What is the radius of a TAF?

What is the radius of a TAF?

• A. 3 nautical miles
• B. 5 nautical miles
• C. 10 nautical miles
• D. 15 nautical miles

Answer: (B)

A TAF is a forecast for the aerodrome and the area that most directly affects flight operations there. The standard coverage is a five-nautical-mile radius around the airport’s reference point, which focuses on conditions that matter for takeoff, landing, and approach. This distance keeps the forecast relevant to the runway environment without drifting into distant airspace. If the area were much smaller, important conditions on or near the approach could be missed; if it were much larger, the forecast would include weather that doesn’t impact the airport operations as directly.

A TAF is a forecast for the aerodrome and the area that most directly affects flight operations there. The standard coverage is a five-nautical-mile radius around the airport’s reference point, which focuses on conditions that matter for takeoff, landing, and approach. This distance keeps the forecast relevant to the runway environment without drifting into distant airspace. If the area were much smaller, important conditions on or near the approach could be missed; if it were much larger, the forecast would include weather that doesn’t impact the airport operations as directly.