Aviation Weather Reports & Forecasts

Question 1

What is a METAR?

Answer 1

routine weather report from weather observer’s interpretation of conditions at a given time. Transmitted every hour of routine. If special (SPECI) it can be given any time for rapidly changing weather

Question 2

Describe several types of weather observing programs available…

Answer 2

manual.- people see, perform calculations, and enter observations

ASOS and AWOS - primary U.S. surface weather systems. Both provide continuous minute by minute observations that generate METARs and other info. Transmitted over VHF frequencies and on some local NAVAIDs. If made without human intervention, includes modifier “AUTO” – if under maintenance it will include the $ sign

available at max 25 nm from station and up to 10,000 AGL

Question 3

PIREP - what and where found?

Answer 3

pilot report provides valuable info regarding conditions as they actually exist in the air. Things like height of cloud bases and tops, turbulence, wind shear, icing.

UA - routine PIREP
UUA - urgent PIREP

found on FSS, ARTCC, or terminal ATC

Question 4

What is a TAF?

Answer 4

concise statement of expected weather significant to aviation for a specific period of time within 5SM of center of the airports runway environment. TAF uses same coding as METAR

Question 5

From which primary source should you get weather for the ETA of your flight if no TAF?

Answer 5

Graphical Forecast Analysis (GFA)

GFA is a set of we-based graphics that provide observations, forecasts, and warnings that can be viewed from 14 hours in the past to 15. hours in the future Up to FL480.

Question 6

What are 4 types of inflight aviation weather advisories?

Answer 6

SIGMENT (WS)
Convective SIGMET (WST)
AIRMET (WA)
Center Weather Advisory (CWA)

Question 7

What is a convective SIGMET?

Answer 7

imply severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and LLWS. Issued for any convective situation which the forecaster feels is hazardous to all categories of aircraft

a. severe thunderstorms due to:
- surface winds 50+ knots
- hail at surface greater than or equal to 3/4 inch in diameter
- tornadoes
b. embedded thunderstorms
c. A line of thunderstrorms
D. Thunderstorms that produce precip greater than or equal to heavy intensity affecting 40% or more of a 3,000 sq mi area

Question 8

What is a SIGMET (WS)?

Answer 8

Advises of weather potentially hazardous to all aircraft.
a. severe icing not associated with thunderstorms
b. severe or extreme turbulence or CAT not associated with t-storms
c. widespread dust stroms, sand storms, lowering surface visibility to below 3 miles
d. volcanic ash