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Aviation Weather Fundamentals

Master aviation weather basics, from air masses and fronts to METARs, TAFs, and runway visibility, so pilot decisions start with clear conditions.

5 guides · 143 min · Beginner

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Follow the guides in order for the clearest introduction to aviation weather fundamentals.

Aviation Weather
Part 1 of 5
Aviation Weather Explained
Aviation weather explained: METARs, TAFs, fronts, turbulence, wind shear, icing, SIGMETs, G-AIRMETs, VFR minimums, and safe preflight weather planning.
23 min readBeginner
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Aviation Weather
Part 2 of 5
Air Masses & Fronts in Aviation
Air masses and fronts explained: cP, mT, cold, warm, stationary and occluded fronts, aviation hazards, chart symbols, METAR and TAF clues, and flight planning.
34 min readIntermediate
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Weather Reporting & Products
Part 3 of 5
How to Read a METAR
Learn how to decode a METAR: wind, visibility, RVR, weather codes, ceilings, temperature, altimeter settings, remarks, flight categories, and U.S. versus international differences.
29 min readBeginner
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Weather Reporting & Products
Part 4 of 5
How to Read a TAF
Learn how to decode a TAF: issue and valid times, wind, visibility, ceilings, FM, TEMPO, PROB30, LLWS, amendments, and U.S. versus international TAF conventions.
27 min readBeginner
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Weather Reporting & Products
Part 5 of 5
Runway Visual Range (RVR)
Runway Visual Range explained: how RVR is calculated and reported, METAR codes, touchdown/midpoint/rollout values, visibility conversions, approach minima, and low-visibility operations.
30 min readIntermediate
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5 guides, 143 min total. Work through the sequence at your own pace.

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