Question 1

What is a METAR?

Accepted Answer

A METAR (Meteorological Terminal Air Report) is a standardized format for reporting current weather conditions at an airport. It includes wind speed and direction, visibility, sky conditions, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting. Pilots use METARs to assess current conditions before and during flight.

Question 2

What is a TAF?

Accepted Answer

A TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is a weather forecast for the area within 5 statute miles of an airport, typically covering a 24 to 30-hour period. TAFs are issued four times daily and use the same format as METARs. Pilots use TAFs to plan flights and anticipate changing weather conditions.

Question 3

What does ICAO stand for and why do airports use ICAO codes?

Accepted Answer

ICAO stands for International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO codes are 4-letter identifiers assigned to airports worldwide (e.g., KSFO for San Francisco, EGLL for London Heathrow). They are used in aviation weather reports, flight plans, and ATC communications because they are globally unique, unlike IATA 3-letter codes.

Question 4

How do I read wind information in a METAR?

Accepted Answer

Wind in a METAR is reported as direction (in degrees true north) followed by speed (in knots). For example, "27015KT" means wind from 270 degrees (west) at 15 knots. "VRB" indicates variable wind direction. Gusts are shown with a "G" — e.g., "27015G25KT" means gusting to 25 knots.

Question 5

What are aviation radio frequencies used for?

Accepted Answer

Aviation radio frequencies enable communication between pilots and air traffic control (ATC). Key types include: ATIS (airport information), Tower (runway operations), Ground (taxiway control), Approach/Departure (terminal area control), and Center (en-route control). CTAF and UNICOM are used at non-towered airports.

Question 6

What is the difference between VFR and IFR weather?

Accepted Answer

VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions allow pilots to navigate by visual reference to the ground. IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) conditions — typically low visibility or cloud cover — require pilots to fly using instruments and ATC guidance. The minimum VFR visibility is generally 3 statute miles with a 1,000-foot ceiling.

Question 7

How often are METARs updated?

Accepted Answer

METARs are typically issued every hour (at the top of the hour) and as special reports (SPECI) when significant weather changes occur, such as rapidly changing visibility, wind shifts, or precipitation. Aviation weather services like AviatorWX display the most recent METAR available.

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