FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practice Exam

A SPECI is a special METAR that is issued when there have been significant changes in weather conditions, which need to be communicated to the aviation community without waiting for the next scheduled routine METAR report. These significant changes may include alterations in visibility, wind direction and speed, weather phenomena such as rain or snow, or any other factors that could impact flight safety.

The importance of SPECI lies in its role in providing timely updates to pilots, air traffic control, and other stakeholders in aviation, ensuring that they are well-informed of current weather conditions that could affect flight operations. This is particularly critical in scenarios where rapidly changing weather poses potential hazards.

Routine hourly METARs are regular observations that provide a snapshot of current conditions but do not convey urgent updates unless a SPECI has been issued. Forecast model updates and weather advisories serve different purposes in the weather reporting system and do not represent a special report of current weather conditions that necessitate immediate attention.