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⚖ Weather · FAA Aviation Weather Services / PHAK Chapter 13WX-014 · 117 of 261

An AIRMET Tango is issued to warn pilots about:

AIFR conditions and mountain obscuration.
BModerate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or more, and low-level wind shear.
CModerate icing and freezing level heights.

Why →AIRMET Tango covers moderate-or-greater turbulence not associated with thunderstorms, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or more, and low-level wind shear. For drone pilots, AIRMET Tango conditions are directly hazardous. 30-knot winds exceed most consumer drone operating limits.

The trap →Icing is AIRMET Zulu. IFR conditions are AIRMET Sierra. Tango covers turbulence and wind. T for Turbulence.

Field note →Most consumer drones specify maximum wind speeds of 22–27 knots. AIRMET Tango triggers at 30 knots. Right at or above those limits. An active AIRMET Tango is usually a hard no-go for small sUAS.

SOURCE → FAA Aviation Weather Services / PHAK Chapter 13CHECKED JUL 16ACS III.A.K1MED