Glossary
Air Traffic Control
TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)
Definition
A weather forecast specific to an airport area, covering expected conditions for a 24-30 hour period. Includes predicted wind, visibility, clouds, and significant weather changes.
Related Terms
METAR
A standardized format for reporting current weather conditions at an airport, including wind, visibility, clouds, temperature, and pressure. Updated every 30-60 minutes.
ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service)
A continuous broadcast of recorded non-control airport information including weather, active runways, and NOTAMs. Updated hourly and identified by a phonetic alphabet letter.
Flight Plan
A document filed with air traffic control that specifies the planned route, altitude, speed, and other details of a flight. Required for all IFR flights and recommended for VFR flights.