Which type of report is primarily concerned with presenting current weather observations at an airport?

• A. METAR
• B. TAF
• C. WST
• D. HIWAS

Answer: (A)

The answer is METAR, which stands for Meteorological Aerodrome Report. This type of report provides essential current weather observations at an airport, including temperature, wind direction and speed, visibility, and significant weather phenomena such as rain, snow, or fog. METARs are issued at regular intervals, typically every hour, and are vital for pilots and air traffic controllers to assess the current weather conditions crucial for flight planning and safety.

In contrast, a TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) provides weather forecasts for a specific airport over a defined period, generally 24 to 30 hours, but does not focus on current weather conditions. WST (Weather Security Team) reports are typically not standardized in the same way and might cover various aspects not limited to just weather observation. HIWAS ( Hazardous In-flight Weather Advisory Service) is a broadcast service that provides information about significant weather hazards to pilots, but it does not serve as a direct weather observation report. Thus, METAR is the report that specifically and directly fulfills the need for current weather observations at an airport.