FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)Weather and Weather ServicesMedium
A pilot is planning a flight departing at 0400Z on the 13th. The TAF includes: FM130200 22015G25KT 3SM TSRA BKN015CB FM130600 25008KT P6SM SCT030. What conditions should the pilot expect at the departure time?
- AWind 250 at 8 knots, visibility greater than 6SM, scattered clouds at 3000 feet
- BCalm wind, visibility unrestricted, few clouds at 2000 feet
- CWind 220 at 15 knots gusting to 25, visibility 3SM in thunderstorms and rain, broken cumulonimbus at 1500 feet
- DWind 180 at 12 knots, visibility 3SM in mist, overcast at 800 feet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Wind 220 at 15 knots gusting to 25, visibility 3SM in thunderstorms and rain, broken cumulonimbus at 1500 feet
0400Z falls within the FM130200 group, which is valid from 0200Z until the next FM group at 0600Z. That group forecasts wind 220 at 15 knots gusting 25, visibility 3SM in thunderstorms and rain, and broken cumulonimbus clouds at 1500 feet.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes the FM130600 group, which begins at 0600Z, after the departure time.
- B. This does not match either FM group in the forecast.
- D. This data does not appear anywhere in the given TAF excerpt.
TAF FM Groups
FM (From) groups in a TAF indicate a significant, rapid change in conditions beginning at the stated time and remaining valid until the next FM or the end of the forecast period.
- FM is followed by day/hour/minute in UTC
- Each FM group replaces all previous conditions
- Conditions persist until the next FM, BECMG, or TEMPO group takes effect
Memory trick: FM means 'From here forward, forget the old forecast'