For LOCALs taken in support of aircraft operations, the code form will be what?

• A. Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)
• B. SPECI
• C. Aviation Selected Local Weather Report (LOCAL)
• D. 3-hourly observations

Answer: (A)

Aviation weather observations used for flight operations are encoded in METAR format, which provides a standardized code that pilots and systems understand. LOCALs taken to support aircraft operations are produced for local use, but they’re formatted in the same METAR code form so they can be read and processed consistently with other METAR reports. This standardization ensures immediate, clear interpretation by crews and weather systems, no matter where the report is generated. A SPECI would be issued only for a significant weather change that warrants an altered report, not for routine LOCALs. Three-hourly observations describe a different cadence and aren’t the standard for real-time flight support.