Before getting into the cockpit, one of the most helpful habits we build is scanning the METAR. For any flight student, it’s a regular part of the preflight flow. But when flying multi-engine planes out of Philadelphia during February, it gets even more important. Cold mornings, snow flurries, low cloud cover, any of these can show up with little warning.

Knowing how to read a METAR makes a big difference on days like that. It’s more than a weather note. It gives us roughly what we’ll face in the air, on takeoff, and during the approach. Having a clear picture from a METAR helps prevent feeling rushed on the ramp. And when we’re also preparing for questions at FAA testing centers, understanding how to break one down becomes another step in staying ready. At our Northeast Philadelphia Airport location, Fly Legacy Aviation operates as a designated PSI Testing Center where students complete FAA written knowledge exams, so METAR review ties directly into test day preparation.

Start with the Basics: What a METAR Really Is

Think of a METAR as a weather note from the airport. It’s shared every hour and tells us what the conditions are right at the field. That includes things like wind direction and speed, visibility, sky cover, temperature, and dew point.

When flying out of Northeast Philadelphia Airport, especially in winter, this report tells us a lot before we even step outside. METARs come from official airport weather stations, so we’re getting reports direct from where we’ll be flying.

Here’s why checking a METAR matters during preflight:

• It confirms whether we’re clear to launch or need to wait for safer conditions.
• It helps us catch details like wind shifts or icy runways that don’t always stand out in a broader forecast.
• It gives us a repeatable habit that matches what’s expected during training and checkrides.

We read METARs every day, not just because we have to, but because it gives us a stronger handle on what to expect once we taxi out.

How to Break Down a METAR Line by Line

At first glance, a METAR looks like a pile of letters and numbers. But when we break it into parts, each piece has a job.

Here are the typical parts of a METAR to know:

• Station code (where the report comes from)
• Date and time (when it was issued)
• Wind (speed and direction)
• Visibility (how far we can see)
• Weather (rain, snow, fog, etc.)
• Sky condition (cloud layers and heights)
• Temperature and dew point
• Altimeter setting

Let’s say we read a line like this during a February morning in Philadelphia: “KPHL 230752Z 33015G22KT 1/2SM -SN BKN009 OVC015 M02/M05 A2992.” That tells us there’s a light snow with poor visibility, broken clouds at 900 feet, and pretty strong gusts out of the northwest. That’s not a great setup for a training flight.

We usually look at wind and ceiling first. Even before heading out to preflight, this helps us guess if conditions line up with our training goals or need a delay.

One tip that helps new students is to focus on just a few pieces first. For example:

• Pay attention to wind shifts (G22KT means gusts to 22 knots)
• Check whether “BKN” or “OVC” cloud codes sit below pattern altitude
• Watch for special remarks like freezing fog or snow, which pop up more often in winter

Once we practice reading METARs daily, that jumbled line starts feeling like a normal checklist.

What METAR Signs Matter Most for Multi-Engine Flights

When flying multi-engine aircraft, some parts of the METAR get more of our attention than others. These planes carry more speed and weight, so runway performance and climb rates are more sensitive to outside conditions.

Some key clues to watch for in a METAR include:

• Crosswinds and gusts, stronger winds across the runway can make takeoffs harder to control, especially in winter when ice might be hiding under your tires
• Visibility restrictions, less than a mile often means a delay, especially for student pilots
• Low ceilings, many twin-engine training plans require patterns or maneuvers that need a visual reference below the clouds

Let’s say cloud tops are reported around 900 feet with light snow starting. That’s close to many pattern altitudes and could invite trouble if your ceiling lowers mid-flight. Multi-engine planes perform differently with one engine out, and in those cases, weather around the airport becomes even more important.

We don’t just read the METAR to see if we can fly. We look at it to ask if we should. That habit helps shape safe flying and easier thinking once we’re in the air.

Practice and Prep: Using METARs Before FAA Tests

We don’t only study METARs during flight planning. They’re also a regular part of written and oral questions at FAA testing centers. Knowing how to understand and explain a METAR line helps early on and stays useful across each certificate level.

METARs often appear in test prep apps or written exams, so it helps to practice reading them without rushing. During checkrides, we might be asked to talk through what conditions we’d fly in based on a sample report or how we’d adjust the plan if cloud cover dropped.

Some things we do to stay ready before test day:

• Pick a local METAR at random and try to explain what it means out loud
• Look up real-world METARs in weather apps and match them to conditions on the ground
• Read reports at different times of day to see how they change

Because Fly Legacy Aviation provides training under both FAR Part 141 and Part 61, these METAR skills are reinforced from private pilot through multi-engine training, matching what students will see on exams and in real flights. The more often we glance at METARs before and after each flight, the more natural they feel when answering questions under pressure. That makes a big difference when the examiner hands you a sample report and asks you to talk it through.

Stay Smart in Winter Skies

A METAR might just look like a routine line of numbers, but we know it’s one of the most helpful things to read before winter flights in Philadelphia. If we get used to reading them carefully, we spot weather risks sooner and bring more control into every part of the flight.

It’s not about being perfect with every code or remembering every cloud term. It’s about reading enough METARs often enough that our brain starts to recognize when something looks off. Whether it’s gusty snow or low clouds we didn’t expect, METARs help us think ahead, not just respond. On short winter hops in a multi-engine plane, that clarity up front keeps the rest of the flight more calm and steady.

At Fly Legacy Aviation, we understand the importance of building strong habits before every flight, with reviewing weather reports as a key part of your preparation. Whether you’re flying in and out of Northeast Philadelphia Airport or preparing for checkrides, reading METARs confidently is a skill that makes a difference. If you’re pursuing advanced ratings or want extra practice before a test, our programs help you master important topics like performance planning, weather decisions, and interpreting reports at FAA testing centers. We make these tools practical, not just theoretical. For questions or personalized guidance on your next steps, contact us today.