Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)

Reading Assignment
Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45E) – 4-1 to 4-16

Jeppesen Instrument/Commercial Manual – “Terminal Aerodrome Forecast”, 9-68 to 9-71

Weather Services
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
 Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) Quiz
1. How often and when are TAFs issued? ___________________________________________________

2. Are there other times when a TAF will be issued? ___________________________________________

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3. What geographical area does a TAF cover? ________________________________________________

4. What forecast information is included in TAFs? _____________________________________________

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5. What is the abbreviation when visibility will be greater than six statute miles? _____________________

6. What determines when a new line (or time period) is started? __________________________________

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7. When is the from (FM) group used? ______________________________________________________

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8. When is the becoming (BECMG) group used? ______________________________________________

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9. What qualifies a temporary forecast (TEMPO)? _____________________________________________

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10. What does the following four digit time period of a TEMPO group refer to? TEMPO 1214 ____________

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11. What is the range of probability that a precipitation will occur when a PROB30 is used? _____________

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12. What does PROB40 1016 3SM ++TSRA mean? ____________________________________________

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Weather Services
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
13. Referring to the following TAF,

1 KLAX 221730Z 221812 11008KT 4SM RA BR VCTS OVC035CB

2 TEMPO 1822 2SM TSRA BR BKN015CB
3 FM2200 13012KT 4SM RA BR VCTS OVC035CB
4 TEMPO 2202 2SM TSRA BR BKN015CB
5 FM0200 16010KT 4SM RA BR OVC035
6 FM0500 08008KT P6SM -RA OVC040

What does line 3 mean? ___________________________________________________________________

What period of time does this TAF cover? _____________________________________________________

14. Where can TAFs be found? _____________________________________________________________

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15. How can we use TAFs in planning our IFR flight? ___________________________________________

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Notes:

• A terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF) is valid for a 24 hour period and is issued four times a day. A TAF
should be your primary source of weather information for your destination.

• In the absence of a TAF, pilots should use the Area Forecast (FA) along with other forecasts to
determine destination weather.

• ADDS has a few new TAF related products that allow a user to graphically view TAFs over a large region
for a given time.

Weather Services
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)