Weather Reporting & Products
Aviation weather reports, forecasts, and coded products: METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, SIGMETs, and runway observations.
Aviation weather reporting is a standardized communication system that translates atmospheric observations into coded formats used worldwide. Pilots, dispatchers, and ATC rely on these products to make informed operational decisions.
Guides in this collection cover the major weather report types used in aviation: METAR surface observations, TAF terminal forecasts, runway visual range (RVR) measurements, PIREPs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, and related forecast products. Each walks through the format, decoding rules, and operational application.
Understanding weather reports is a distinct skill from understanding weather itself. The guides here focus on reading and interpreting the products, while the Aviation Weather topic covers the underlying atmospheric science.
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Guides in this topic
2 guides
How to Read a TAF
A guide to interpreting Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, covering TAF format, validity periods, weather codes and FM, TEMPO and BECMG changes.
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Runway Visual Range (RVR)
Runway Visual Range (RVR) is instrument-measured runway visibility. This guide covers reporting, prevailing visibility, landing minimums, and planning.
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Learning paths
Curated reading orders that include guides from this topic.
Key terminology
Essential glossary terms associated with this topic.
- Advection FogTopic: Weather Reporting & ProductsAdvection fog forms when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a cooler surface, cooling to its dew point and condensing into fog. Unlike radiation fog, it requires wind and can persist throughout the day.
- Air MassTopic: Flight Controls & StabilityA large body of air with roughly uniform temperature and humidity that forms when air stagnates over a region long enough to adopt that area's surface characteristics.
- Air Traffic ControlTopic: Airline Operations & EconomicsAir Traffic Control (ATC) is a ground-based service that directs aircraft movement and maintains safe separation in the air and on airport surfaces through radar, radio communication, and standardized procedures.
- AIRMETTopic: Weather Reporting & ProductsAn aviation weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service warning pilots of moderate weather hazards such as turbulence, icing, and instrument flight conditions that may affect general aviation operations.
- Airport codeTopic: Airport OperationsAn airport code is a short alphanumeric identifier assigned to an airport for use in aviation systems. Two systems are in active use: IATA codes (three letters) for ticketing and baggage, and ICAO codes (four characters) for flight planning and...
- Alliance partnerTopic: Airline Operations & EconomicsAn airline that has formally joined a global alliance, giving its passengers coordinated access to shared routes, frequent flyer programs, and airport lounges across member carriers.
- Altimeter SettingTopic: Aircraft PerformanceThe barometric pressure value a pilot sets in an altimeter to correct for local atmospheric conditions and ensure accurate altitude readings above mean sea level.
- Approach PlateTopic: Weather Reporting & ProductsA standardized chart that provides pilots with all navigation data, altitudes, frequencies, and procedures needed to fly a specific instrument approach to a runway.
- ATCTopic: Aircraft PerformanceAir Traffic Control (ATC) is the ground-based service that guides and separates aircraft in the air and on the ground to maintain safety and efficiency in controlled airspace.
- AutolandTopic: Airline Operations & EconomicsAutoland is an automated flight control system that guides an aircraft through approach, flare, and touchdown without pilot input, enabling operations in extremely low visibility conditions.
- CAVOKTopic: Weather Reporting & ProductsCAVOK (Ceiling And Visibility OK) is an ICAO METAR abbreviation indicating visibility exceeds 10 km, no significant weather exists, and no clouds are present below 1,500 m above aerodrome elevation.
- CeilingTopic: AerodynamicsCeiling is the height above ground level of the lowest cloud layer covering more than half the sky. Pilots use it to determine how much usable vertical space exists between terrain and cloud cover.
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