TDS: TAF Examples
 

Station String

Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
stationString
  • icaoId using the four-letter specification

  • delimited by white spaces and/or commas (,)
stationString=KDEN KSEA, PHNL obtain all available TAFs for KDEN, KSEA and PHNL
stationString
    using partial icaoId name
stationString=KSEA KDE obtain TAFs for KSEA and all icaoIds beginning with KDE (i.e. KDEN, KDEH, KDEW, ...etc.)
stationString
    using partial icaoId name and wildcard (*)
stationString=KSEA KDE* equivalent to above, obtain TAFs for KSEA and all icaoIds beginning with KDE
 

Time Range

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Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
startTime,
endTime,
timeType
(optional)
start and end
times in seconds
since January 1, 1970

timeType=
issue or
valid (default)
startTime=1716177971& endTime=1716185171 &timeType=issue &stationString=KORD obtain all TAFs for KORD for issue times between these start and end times
startTime,
endTime,
timeType
(optional)
start and end
times in seconds
since January 1, 1970

timeType=
issue or
valid (default)
startTime=1716177971& endTime=1716185171 &timeType=valid &stationString=KORD obtain all TAFs for KORD for valid times between these start and end times
startTime,
endTime,
timeType
(optional)
start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format

timeType=
issue or
valid (default)
startTime=
2024-05-20T04:06:11Z
&endTime=
2024-05-20T06:06:11Z&
timeType=issue&
stationString=KMIA
obtain all TAFs for KMIA collected for issue times between these start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format using UTC offset:
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ.
Please see W3C date/time formats.
startTime,
endTime,
timeType
(optional)
start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format

timeType=
issue or
valid (default)
startTime=
2024-05-20T04:06:11Z
&endTime=
2024-05-20T06:06:11Z&
timeType=valid&
stationString=KORD
obtain all TAFs for station KORD with valid times between these start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format with UTC time offset:
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ.
Please see W3C date/time formats.
startTime,
endTime,
timeType
(optional)
start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format

timeType=
issue or
valid (default)
startTime=
2024-05-19T21:06:11+0700
&endTime=
2024-05-19T23:06:11+0700&
timeType=issue&
stationString=KORD
obtain all TAFs for KORD with issue times between these start and end times
in ISO8601 date/time format using local offset:
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss+
hhmm
OR

YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss-
hhmm

NOTE: Due to differences in character encodings by various web
browsers, the + might get encoded to a whitespace.
To avoid this from occurring, use %2B in place of the +.
Please see W3C date/time formats.
startTime,
endTime,
timeType
(optional)
start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format

timeType=
issue or
valid (default)
startTime=
2024-05-19T21:06:11+0700
&endTime=
2024-05-19T23:06:11+0700&
timeType=valid&
stationString=KORD
obtain all TAFs for KORD for valid times between these start and end times in ISO8601 date/time format using local offset:
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss+
hhmm
OR

YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss-
hhmm

NOTE: Due to differences in character encodings by various web browsers, the + might get encoded to a whitespace. To avoid this from occurring, use %2B in place of the +. Please see W3C date/time formats.
hoursBeforeNow,
timeType
(optional)
  • any positive integer or floating point value
  • n = number of hours before current time
  • timeType = issue or valid (default)
stationString=KDEN& hoursBeforeNow=3& timeType=issue obtain all TAFs in the last three hours based on issue time for KDEN
hoursBeforeNow,
timeType
(optional)
  • any positive integer or floating point value
  • n = number of hours before current time
  • timeType = issue or valid (default)
stationString=KDEN& hoursBeforeNow=3
&timeType=valid
obtain all TAFs in the last three hours, based on valid time for KDEN
hoursBeforeNow,
timeType
(optional)
stationString=KDEN& hoursBeforeNow=6& timeType=issue obtain all TAFs collected in the last 6 hours for KDEN, based on issue time
hoursBeforeNow,
timeType
(optional)
stationString=KDEN& hoursBeforeNow=0& timeType=valid obtain all the latest TAFs for KDEN, based on valid time

NOTE:The ADDS database retains only three days worth of data.

 

Most Recent

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Parameter(s) Allowed Value(s) Example(s) Description
mostRecent
  • true - get the single most recent TAF, only one result is returned

  • the mostRecent constraint MUST be accompanied by a time range in the form of an hoursBeforeNow or startTime/endTime and timeType

  • false - don't get the most recent TAF, equivalent to omitting mostRecent parameter

  • query is based on the most recent TAF issueTime within the time range defined by hoursBeforeNow or startTime/endTime
hoursBeforeNow=3& timeType=issue& mostRecent=true& stationString=PHNL KSEA Request the most recent of the two icaoId's KSEA and PHNL from three hours ago, based on issue time. Only one TAF is returned, the most
recent of the two from three hours ago.

NOTE: The mostRecent constraint is applied after all other constraints have been applied to yield only one TAF.

This single TAF corresponds to the most recent in the result set defined by the other constraints. Only one TAF is returned. This may not be used together with the mostRecentForEachStation constraint. This MUST be accompanied by a time range in the form of an hoursBeforeNow or startTime/endTime.

 

Most Recent for each Station

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Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
mostRecentForEachStation See the 1.3 Release Notes for details on the different types
  • constraint
    - request the most recent for each TAF station in the fastest fashion. Not appropriate for historical data retrieval
  • postfilter
    - post filter results after applying all other constraints
  • true
    - same as 'postfilter'
    employ the postfilter method described above
  • false
    - don't get the most recent for each TAF station, equivalent to omitting this parameter
mostRecentForEachStation
=constraint &hoursBeforeNow=2 &stationString=KDE
obtain the most recent TAF for each station that was reported in the past two hours from stations starting with KDE. The 'constraint' type should not be used for historical data retrieval
mostRecentForEachStation stationString=KORD, PHKO, KSEA, KSFO&
hoursBeforeNow=3&
mostRecentForEachStation
=constraint
obtain the most recent TAF reported for KORD, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO from the past three hours. The 'constraint' type should not be used for historical data retrieval. Should return four results unless one of these stations has not reported in the last 3 hours
mostRecentForEachStation startTime=1716177971& endTime=1716185171 &stationString=KORD, PHKO, KSEA, KSFO&
mostRecentForEachStation
=postfilter
Use the postfilter method to obtain the TAFS for KORD, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO from the indicated start and end times. From those results, return only the most recent for each of these stations. Four results should be returned with each result corresponding to the most recent for KORD, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO within the specified time range.
mostRecentForEachStation startTime=1716177971& endTime=1716185171 &stationString=KORD, PHKO, KSEA, KSFO&
mostRecentForEachStation
=true
Same as above, defaulting to the postfilter method. Obtain the TAFS for KORD, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO from the indicated start and end times. From those results, return only the most recent for each of these stations. Four results should be returned, each corresponding to the most recent for KORD, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO within the specified time range.

NOTE: See the 1.3 Release Notes for additional details on the different types. This constraint may not be used with the mostRecent constraint.

 

Lon-Lat Rectangle

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Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon
  • longitude and latititude in decimal degrees

  • -180<= lon <=180

  • -90<= lat <=90

  • Please refer to : latitude and longitude for a refresher on these ranges.

  • parameters can be listed in any order
minLat=25&minLon=-130& maxLat=65&maxLon=-40& hoursBeforeNow=3 obtain TAFs collected within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat

NOTE:

 

Radial Distance

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Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
radialDistance
  • a radius (statute miles) around a point (longitude and latitude in decimal degrees)

  • -180<= lon <=180

  • -90<= lat <=90

  • 0< radius <=500

  • Radius and origin are separated by a semicolon(;)

  • Described area may not cross the international dateline or either pole

  • Please refer to : latitude and longitude for a refresher on these ranges.

radialDistance=20;-104.65,39.83& hoursBeforeNow=3 obtain TAFs valid within the last 3 hours for all the stations within 20 statute miles of -104.65,39.83 (KDEN)
 

Flight Path

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Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
flightPath
  • maximum distance in statute miles

  • two or more way points

  • Way points are indicated by (lon,lat), station names or a combination of (lon,lat) and station name

  • lon, lat are delimited by a comma (,)

  • maximum distance MUST precede the way points

  • maximium distance and way points are delimited by a semicolon( ;)

  • the ordering of way points is significant: always start with origin, end with destination

  • time range:
    • use start, end times

    • use hoursBeforeNow

    • default (hoursBeforeNow=1)

flightPath=57.5; -104.65,39.83; -94.75,39.3 &hoursBeforeNow=3 obtain all TAFS collected in the past 3 hours for the flight path from Denver, CO to Kansas City, MO using a 57.5 statute mile maximum distance
flightPath flightPath=57.5; KDEN; -94.75,39.3 &hoursBeforeNow=3 obtain all TAFS collected in the past 3 hours for the flight path from Denver, CO to Kansas City, MO using a 57.5 statute mile maximum distance and the station name for Denver, rather than the (lon,lat).
flightPath flightPath=57.5; -104.65,39.83; -94.75,39.3 same as above, except using the default time range of hoursBeforeNow=1
flightPath flightPath=57.5; -104.65,39.83; -97.5,27.77; -81.33,28.42 A flight path from Denver,Co to Corpus Cristi, Tx to Orlando, Fl using the default time range and a 57.5 statute mile maximum distance.

NOTE:
Flight path results are sorted by distance along the flight path, from origin to destination. The flight path constraint cannot accomodate the following situations:

 

Density

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Parameter(s) Allowed Values Example(s) Description
minDegreeDistance 0 < any value ≤ 90

The degree distance is the distance (based on longitude and latitude)
between stations. The larger the
value of minDegreeDistance, the less dense the results.
Duplicate stations are filtered and the most recent of duplicate
stations is reported.
flightPath=57.5; KDEN; KMCO& minDegreeDistance=90 obtain all TAFs collected in the past 3 hours for the flight path from Denver, CO to Orlando, FL using a 57.5 statute mile maximum distance and requesting the lowest density of results.
minDegreeDistance 0 < any value ≤ 90

The degree distance is the distance (based on longitude and latitude)
between stations. The larger the
value of minDegreeDistance, the less dense the results.
Duplicate stations are filtered and the most recent of duplicate
stations is reported.
flightPath=57.5; KDEN; KMCO& minDegreeDistance=1 obtain all TAFs collected in the past 3 hours for the flight path from Denver, CO to Orlando, FL using a 57.5 statute mile maximum distance and requesting a high density of results.