Ask FLYING: What is a G-AIRMET?

An aviation meteorologist explains how a graphical AIRMET is different from a traditional one.

Wednesday, October 05, 2022 at 08:51 AM ET

Verified

The relatively new G-AIRMET format gives a snapshot of forecast hazardous conditions. [Courtesy: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration]

Key Takeaways:

G-AIRMETs, operational since 2010, are graphical "snapshots" of specific weather hazards at defined times, offering superior spatiotemporal resolution and precision compared to the legacy textual AIRMETs, which are time-smeared forecasts valid over six hours.
G-AIRMETs provide better utility by depicting individual hazards separately (e.g., low-level wind shear), are seamless (not bound by FA areas), and replace the less precise, combined categories of legacy AIRMETs.
Pilots are urged to transition to using G-AIRMETs as the primary weather product, as legacy AIRMETs are a deprecated byproduct, intentionally made harder to find on official sites, and are anticipated to be completely retired soon.

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Q. What is a ‘G-AIRMET’ and how is it different from an AIRMET?

A. It has been more than a decade since the Graphical AIRMET [AIRman’s METeorological Information] or G-AIRMET replaced the legacy AIRMET. However, it seems that on various podcasts, webinars, and social media platforms, pilots are still clinging to the term “AIRMET.” Perhaps it’s because they were never told that on March 16, 2010, the G-AIRMET became the operational product for pilots and replaced the existing textual AIRMET. After standardizing the language for the AIRMET text in 2006, the legacy AIRMET is now a byproduct of the G-AIRMET, and unfortunately, has stuck around for more than a decade for a variety of reasons. Moreover, many of the heavyweight EFBs continue to cling to the legacy AIRMETs in their app.