Definition
A division of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) that develops aviation weather products, forecasting tools, and decision-support systems used by the FAA, airlines, and pilots. RAL is responsible for developing and refining many of the aviation weather products distributed through the Aviation Weather Center, including turbulence, icing, ceiling, and visibility forecasts.
Plain English
A research group that builds the weather forecasting tools pilots and air traffic controllers rely on. They take raw weather science and turn it into practical products you can actually use in flight planning.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA weather-source discussions, especially where aviation weather products, research tools, or weather information providers are being identified.
Derivation
From 'research' (investigation to develop new knowledge) and 'applications' (putting that knowledge to practical use). The name signals the lab's purpose: not pure science, but turning science into tools that work in the real world.
Why Pilots Care
Its research feeds into better weather products that help pilots plan around storms, turbulence, and other hazards.
Intuition Check
Do not read RAL as a type of weather report or flight rule. In this context, it names the Research Applications Laboratory, the organization behind certain weather research and tools.
Example Sentence 1
The graphical turbulence forecast the pilot reviewed before departure was developed by RAL at NCAR.
Example Sentence 2
RAL projects have improved the accuracy of turbulence forecasts available to pilots.