Current Data Caches

• Data caches are generated for the following data sources: METARs, TAFs, Aircraft Reports, and AIR/SIGMETs.


• Data caches are updated every 5 minutes.


• Data caches are created in XML and CSV format in both uncompressed and gzip compressed files.


• Data caches can be downloaded from the 'cache' subdirectory of each available dataserver release. Currently, these are:
  
  
  • http://weather.aero/dataserver_current/cache - for the latest dataserver release's cache (currently points to 'dataserver1_4,' but will automatically update with new releases).
  
  
  • http://weather.aero/dataserver1_4/cache - for the latest dataserver release's cache (will not change with new releases).
  
  
  • http://weather.aero/dataserver1_2/cache - No longer available as of June 12, 2010.


• Data cache files give users access to all of the most recent data without the overhead of making numerous individual requests like the following:
  
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=metars& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1.25& stationString=a*,b*,c*
    
  
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=metars& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1.25& stationString=d*,e*,f*
    
  
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=metars& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1.25& stationString=g*,h*,i*
    
  ...
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=metars& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1.25& stationString=w*,y*,z*
    
  
  
• The following queries are used to generate the current data caches every 5 minutes:
  
  METAR - The most recent METAR for each METAR reported in the past 1.25 hours.
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=metars& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&compression=gzip& hoursBeforeNow=1.25&mostRecentForEachStation=constraint
  
  TAF - The most recent station of each TAF that is valid from now to half an hour from now. Note that this extra half hour from now is necessary for cases where a TAF is issued but is not yet valid. It is assumed that the most up-to-date data is desirable.
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=tafs& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&compression=gzip& startTime=xxx*&endTime=xxx*&mostRecentForEachStation=constraint
  
  Aircraft Reports - All Aircraft Reports from the past 1.5 hours.
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=aircraftreports& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1.5
  
  AIR/SIGMET - All AIR/SIGMETs from now to half an hour from now. Note that this extra half hour from now is necessary for cases where an AIR/SIGMET is issued but has not yet become valid. It is assumed that the most up-to-date data is desirable.
  
  • /dataserver_current/httpparam?datasource=airsigmets& requesttype=retrieve&format=xml&compression=gzip& startTime=xxx*&endTime=xxx*
  *startTime=the current time and endTime=30 minutes from now