Definition
A ground-based, automated system that continuously measures local weather conditions at or near an airport and broadcasts the results by radio and, at many sites, by telephone. AWOS sensors typically report wind speed and direction, temperature, dew point, altimeter setting, visibility, and cloud height, with the specific elements depending on the AWOS level (AWOS-A, A/V, 1, 2, 3, 3P/T/PT, and 4) installed at that location.
Plain English
An automatic weather station at an airport that measures the local weather and reads it out loud over a radio frequency so pilots can hear current conditions before taking off or landing.
Context Anchor
Pilots commonly use AWOS before departure, before arrival, and during flight planning to get current weather at a specific airport.
Derivation
‘Automated’ — runs without a human observer. ‘Observing’ — watching and recording. The name signals that the system replaces what an on-site weather observer used to do by hand.
Why Pilots Care
Provides pilots with immediate, accurate weather data at remote or unstaffed airports, supporting go/no-go decisions and safe approach planning.
Intuition Check
AWOS is not a forecast and it is not an air traffic control clearance. It reports current measured weather at or near the airport.
Example Sentence 1
Ten miles out, she tuned the AWOS frequency and copied the wind, altimeter, and visibility before joining the pattern.
Example Sentence 2
AWOS reports showed improving ceilings, allowing the instructor to approve the cross-country leg.