Forecasts
What is a forecast? Give examples of aviation forecasts.
predictions of the development and/or movement of weather phenomena based on meteorological observations and various mathematical models
(TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, MIS, etc)
What is a ceiling?
The lowest cloud layer that is either broken or overcast
What are the three kinds of AIRMETS, what do they cover?
Zulu: icing conditions and freezing levels
Sierra: IFR conditions and mountain obscuration
Tango: Turbulence and non convective low level wind shear
What is the purpose of the Low Level SigWX chart?
used as a guidance product for briefing the VFR pilot.
What are the three types of weather briefings?
Standard, Abbreviated, Outlook
What is a TAF and how far does it extend from an airport?
concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions significant to aviation for a specified time period within 5 sm of the center of the airport’s runway complex (terminal).
Interpret the following METAR abbreviations: BR FG FU VA DU SA HZ PY
Mist, fog, smoke, volcanic ash, widespread dust, sand, haze, spray
What are the valid periods for airmets, sigmets, and convective sigmets?
6 hours, 4 hours, 2 hours
What are three of the different wavelength sensors on the satellite for satellite weather pictures?
Visible, IR, Water Vapor
Name four sources of weather information (FAA approved)
AWC, 1800WXbreif, TIBS, HIWAS, FIS-B, ForeFlight, FSS
How do winds aloft tables show wind speeds of 100 kts or greater?
By adding 50 to the wind direction
Are wind directions in METARs magnetic or true?
True
What times are AIRMETS issues in UTC in the CONUS?
0245 UTC, 0845 UTC, 1445 UTC , 2045 UTC
What part of the US and what altitude does the Low Level SigWX chart cover?
The forecast domain covers the 48 contiguous states, southern Canada and the coastal waters for altitudes below 24,000 ft.
What is the difference between UA and UUA in terms of pireps?
UA is routine, UUA is urgent
Interpret the following TAF line: TEMPO 1619 4 S M -TSRA BKN010CB
TEMPO group in the example predicts that, between
1600Z and 1900Z, visibility is expected to be reduced to
4 statute miles in light rain associated with a
thunderstorm. A broken layer of cumulonimbus clouds
with bases at 1,000 feet is also predicted to occur.
What is included in a METAR?
airport identifier, time of observation, wind, visibility, Runway Visual Range (RVR), present weather phenomena, sky conditions, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting
True or false? Sigmets are issued 6 times a day and valid for four hours
False, they are only issued when SIGMET Wx occurs
What is the difference between round and square station symbols on a Surface analysis chart?
Round station symbols depict stations where observations are taken by human observers. Square station symbols indicate automated sites.
What is a FIS-B?
ground-based broadcast service provided through the FAA’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Services Universal Access Transmitter(UAT) network.
The _____ forecast compares the features of a current weather chart with those of a similar chart from the past.
The analogue forecast
What are the three types of visibility?
Prevailing, RVR, Runway Visibility Value (RVV)
What is found in a convective SIGMET
Severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, LLWS, squall line, embedded thunderstorm, hail greater than 3/4 inch diameter
What type of altitude is pressure reported in on a Surface Analysis Chart?
Pressure is referred to in mean sea level (MSL) on the surface analysis chart while all other elements are presented as they occur at the surface point of observation
Interpret the following PIREP: OPF UUA /OV KOPF/TM 1357/FL005/TP B206/TB MOD/RM LLWS +/-10 KT SFC-005 DURD
Urgent, over kopf, time 1357Z, 500 feet, B 206 plane, moderate turbulence, LLWS plus or minus ten kts, from the surface to 500 feet during descent