Calculators › UTC and Zulu time converter
UTC and Zulu time converter
The time aviation runs on, converted to and from any time zone.
Convert a time
Decode a time code
Enter a code from a METAR, TAF or NOTAM, or paste a whole METAR.
Why aviation uses one clock
An aircraft can cross several time zones in a single flight, so everyone uses UTC: flight plans, weather reports, NOTAMs and ATC. Aviation often calls it Zulu, after the letter Z that marks a time as UTC. 1430Z is 14:30 UTC, whatever the local clock says. It’s always written in 24-hour time and never changes for daylight saving.
Reading time codes
| Code | Where you see it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 121450Z | METAR | The 12th of the month, 14:50 UTC |
| 1212/1318 | TAF | Valid from the 12th at 12:00 to the 13th at 18:00 UTC |
| 2611021430 | NOTAM | 2 November 2026, 14:30 UTC |
| DOF/261102 | Flight plan | Date of flight: 2 November 2026 |
METARs and TAFs give only the day of the month, so the calculator picks the nearest date to today. A TAF can also end at 24, which means midnight at the end of that day.
Time zones and daylight saving
The converter uses your browser’s time zone database, including daylight saving on the date you enter. It works by time zone rather than by airport, so to find an airport’s local time, choose the zone it’s in. If a local time happens twice or not at all because the clocks change that night, check the result. Your own clock is only as accurate as your device.
Quick answers
What does Z mean after a time?
Zulu, which means UTC. 0930Z is 09:30 UTC.
Is Zulu time the same as GMT?
For everyday use, yes. UTC and GMT never differ by more than a second, though the UK’s local time moves to BST in summer and UTC doesn’t.
How do you read a METAR time like 121450Z?
The first two digits are the day of the month, and the next four are the UTC time: the 12th at 14:50 UTC.
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For training and simulation only. These calculators are for learning and for games. Their results are automatic, and they don’t account for everything a real operation does. Never use them for real flight planning, navigation or air traffic control. Use your official charts, approved tools and procedures.
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