Weather reports going visual
Graphic forecasts, advisories more precise
The National Weather Service will retire the text-based traditional alphanumeric code, or TAC, airmet and area forecast (FA) reporting systems, for the continental United States, effective January 27.
The newer graphical forecast for aviation, or GFA, and the G-airmet will replace the outgoing weather products. The weather service provides access to the G-airmet for pilots on its website.
The G-airmet was introduced officially in 2010 and is more precise than the alphanumeric airmet in both time and space. Under the changes, airmets for Alaska and Hawaii will not be affected, but briefings for flights that extend from the CONUS to Alaska or Hawaii will include both G-airmets and text airmets for the appropriate portions of the flight.
The FAA-NWS joint-agency working group recommended that the CONUS FAs give way to the more modern GFA system that aids flight planning by providing improved weather information. An FAA working group recommended the retirement of the text airmets and the transition to the G-airmet. The FAA has also formed a safety risk management panel to evaluate hazards associated with switching from text airmets.
For those just learning about this product, there is a helpful three-minute video tutorial available on the Aviation Weather Center website.
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