Desierto de Atacama Airport

SCAT / CPO

Copiapo, CL

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF SCAT 221626Z 2218/2318 26010KT CAVOK TX19/2218Z TN13/2313Z BECMG 2302/2304 22004KT OVC009 BECMG 2304/2306 36012KT OVC005 TEMPO 2306/2312 0500 FG VV002 BECMG 2313/2315 SCT005 BKN015 BECMG 2316/2318 CAVOK

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
220°
SW
220°
SW
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
4 kt
4 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
Fog
FG
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
OVC009
OVC009
OVC005
OVC005
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
VV002
OVC005
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
SCT005
BKN015
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
900 ft
AGL
900 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
500 ft
AGL
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
200 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:32Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
260° at 10 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 04:00Z
IFR
Wind
220° at 4 kt
Clouds
OVC009
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 4 kt. Overcast skies at 900 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 04:00Z - 06:00Z
IFR
Wind
360° at 12 kt
Clouds
OVC005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (360°) at 12 kt. Overcast skies at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 12:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.5 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV002
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be poor at 0.5 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 13:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
SCT005 BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Scattered clouds at 500 feet, Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 16:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.