User Guide

190-00552-00 Rev. A
Garmin G1000 Pilot’s Guide for the Columbia 350/400
6-17
HAZARD AVOIDANCE
NOTE: SIGMETs are broadcast for hazardous weather considered of extreme importance to all aircraft.
SIGMETs (for “SIGnificant METeorological information”) warn of the following weather hazards: severe
icing, severe and extreme turbulence, dust storms, sandstorms, or volcanic ash lowering visibility to less
than 3 miles. A Convective SIGMET (WST) is issued for hazardous convective weather (such as tornadoes,
thunderstorms, hail) and covers severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low-level wind shear. A
localized SIGMET is a significant weather condition occurring at a localized geographical position.
NOTE: AIRMETs are broadcast for weather phenomena that potentially affect all aircraft. For pilots of
light aircraft, AIRMET (for “AIRman’s METeorological information”) gives information about the following
conditions: moderate icing, moderate turbulence, sustained winds 30 knots or greater at the surface,
widespread areas of ceilings less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles, and extensive mountain
obscurement. These are important to light aircraft that have limited flight capabilities, lack of equipment,
and/or instrumentation.
SIG/AIR – Selecting the SIG/AIR Softkey shows SIGMET and AIRMET information to advise the pilot of
potentially hazardous weather. The advisory covers an area of at least 3,000 square miles at any one time.
The update rate is every 12 minutes.
Figure 6-22 gives a description of the color coding.
Figure 6-22 SIGMET/AIRMET Legend
When enabled, the following AIRMETs can be displayed:
• Icing
• Turbulence
• IFR conditions
• Mountain obscuration
• Surface winds