MilitaryTime

Zulu time for pilots

Decode the time groups in weather reports and work out arrival times without counting on your fingers.

Zulu now----Z
Local now----
UTC date----------

METAR time group

Day 16 at 1730 Zulu.

TAF valid period

From day 16 at 1800Z to day 17 at 2400Z. 30 hours.

ETA in Zulu and local

Arrive 0115Z, the next day (UTC).

The Cockpit Kneeboard Cheat Sheet: Free Aviation Zulu & METAR Quick-Reference Card

The essential 1-page flight bag reference for student pilots and flight dispatchers. Instantly decode METAR/TAF time groups, convert Zulu to local daylight/standard time without mental math errors, and master ICAO radio phonetics. Formatted to clip directly onto your kneeboard.

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Zulu time questions

Why does aviation use Zulu time?

Flights cross time zones. If every weather report, flight plan, and NOTAM uses UTC (Zulu), nobody has to guess whose local time is meant.

How do I read 161730Z in a METAR?

The first two digits are the day of the month, the next four are the time in Zulu. 161730Z is the 16th at 1730 UTC.

What does 1618/1724 mean in a TAF?

The forecast is valid from the 16th at 1800Z until the 17th at 2400Z, which is midnight Zulu going into the 18th. That is 30 hours.

More on Zulu time and every military time zone.