Which system provides wind information to towers for operational use?

• A. AWOS
• B. LLWAS
• C. NWS office
• D. TIBS

Answer: (B)

Wind information for tower operations is provided by the Low-Level Windshear Alert System. It uses a network of fixed wind sensors around the airport to measure wind speed and direction at multiple locations near the surface. By comparing readings across these sensors, LLWAS builds a picture of the actual wind field and can detect hazardous changes, such as wind shear or sudden gusts, that could affect takeoffs and landings. The tower can use this real-time wind field data to issue advisories, adjust runway usage, or sequence arrivals for safer operations.

Automated Weather Observing System provides general wind data from a single site for weather observations, not the airport-wide wind field used for operational decision-making. The NWS office issues forecasts and warnings rather than delivering on-site wind-field data to the tower. The Tower Information Broadcast System offers weather information to the tower but is not the specialized wind-field network designed for wind-shear detection and operational use in the tower environment.