MeteorologyWeather Reports and Forecasts
Graphical Area Forecast (GAF)
A Graphical Area Forecast (GAF) is a domestic weather forecast issued for aircraft operations at or below 10,000 ft AMSL. It comprises an image depicting weather areas labelled with alpha characters and a supporting table detailing surface visibility, weather, cloud, icing, turbulence, and freezing level.
Key Points
- •The GAF provides weather information for airspace from the surface up to 10,000 ft AMSL.
- •GAFs are issued with 6-hour validity periods.
- •Each GAF contains an image map and a supporting table detailing specific weather phenomena for each labelled area.
Exam Relevance
Understanding how to read and apply GAFs to a planned route is critical for VFR flight planning and avoiding hazardous weather.
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