKN197 31/24 A29922003/04/12 18:29KSTL 121829Z 34000KT 9999 CAVOK 25/24 A2992-------------------------------------------------------------Thanks for any help.___ JJLobo ___55 11 37268158

[Guest tonyc]

you don't indicate which folder the metar file is saved in. And I am assuming that you save your file as a *.txt file in the metar folder in the FLY directory.tony

[Guest jjlobo]

I've saved the metar (txt) in the Fly!IIMetar directory. As I have mentioned, Fly loaded the metar but mixed stations around. For example, for SBPA it assumed the SBRJ configuration and for SBYS it assumed SBPA, so on and so forth. (It mix the stations differently each time).I have also tried with a larger number of stations (60) and the problem is the same.When I load the Enviro! downloaded metar (complete set), Fly! crashes each time I try Camera View 135

[Guest tonyc]

why don't you try one of my files and see what happens.tony

[Guest jjlobo]

Tony, first of all thanks for your attention.I've tested using your metar file. See bellow the differences I got in Fly!2003/04/05 19:54KROC 051954Z 26019G30KT 10SM OVC027 02/M01 A2973 RMK AO2 PK WND SLP074 T00221011Fly made different - wind 14111, pressure 29752003/04/05 19:53KBFD 051953Z AUTO 27014KT 4SM -RA BR OVC026 02/02 A2977 RMK AO2 RAB29 SLP089 P0000 T00220017Fly made different - wind 26819 visibility 8,6SM rain none BRK3184 FEW1767 and SCT2068 pressure 2982 temperature 03/0 2003/04/05 20:00CYSB 052000Z 02015G22KT 3/4SM -SN BLSN OVC025 M09/M12 A2982 RESN RMK SN5SF3 SLP122Fly made different - wind 06908 visibility 1,6 temperature 05/07 pressure 29762003/04/05 20:00CYOW 052040Z 07009KT 2 1/2SM -FZDZ BR OVC008 RMK SF8Fly made different - wind 08108 visibility 1/9SM rain -RAI've tested other stations and the results are the same. Apparently my Fly! installation does not respect metar information.Thanks again. I hope somebody has a clue on this.JJLobo

[Guest dajackman]

I have noticed that many times when I load a metar, check the atis a few miles out, then when I arrive the winds are a little different. This may be related some how.....

[RandallR 444]

JJLobo,Are you using Infometar? If not, there there may be some errors in interpretation by placing the metar file "directly" into Fly!II.If you use David Sandberg's Infometar, you can import the data (no matter where you get it, though Infometar can also obtain it directly from the NOAA server) and "thin" it. When you run the thinning program, even if you reduce the station distance to "0 miles," Infometar converts the information to work more accurately in the Fly!II environment.The final result (which I've found to be highly accurate) will depend on the amount of station coverage for the area. If you have only a few stations, then the accuracy will be greatly reduced - if you have a lot of reporting stations, the combined data gives you much better results.This is an over-simplification of the process, but it works.Be sure to check the FAQs for the best settings with Infometar, which can be downloaded from the Fly! area - it works for all versions and programs.

[Guest jjlobo]

Randall I've tested Infometar and the results are the same as when I use my metar files. Informetar files are very similar to Enviro! metar downloaded files. And they also didn't work at all.I'll tell you how I've tested infometar. If I made something wrong, please, be paciend with me and give me some more tips.I've first informed my flight plan and asked related infometar what were downloaded from the net. Then I've started Fly! and used import metar option. Fly mixed stations around.Then I've chosen randomic metar in informetar (huge file generated) and then also imported in Fly using import metar option. Again, stations and metar information were mixed around.I've been reading postings in this forum and it appears to me that everyone else are successfull using metar in Fly! and I'm frustrated.I hope I can find the problem either in my Fly installation or in my stupidity.....some where...Thanks any way for your attention....It shows how close these forum and Fly bring us together....Best regards___ JJLobo ___55 11 37268158

[Guest tonyc]

Let me suggest that you start with a very simple Metar file, perhaps containing one line. Be sure to read the Infometar appendix. You should not be having so much difficulty with Infometar. Don't download weather. Use the random weather and see if it works. Make sure that you have version 1.01( I believe) of Infometar.tony

[RandallR 444]

I was one of several beta testers who worked with David Sandberg to test metars in the problematic weather environment of Fly! II. Fly! II still had a number of issues to be resolved, and David and Richard Harvey worked hard to resolve these issues.I tested these changes over and over again until we had the best results possible. Infometar was used for the best results, though we also tested Fly! II to make sure it would work with straight unenhanced metar reports. Infometar is just a tool that makes it much easier to obtain metars and improve their interpretation within Fly! This is especially important when it comes to atmospheric pressure and cloud heights. Finally, you improve performance in Fly! II by removing distant stations (thinning) that are not needed for weather interpolations along your line of flight.For the best results, just follow the recommendations as listed in the FAQ at the top of the page regarding Infometar - just change the station distance to "0" miles for patch v240.1. Set the metar folder of Fly! II within the Infometar options area so the metar will be saved in the proper place: Edit, Options..., Misc, User-specified METAR output folder: Exit Infometar to save this information, then restart.2. Download a metar or open a metar file within Infometar.3. Use the Flight Route tool to pick your departure and destination4. Click the thin METARS button and choose Minimum miles: "0" and Buffer space: "300". Click OK5. Very important: choose Save As... and give your file a new name. Make sure that all the Metar Modification options are checked before you save.6. Close Infometar and start Fly! II v240. Prepare your flight plan first, then load the metar that you just made (under its new name) - go flying and see how it works out.

[Guest jjlobo]

Tony, I did exactly this. When I load only one station it works fine enven if I have three layers defined. The problem is really when I have more than one station, even for very simple ones.I started testing because I developed a very simple random weather simulator that I run with a simple click in my desktop before I go to Fly!. I started with only one station and it was fine. Then I've included the stations I use to fly around and then the problems started.Thanks for any additional advise.JJLobo

[Guest jjlobo]

Randall, thanks for these tips. I'll try them tonigth (Brazilian time)Regards___ JJLobo ___55 11 37268158

[Guest DSandberg]

Hi,I just want to let you know that I have been following this conversation whenever I've had the chance. I would have gotten involved sooner except that there's been a death in my immediate family in the past week that I've been dealing with, and since other folks in this thread have been doing a great job of attempting to help I haven't felt a need to.I'll be around more again later this week. In the meantime, I hope you can get your difficulties sussed ... I can tell how frustrated you are. Good luck.- David Sandberg (author of InfoMETAR)

[Guest jjlobo]

David, sincerily I feel sorry for you and your family.Thanks for your attention..___ JJLobo ___55 11 37268158

[Guest jjlobo]

Randall,I've just tested it following (exactly) your recommendations. See attached the generated Metar from within inforMetar. No, it didn't work..SBSP had only SCT at 2600, visibility 5SM, wind 269/6SBPA had no rain, 10SM and SCT at 8000I didn't check other stations in between. I'm more concerned now. If it works for most of you, I wonder what should be happening in my installation..Thanks for all support ...Regards___ JJLobo ___55 11 37268158