Which forecast product is specifically used to describe aviation weather for an individual airport and surrounding area?

• A. METAR
• B. NOTAM
• C. TAF
• D. SIGMET

Answer: (C)

The forecast product that describes aviation weather for an individual airport and its immediate area is the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. It is issued specifically for the airport and the surrounding vicinity (about a 5-mile radius) and covers the expected weather for roughly the next 24 to 30 hours, with updates about every 6 hours and amendments as needed. It includes details like wind direction and speed, visibility, weather phenomena, cloud cover and ceilings, and any significant changes expected.

This is different from a METAR, which is an actual observed weather report at a given moment; NOTAMs, which are notices about operational conditions rather than weather forecasts; and SIGMETs, which are warnings about significant weather hazards affecting larger areas rather than a single airport’s forecast. Thus, the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast is the correct choice for describing aviation weather for an individual airport and its surrounding area.