What is a civilian airplane capable of using a TACAN station for?

A civilian airplane can utilize a TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) station primarily for Distance Measuring Capability (DME). TACAN is primarily a military navigation system, but many civilian aircraft capable of receiving TACAN signals can use the DME aspect to determine their distance from the TACAN station.

DME provides pilots with accurate distance information, which is crucial for navigation, especially during approaches and en route navigation. By using the DME feature of the TACAN station, pilots can gauge how far they are from the station, which helps in planning their flight paths and approaches to the runway.

The other options do not accurately describe the role of TACAN in civilian aviation. While landing guidance can be provided by systems such as ILS (Instrument Landing System), it is not a function of TACAN. Weather tracking is conducted by other instruments and systems designed specifically for that purpose, and flight planning typically involves broader tools and data sources than just a TACAN station. Thus, the use of TACAN in a civilian context is well aligned with providing a distance measuring capability.