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Is AIRMET Being Phased Out?

It’s a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Effective on or about January 27 at 1900Z, the legacy AIRMET over the six regions of the conterminous U.S. will finally be retired. [FLYING file photo]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The "legacy" Traditional Alphanumeric Code (TAC) AIRMET for the conterminous U.S. is officially being retired, effective on or about January 27 at 1900Z, after a nearly two-decade-long effort to phase it out.
  • Graphical AIRMETs (G-AIRMETs), which were introduced in 2008 and became the operational product in 2010, will now serve as the sole official weather advisory for the conterminous U.S.
  • This retirement specifically applies to the conterminous U.S.; legacy AIRMETs for Alaska and Hawaii will remain unaffected and continue to be produced.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Question: Is AIRMET being phased out?

Answer: It has been nearly two decades since the FAA/National Weather Service (NWS) began a formal effort to move away from what was officially called the Traditional Alphanumeric Code (TAC) AIRMET or more simply, the “legacy” AIRMET. 

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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FLYING Staff

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