Aviation Forecasts Flashcards
What is an ARFORS?
Area weather forecast
What height do ARFORS go up to?
FL200
Where are ARFORS available from?
ATC, FS, and Met office
The conditions in ARFORS have a probability of what?
50% or greater
Format of ARFORS
- Issue time in UTC
- Period of validity (DDHHMM in UTC) and the ARFOR area number
- Wind velocity in standard heights (Wind in True)
- Temperature at standard heights at and above 10,000ft is given with the wind velocity
- Cloud (AMSL)
- Weather situation
- Visibility
- Freezing level
- Airframe ice details
- Turbulence
- Special location weather forecasts
How much is Australia ahead of UTC?
8- 10 hours depending on the region
Australian Eastern Time?
UTC +10
Period of validity of ARFOR?
Usually, 12 hours but can vary
How is validity expressed?
Two six-figure date/ time groups
Explain six figure date/time group…
DDHHMM
D= DAY
H= HOUR
M= MINUTES
What does this mean?
262300 TO 271100 AREA 21
Area 21
Valid from: 2300Z 26th Day of month
Valid till: 1100Z on the 27th Day of the month
What is wind direction rounded to?
Nearest 10 degrees
Are forecasts in True or Magnetic?
True
What is wind speed rounded to?
Nearest 5 knots
What are the standard heights?
- 2,000ft
- 5,000ft
- 7,000ft
- 10,000ft
- FL140
- FL185
For winds not at standard heights?
Interpolate or read the nearest height
What heights are temperatures forecasted at?
- 10,000ft
- FL140
- FL185
How are temperatures written?
PSXX- Positive
MSXX- Minus
ZERO- 0 degrees
What is the cloud height above?
AMSL
Cloud types abbreviated….
- CI: CIRRUS
- CS: CIRROSTRATUS
- CC: CIRROCUMULUS
- AS: ALTOSTRATUS
- AC: ALTOCUMULUS
- NS: NIMBOSTRATUS
- CB: CUMLINONIMNUS
- CU: CUMULUS
- SC: STRATOCUMULUS
- ST: STRATUS
Eights of cloud are referred to as..
Oktas
Cloud amount abbreviations…
- SKC: SKY CLEAR 0
- FEW: FEW 1-2 OKTAS
- SCT: SCATTERED 3- 4 OKTAS
- BKN: BROKEN 5- 7 OKTAS
- OVC: OVERCAST 8 OKTAS
Cumulonimbus cloud amount abbreviations…
- ISOL: ISOLATED (INDIVIDUAL CB)
- OCNL: OCCASIONAL ( WELL SEPARATED)
- FRQ: FREQUENT (LITTLE OR NO SEPARATION)
- EMBD: EMBEDDED IN OTHER CLOUD
What is BC?
Patches
What is BL?
Blowing
What is DR?
Drifting
What is FZ?
Freezing
What is MI?
Shallow
What is SH?
Showers
What is TS?
Thunderstorms
What is PR?
Aerodrome partially covered by fog
What is BR?
Mist
What is DU?
Dust
What is DS?
Dust Storm
What is DZ?
Drizzle
What is FC?
Funnel Clouds
What is FG?
Fog
What is IC?
Ice crystals
What is FU?
Smoke
What is GR?
Hail
What is GS?
Small Hail Pellets