Zulu time

General

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

The single time reference of aviation, so pilots and controllers in different time zones mean the same moment. Times are written as four digits with a Z, e.g. 1430Z, and METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs and flight plans all use it.

Zulu is the phonetic-alphabet word for Z. In summer central Europe is two hours ahead of UTC, so 1430Z is 16:30 local time.

Also known as

UTCCoordinated Universal TimeGMT

See also

METAR TAF NOTAM Phonetic alphabet

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