HIWAS describes weather advisories for en route flights. Which statement correctly applies?

• A. It broadcasts weather advisories on select VOR frequencies for en route flights.
• B. It provides real-time radar overlays in cockpit displays.
• C. It updates METARs automatically to pilots.
• D. It publishes weather in printed form only at destination airports.

Answer: (A)

HIWAS is a continuous voice broadcast of hazardous weather advisories for flights en route, transmitted on select VOR frequencies so pilots can hear important weather alerts while they’re mid-flight. This system exists specifically to keep pilots informed about significant weather hazards along their route, using voice channels rather than radar displays or surface reports.

It doesn’t provide real-time radar overlays in cockpit displays, so you won’t see live radar on HIWAS. It also doesn’t automatically update METARs to pilots, since METARs are separate surface observations, not en route advisories. And these advisories aren’t published only as printed information at destination airports; they’re broadcast along the en route portions of the flight for pilots to receive during the journey.