VOLMET

VOLMET (from French "vol" meaning flight and "météo" meaning weather) is a continuous meteorological broadcast transmitted on designated HF and VHF frequencies, providing current weather reports (METARs) and forecasts (TAFs) for selected airports along major flight routes. VOLMET broadcasts allow pilots to receive up-to-date weather information without requesting it from ATC.

Major VOLMET services include:

• Shannon VOLMET: European airports on HF frequencies
• New York VOLMET: North American airports
• Hong Kong VOLMET: Asia-Pacific airports
• Auckland VOLMET: South Pacific airports

Each VOLMET station broadcasts weather for a specific group of airports on a rotating schedule, typically updating every 30 minutes. The broadcasts are in English using standard ICAO phraseology. In the modern era, VOLMET is being supplemented by D-VOLMET (digital VOLMET via datalink), which provides the same information as text on the cockpit display, reducing the workload of listening to and copying voice broadcasts.