Definition
An AIRMET issued for turbulence, including moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or greater, and/or non-convective low-level wind shear. Tango is the phonetic letter for T (turbulence) and identifies this specific category of AIRMET.
Plain English
A weather advisory warning pilots that bumpy air, strong surface winds, or sudden wind changes near the ground are expected over a wide area.
Context Anchor
Seen in preflight weather briefings and aviation weather reports when checking for turbulence and wind hazards along a route.
Derivation
Tango is the NATO phonetic alphabet word for the letter T. The FAA labels the three AIRMET types by their first letter: Sierra (S) for IFR/mountain obscuration, Tango (T) for turbulence, and Zulu (Z) for icing. Using the phonetic word avoids confusion when spoken over the radio or briefing line.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots review it to anticipate conditions that may require route changes, altitude adjustments, or delays for passenger comfort and safety.
Intuition Check
Tango does not mean a location, storm name, or severity level. In this term, Tango simply labels the AIRMET category for turbulence and certain wind hazards.
Example Sentence 1
During his preflight briefing, the pilot noted an AIRMET Tango covering his route, warning of moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet.
Example Sentence 2
An AIRMET Tango covering the route warned of surface winds exceeding 30 knots, so the pilot delayed departure.