09 Weather Reporting

Question 1

The content of the aerodrome weather report includes:

Answer 1

• The name of the aerodrome.
• The time at which the message was recorded.
• Identifying letter, (e.g. ‘Information Alpha’) which changes with each new set of information broadcast.
• Runway(s) in use.
• Wind direction and speed in degrees and knots.
• Visibility.
• Weather conditions such as rain, mist, haze, etc.
• Cloud below 1 500 m (5 000 ft) or below the highest minimum sector altitude, whichever is greater; cumulonimbus; if the sky is obscured, vertical visibility when available; (…)
• Temperature and dew point in °C.
• QNH in hectopascals.
• Trend information, such as increasing or reducing visibility.
• Any other significant information such as windshear reports, work in progress or bird warnings.

Question 2

Cloud cover is reported as:

Answer 2

Few: One to two eighths of cloud cover.
Scattered: Three to four eighths of cloud cover.
Broken: Five to seven eighths of cloud cover.
Overcast: Eight eighths of cloud cover.

Question 3

CAVOK means:

Answer 3

• Visibility is 10 km or greater.
• No cloud of operational significance, i.e.:
• No cloud below 5000 ft agl or below the minimum sector altitude (MSA).
• No cumulonimbus or towering cumulus clouds.
• No significant weather.

Question 4

How can weather be obtained by AC in flight?

Answer 4

For aircraft in flight, voice weather information can be obtained from VOLMET and ATIS.

Question 5

When is ATIS info gathered?

Answer 5

ATIS information is obtained by crews before departure and during the arrival, usually before contacting Approach.

Question 6

Uses of Volmet?

Answer 6

VOLMET is used to obtain weather reports en-route. Useful for picking up destination and alternate weather before the ATIS is within range.

Question 7

ATIS

Answer 7

Automatic Terminal Information Service.

Question 8

D-ATIS

Answer 8

Datalink Automatic Terminal Information Service.

Question 9

VOLMET

Answer 9

From the French ‘vol’ and ‘meteo’. Met information in flight

Question 10

When should routine AIREPs be made?

Answer 10

Routine air-reports should be made by crews as soon as practicable after passing a compulsory reporting point. Where a route isn’t defined by such points, a routine air-report should be made every hour.

Question 11

Conditions where Special AIREPS should be made?

Answer 11

• Moderate or severe turbulence.
• Moderate or severe icing.
• Severe mountain wave.
• Thunderstorms that are obscured, embedded, widespread or in squall lines.
• Heavy dust storm or sandstorm.
• Volcanic ash cloud.
• Pre-eruption volcanic activity or a volcanic eruption.
• Hail.
• Cumulonimbus clouds.

Question 12

Heights in aerodrome weather reports?

Answer 12

Reported in reference to aerodrome elevation.

Question 13

Wind speeds according to annex 3?

Answer 13

knots or m/s

Question 14

What is a SPECI?

Answer 14

A SPECI is a type of METAR that is issued when there has been a significant change to the weather reported in the most recent METAR.

Question 15

Continous VHF Volmet?

Answer 15

METAR and SPECI

Question 16

Scheduled HF Volmet?

Answer 16

METAR, SPECI, TAF, SIGMET.

Frequencies depend on time of day.

Question 17

D-VOLMET

Answer 17

METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs.

Question 18

RVR?

Answer 18

Measured at 3 places on the runway.
* Touchdown zone
* Mid Point
* Stop End.

RVR tendancy, U upward, D downward. N No change.

Visibility in M. (United state in ft)

Question 19

Visibility?

Answer 19

Given in M in the UK, Statute miles in the USA.

Question 20

Braking action readback?

Answer 20

Not required.

Question 21

Special air report structure?

Answer 21

AC ident
Position
Time
FL
Met info