Ask FLYING FLYING Magazine News Pilot Proficiency

Is AIRMET Being Phased Out?

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

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM ET

Verified

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]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA and NWS have been working for nearly two decades to transition away from the "legacy" Traditional Alphanumeric Code (TAC) AIRMET.
Graphical AIRMETs (G-AIRMETs) were introduced in 2008 and became the official operational product in 2010, though the legacy AIRMET continued to be available.
Effective on or about January 27 at 1900Z, the legacy AIRMET for the conterminous U.S. will be formally retired, with G-AIRMETs remaining the sole official advisory for that region.
Legacy AIRMETs for Alaska and Hawaii will not be affected by this retirement at this time.

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.

READ MORE: Do I Qualify for the Commercial Check Ride?

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats.