Term
Winds Aloft Forecast –
Wind direction is relative to what?
In MPH or Knots?
Temperature in which scale? |
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Definition
Relative to true north
In Knots
Celsius |
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Term
| Winds Aloft Forecast – At a given altitude, “2006+03” represents… |
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Definition
20 = Add a zero for a wind direction from 200 (relative to true north)
06 = Wind speed, so 6 knots
+3 = 3 degrees above zero C |
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Term
| Winds Aloft Forecast – Light and variable – Definition? The coded group for it is what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What causes variations in altimeter settings between weather reporting stations? |
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Definition
| Unequal heating of the Earth’s surface |
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Term
| Standard temperature and pressure, in scales for both US and elsewhere – Where would these exist, and the numerical values for each? |
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Definition
At sea level
15C / 59F
29.92 inches mercury, or… 1013.2 millibars |
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Term
| Direction of wind about a high or low pressure weather systems (that is about air masses) |
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Definition
Clockwise around a HIGH-pressure system. Counterclockwise around a LOW-pressure system.
Mnemonic: Alphabetically from...High to Low
and similarly from...Clockwise to Counterclockwise |
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Term
| Differences in direction between winds aloft and on the ground are caused by… |
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Definition
| Friction, between the wind and the surface |
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Term
| Whenever you cross a front, you’ll have… |
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Definition
Wind shift
Change of Temperature |
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Term
| Wind directions are represented using which scale - Useful reminder… |
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Definition
If you read it, it's true. If you hear it, it's magnetic.
All charts and textual sources (METAR, TAF, winds aloft, surface analysis charts, etc) use true north as the reference
ATIS/AWOS/ASOS broadcasts, or any information a controller gives you over the radio, is magnetic |
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Term
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Definition
| Special Aviation Weather Report – Appears in place of the usual METAR |
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Term
| Translate... KSLE 172056Z 18014G21KT M1/4SM -RA OVCOl0 12/10 A2974 RMK A02 CIG 008V013 SLP071 POOO3 T01170100 |
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Definition
| KSLE = Airport Identifier. 172056Z = 17th day of the month, at 2056 Zulu time. 18014G21KT = Wind from 180, at 14 knots, w gusts to 21 knots. M10SM = Visibility of less than 1/4 statute miles. -RA = light rain. OVC010 = overcast at 1,000 feet. 12/10 = Temp of 12C, and Dewpoint of 10C. A2974 = altimeter setting at 29.74. RMK = Remarks. A02 = Automated station w/ precipitation sensor. CIG = ceiling. 008V013 = that ceiling varies from 800 feet to 1,300'. SLP071 = Sea Level Pressure in hPa, aka millibars, of 1007.1 hPa. P003 = .03 inches of precipitation in the last hour. T01170100 = Temperature exactly 11.7C, and dewpoint exactly 10.0C. |
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Term
| TAF – Stands for? Where does it appear? |
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Definition
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Below the first line of the METAR |
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Term
| TAF – BECMG 0608 would indicate? |
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Definition
| Becoming, between 0600Z and 0800Z _____... |
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Term
| TAF – FM & TEMPO – What is important to know about these abbreviations? |
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Definition
Re FROM and TEMPORARY, there is one main forecast. If you see a long list of “FM” and “TEMPO,” it’s because there will be changes to the main weather within that 24-hour (or 30-hour) period.
AND, anything after the “FM” is now the new main forecast. The original main forecast is essentially void when you see an “FM” because the “FM” line will include the complete line up of Wind – Visibility – Weather – Sky Condition – Optional Data (Wind Shear). |
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Term
| Routine METAR reports are observed how often, and reported when? |
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Definition
| Hourly, and reported anywhere from 50 minutes after the hour until the top of the hour. |
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Term
Prognostic Chart Symbols 1of2
[image] |
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Definition
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Term
Prognostic Chart Symbols 2of2
[image] |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
Temperature Inversion Layers -
2 characteristics
1 possibility… |
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Definition
Smooth, stable air
Poor visibility with fog, haze, or low clouds.
Wind shear zone in an inversion – if wind speeds of at least 25 knots, at 2,000’ to 4,000’ AGL |
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Term
| Wind shear most likely with… |
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Definition
Think of mnemonic re CFL light bulbs (which are nearly as unpleasant as wind shear)
Clear air turbulence
Frontal zones
Low level Temperature Inversions |
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Term
| Mountain Wave Turbulence – 2 characteristics |
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Definition
Winds of 40 knots or more
Air is stable |
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Term
Lapse Rate –
Definition?
What a higher vs. lower lapse rate would mean? |
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Definition
The rate of decrease (most of the time) in temperature with increasing altitude. A greater decrease in temps (greater lapse rate) corresponds to an UNSTABLE air condition (as would be required for a thunderstorm for instance)
A lesser decrease (or sometimes an increase) in temps corresponds to a STABLE air condition (and if an increase in temps, then a temperature inversion. |
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Term
Stable air moving up a (mountain) slope will create what type of...
Cloud
Precipitation
Air
Visibility |
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Definition
Stable air moving up a (mountain) slope will create...
Clouds: Stratiform
Precipitation: Steady, not showery.
Air: Smooth
Visibility: Poor |
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Term
| Unstable air creates what type of visibility, clouds, precipitation? |
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Definition
Good surface visibility
Cumulous clouds
Showery precipitation |
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Term
PIREP abbreviations Required data found in all PIREP’s are as follows:
UA or UUA means
/OV means
/TM means
/FL means
/TP means |
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Definition
UA or UUA = Identify the PIREP as routine (UA {i.e. upper air}) or urgent (UUA).
/OV = Over – The location of the PIREP
/TM = Time - Time the PIREP was received from the pilot
/FL = Flight Level or altitude MSL at the time the PIREP is filed
/TP = Type of aircraft |
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Term
PIREP abbreviations
Optional info to be reported and displayed:
/SK =
/TA =
/WV =
/TB =
/IC =
/RM = |
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Definition
/SK = Sky cover
/TA = Temperature
/WV = Wind velocity
/TB = Turbulence
/IC = Icing
/RM = Remarks |
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Term
| Sample PIREP UA /OV YSP 090025 /TM 2120 /FL050 /TP BE99 /SK 020BKN040 110OVC /TA -14 /WV 030045 /TB MDT CAT 060-080 /IC LGT RIME 020-040 /RM LGT FZRA INC |
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Definition
| UA: a Routine Upper Air PIREP. OV YSP 090025: The aircraft observation was 25 NM east of the Marathon, Ontario (YSP) VOR/DME. /TM: Time was 2120 UTC. /FL050: Flight level was 5,000 ft. /TP BE99 Type was Beech 99. /SK 020BKN040 110OVC The clouds were broken at 2,000 ft MSL with tops at 4,000 ft and an overcast layer at 11,000 ft MSL. (the pilot must have climbed through the layer to know the tops) /TA -14: temperature is -14 Celsius. /WV 030045: Winds are from the NE at 45 knots. /TB MDT CAT 060-080: There is moderate clear air turbulence between 6,000 ft and 8,000 ft. /IC LGT RIME 020-040: There is light rime icing between 2,000 ft and 4,000 ft. (This would indicate that the icing is picked up in the cloud.) /RM LGT FZRA INC: The remarks section says that light freezing rain was encountered in the cloud. |
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Term
PIREP – Units of measurement used for...
Distance
Temps
Altitude |
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Definition
Distance – Nautical miles
Temps – Celsius
Altitude – Feet MSL |
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Term
| When calling for a weather briefing, along with proposed altitude, origin, destination, type of plane, etc, the pilot should state what else? And for what reason? |
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Definition
| The tail number or pilot’s name, for ID in the event of an emergency. |
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Term
| Directly from a solid phase to a gas phase, w/o entering the liquid phase… |
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Definition
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Term
| Directly from the gas state to the solid state… |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Non-frontal, narrow band of active thunderstorms. Most dangerous. |
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Term
| Structural icing – What one condition is required? |
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Definition
| Visible moisture – i.e. clouds, snow, or freezing rain. |
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Term
| Structural icing – The 3 types, temps in which they’re formed, and characteristics... |
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Definition
Clear: 2C to -10C. Most dangerous since hard to see, and changes shape of the airfoil.
Mixed (Clear and Rime): -10C to -15C. Has the worst characteristics of both, and can form rapidly.
Rime: -15C to -20C – Milky opaque appearance – Less dense, and easier to remove.
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Term
| Ice pellets at the surface indicate… |
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Definition
A warm front, with a…
Temperature inversion, with…
Rain falling from an above-freezing higher altitude, into a below-freezing lower altitude. The freezing rain results in ice pellets on the ground. |
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Term
| Frost forms under what conditions? |
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Definition
Temp of the collecting surface is at or below the dew point
The dewpoint is below freezing |
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Term
| Highest accumulation of structural ice occurs… |
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Definition
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Term
| AIRMETs – What are they (not the basis of the acronym), and for whom? |
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Definition
AIRMETs – Warnings of weather conditions hazardous to small, single-engine aircraft
Intended for all pilots |
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Term
| SIGMETs – What are they (not the basis of the acronym), and for whom? |
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Definition
| Warnings of SIGnificant weather conditions, hazardous to all aircraft |
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Term
Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories –
The type of freezing / icing info is found where? |
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Definition
AIRMETs - Freezing levels, and areas of moderate icing
SIGMETs - Areas of Severe icing |
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Term
| Convective SIGMETs – Why the name? What exactly do they cover? |
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Definition
Convective SIGMETs – Convective as in convection, causing rising air and resultant bad weather.
Warnings of SEVERE thunderstorms, and their related hazards of… THE mnemonic…
Tornadoes
Hail, 3/4 inch or more
Embedded thunderstorms (obscured by massive cloud layers and can’t be seen) |
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Term
HIWAS –
What is it?
Where to find?
How identified on a sectional? |
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Definition
Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service.
Can be transmitted over VOR / VORTAC frequencies.
VOR with a HIWAS is identified with a symbol - an “H” within a filled circle |
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Term
| Radar weather reports are particularly useful to pilots because they indicate… |
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Definition
Precipitation info, including…
Location
Type
Intensity
Cell movement
Level of the top of the precipitation echo. |
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Term
GFA –
What is it?
What does it cover?
Where to find it? |
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Definition
Graphical Forecast for Aviation –
Cloud / Winds aloft info at various regions, altitudes, time-frames
Found at 1800wxbrief.com |
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Term
| Wind Barbs – Red lines indicate… |
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Definition
| Gusts, on top of the winds already indicated in black. |
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Term
| GFA Cloud diagram – The small circle symbols – Empty / filled-in indicate… |
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Definition
Empty = Clear skies
Filled = Clouds |
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