Radar, Airfield, And Weather Systems (RAWS) CDC Volume 3 Practice Test

Wind information in RAWS operations comes from both official weather observations/forecasts and local field measurements. METAR provides the current wind direction and speed observed at the airport, which gives a standardized picture of what the atmosphere is doing at the reporting station. TAF adds forecasted wind trends for planning the next several hours, helping you anticipate changes that could affect runway use, procedures, or scheduling. On-site sensors at the airfield supply real-time, local wind data, capturing how wind behaves right at the field, including gusts, variability, and any terrain or structure-induced effects that might not show up in distant reports. This local input is crucial for decisions made during operations where immediate conditions matter. Relying on forecast charts alone wouldn’t reflect current conditions, and using only on-site sensors wouldn’t provide the standardized, broader context or forecast guidance. Combining METAR/TAF with on-site sensors gives the most reliable, actionable wind information for RAWS operations.