What is an AIRMET?

• A. A weather advisory for less severe, widespread weather phenomena affecting flight safety.
• B. A weather advisory for catastrophic weather events only.
• C. A notice of air traffic control service availability.
• D. A forecast of airline schedule delays.

Answer: (A)

An AIRMET is a weather advisory issued for flight safety that covers less severe, widespread weather phenomena. These advisories alert pilots to conditions that could affect safety, such as IFR or marginal visibility and ceilings, mountain obscuration, and moderate icing or moderate turbulence, as well as significant winds at the surface or aloft. They’re issued by the National Weather Service and are typically valid for about six hours, helping crews plan around conditions that aren’t catastrophic but could still impact flight safety. This differs from more severe warnings (SIGMETs), and it isn’t about air traffic control service availability or airline schedule delays.