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Decoding a METAR wind group with gusts

Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice question 3 of 18 on Weather / Sources. ACS element UA.III.A.K1 · difficulty: applied. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONA METAR contains the wind group 14021G26KT. How should a remote pilot decode this group?

  1. AFrom 140° true at 21 knots, gusting to 26 knots
  2. BFrom 140° magnetic at 21 knots, gusting to 26 knots
  3. CFrom 210° true at 14 knots, with gusts of 26 knots
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. From 140° true at 21 knots, gusting to 26 knots

  • A — correct The first three digits give the direction the true wind is blowing from, the next two give the speed in knots, and the value after G is the peak gust recorded.
  • B — incorrect The METAR wind direction is the true wind direction in tens of degrees, not a magnetic direction.
  • C — incorrect This reverses the direction and speed fields; the first three digits are the direction and the following two digits are the speed.

BACKGROUND

In a METAR, wind is reported with five digits unless the speed exceeds 99 knots, in which case six digits are used. The first three digits indicate the direction the true wind is blowing from in tens of degrees, and the next two digits give the speed in knots. If the wind is variable, the direction is reported as VRB. When the wind is gusting, the letter G follows the speed and the peak gust recorded is given after it. If the direction varies by more than 60° and the speed is greater than six knots, a separate group separated by a V shows the extremes of the wind direction.

STUDY TIP

Practice reading the wind group as direction-speed-gust in that order. The study guide's sample METAR (14021G26KT) decodes to winds 140 at 21 knots gusting to 26, which is a good anchor example.

KEY POINTS

  • METAR wind: three digits of true direction, then two digits of speed in knots.
  • A G followed by a number gives the peak gust recorded.
  • Winds above 99 knots use three digits for speed; VRB means variable direction.

SOURCES

  • remote_pilot_study_guide.txt, Chapter 3a "Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)", item 5 Wind and example decode
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SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on 14 CFR part 107, 14 CFR part 89, and the FAA Remote Pilot – Small UAS Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22). Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.