Definition
WA is the two-letter product code that identifies a weather bulletin as an AIRMET. It appears in the header of the text product transmitted by the Aviation Weather Center and tells the pilot, dispatcher, or briefing system that the message contains AIRMET information about moderate icing, moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or more, widespread IFR conditions, or mountain obscuration.
Plain English
WA is the label stamped on a weather report so pilots and computers know it's an AIRMET — a heads-up about weather that's significant but not severe.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation weather briefings, FAA weather discussions, and handbook sections that identify AIRMET products by their designator.
Derivation
The 'W' stands for weather and the 'A' for AIRMET. It's part of a family of NWS product codes (WS for SIGMET, WST for Convective SIGMET, WA for AIRMET) used to route and identify weather bulletins.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots check WA advisories to decide whether conditions are safe or if they should change their route or timing.
Intuition Check
WA does not mean Washington state here. In this aviation weather context, WA identifies an AIRMET product.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the briefer pointed to the WA header and said an AIRMET for moderate icing was active along the route.
Example Sentence 2
Reviewing the WA helped us spot areas where low ceilings might affect our flight.