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Commercial Pilot > CA.I.C. Weather Information > Flashcards

CA.I.C. Weather Information Flashcards

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1
Q

What does the FAA consider to be “approved sources of aviation weather information” for pilots?

A

1) FAA/NWS sources
2) Enhanced Weather Information System (EWINS - essentially an FAA authorized, proprietary weather tracking system used by certain commercial flight operations).
3) commercial weather information providers.

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2
Q

How frequently is a radar image/observation generated, and what is its valid time?

A

Generated every 4 to 11 minutes. The valid time is listed on the observation.

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3
Q

How does a Doppler radar work?

A

Signal reflects (or echoes) off of
precipitation. The radar then measures the reflective power. The higher the reflectivity, the more intense the precipitation

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4
Q

Name some limitations associated with radar-generated weather products?

A
  • Precipitation Attenuation: closer targets scatter energy, hiding distant targets.
  • Range Attenuation: beam intensity decreases beyond 50 to 75 NM from the radar
  • Resolution: multiple targets combine into one echo.
  • Beam Overshoot/Undershoot:
  • Beam Blockage
  • Ground Clutter
  • Wave Propagation: beam is affected by differences in atmospheric density.
  • False echoes
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5
Q

What’s a major concern about flying through a region showing high echo tops?

A

Stronger updrafts, more severe turbulence and convective activity.

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6
Q

How often is the Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB) issued, and when is it valid?

A

4 times a day. The wind
and temperature information are predicted to occur at the valid time specified in the header and “for use” time window.

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7
Q

In Wind and Temp Aloft Forecast, are the wind directions true or magnetic?

A

True

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8
Q

In Wind and Temp Aloft Forecast, what does 9900 represent?

A

Wind light and variable.

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9
Q

Decode this Wind and Temp Aloft Forecast for DBQ at FL340:
820547

A

Dir: 320 True
Speed: 105kts
Temp: -47C
*Remember to subtract 50 from Direction

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10
Q

What are the issuance and valid times for the Surface Analysis Chart?

A

Every 3 hours

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11
Q

What is an Isobar?

A

Lines that connect areas of equal sea level pressure.

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12
Q

What kind of weather would you expect to encounter in areas where the isobars are close together?

A

High winds. Isobars close together indicate a steep pressure gradient.

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13
Q

What’s a trough, and what kind of weather would you expect to encounter flying along
one?

A

It’s an elongated area of relatively low pressure. Expect generally poor weather.

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14
Q

On a Surface Analysis chart, you see a blue circle surrounded by another blue
circle. What does this symbol indicate?

A

Winds calm.

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15
Q

Decipher these numbers on a Surface Analysis chart:
red “81”
green “42”
orange “137”
orange “\” with a “-7” to the right of it.

A

Temp 81 F
Dewpoint 42 F
Pressure 1013.7mb
Pressure continuously fell -7mb over the last 3 hours.

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16
Q

On a Surface Analysis chart, you see a sideways ∞.
What does this indicate?

A

Haze

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17
Q

What weather qualifies as MVFR?

A

Ceilings 1,000 to 3,000 ft. and/or visibility 3-5 SM

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18
Q

What weather qualifies as IFR?

A

Ceilings 500 to less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility 1 to less than 3 SM.

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19
Q

What weather qualifies as LIFR?

A

Ceilings less than 500 ft. and/or visibility less than 1 SM.

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20
Q

What are the issuance and valid times for a Low Level Significant Weather chart?

A

4 times a day.
Valid time is listed on the top.

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21
Q

When is a TAF issued and what is its valid time?

A

Issued 4 times per day (000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, and 1800Z), valid for either 24 hours or 30 hours, as depicted on the TAF.

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22
Q

What are the 4 types of inflight aviation weather advisories?

A

SIGMET
Convective SIGMET
AIRMET
Center Weather Advisory (CWA)

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23
Q

Are AIRMETs intended for pilots of small, large, or all aircraft?

A

All, although they’re certainly
more pertinent for smaller aircraft and pilots without instrument ratings. Put differently, an AIRMET details significant enroute weather phenomena that could be of interest to all aircraft, but potentially hazardous to small aircraft.

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24
Q

Define “moderate turbulence.”

A

Changes in altitude and/or attitude. Aircraft
remains in positive control. Usually variations in indicated airspeed will occur.
Occupants feel definite strains against seat belts or shoulder straps. Unsecured objects are
dislodged.

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25
Q

What are the three types of AIRMETs, and what type of weather is included in each?

A

Tango: moderate turbulence, sustained surface wind greater than 30 knots. (Think Turbulence)
Sierra: IFR conditions and/or mountain obscuration. (Think Sierra Mountains)
Zulu: moderate icing with freezing level heights.

26
Q

Are SIGMETs intended for pilots of small, large, or all aircraft?

A

All aircraft, but unlike
AIRMETs, SIGMETs indicate weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft.

27
Q

What are the issuance and valid times for SIGMETs?

A

Issued as necessary, valid for up to 4 hours.

28
Q

Define “severe turbulence.”

A

Large, abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude usually accompanied by large variations in indicated airspeed. Aircraft may be momentarily out of control.

29
Q

What type of weather is included in a SIGMET?

A
  • Severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence not associated with thunderstorms.
  • Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms.
  • Widespread dust storm or sandstorm.
  • Volcanic ash.
30
Q

What type of weather is included in a Convective SIGMET?

A
  • Thunderstorms (embedded, or line)
  • Wind in excess of 50kts
  • Tornado
  • Hail
  • Severe turbulence
31
Q

If a Convective SIGMET does not mention turbulence, icing, or wind shear, does that mean
you can expect smooth air and no icing?

A

No, any Convective SIGMET implies severe or
greater turbulence, severe icing, and low-level wind shear.

32
Q

What is a Center Weather Advisory (CWA)?

A

Unscheduled inflight weather
advisory issued for hazardous weather developing in the next 2 hours.

33
Q

Interpret this PIREP:
KCMH UA /OV APE 230010/TM 1516/FL085/TP BE20/SK
BKN065/WX FV03SM HZ FU/TA 20/TB LGT/IC MDT MXD 040-050/RM LLWS –15 KT
SFC-030 DURGC RY 22 CMH

A

Nearest station: KCMH
Routine report (non-urgent). Weather occurred 10DME out on the APE 230 degree radial at 15:16Z. Altitude was 8,500 ft. Aircraft type was a BE20. Sky broken at 6,500 feet MSL. / Flight visibility 3 SM due to
haze and smoke. Air temperature 20 degrees. Turbulence: light. / Icing: moderate mixed
iced between 4,000 - 5,000 feet MSL. / Remarks: low-level wind shear, pilot reported minus
(a loss of) 15 knots between the surface and 3,000 feet during climb out from runway 22 at
CMH airport

34
Q

What are the three types of weather briefings pilots can request from a FSS briefer?

A

Standard: provides a complete picture of the weather.

Abbreviated briefing: shortened briefing to update a previous standard briefing.

Outlook briefing: When a planned departure is 6 or
more hours away.

35
Q

The Earth’s atmosphere is divided into 5 concentric layers. In what layer do you fly, and up
to what altitude does it extend?

A

Troposphere.
It extends up to approximately 36,000 feet.
Jets can fly above this in the Stratosphere.

36
Q

What is the standard lapse rate of the troposphere in terms of temperature and pressure?

A

For every 1,000 feet of altitude gained, the temperature decreases by 2℃, and the
pressure decreases by 1 inch Hg.

37
Q

What does it mean to say that an atmosphere is “stable”?

A

Atmosphere’s ability to resist vertical movement of the air.
Air pushed upward in an unstable atmosphere will continue rising.

38
Q

What two things determine the stability of the air?

A

Temperature, and moisture.

39
Q

What causes wind to form?

A

Uneven heating of the earths surface, pressure moving from high to low, also Coriolis force.

40
Q

You’re flying eastbound. There’s a high-pressure system along your route. Would you get more favorable winds flying along the north or south side of the high-pressure system?

A

North, wind flows clockwise around a high-pressure system.

41
Q

How does a seabreeze form?

A

During the day, land heats faster than water. The less dense air over land rises and is replaced by cooler denser air flowing in from over the water.

42
Q

What are mountain waves?

A

Turbulent waves that form when stable air flows over a mountain or mountain ridge. They form above and downwind of mountains.

43
Q

What type of cloud would indicate the presence of mountain waves?

A

Lenticular

44
Q

Define dewpoint.

A

The temperature to which air must be cooled to become fully saturated.

45
Q

What would a high dewpoint indicate?

A

There is more moisture in the air.

46
Q

What would ice pellets and freezing rain indicate in terms of the temperature in the atmosphere?

A

A temperature inversion above.

47
Q

When does a cold front occur?

A

When a massive cold, dense, and stable air advances and replaces a body of warmer air. Imagine a snowplow, sliding under the warmer less dense air ahead of it, and forcing it aloft.

48
Q

What is a sign of imminent cold front passage?

A

A high dewpoint, and a falling barometric pressure.

49
Q

What kind of weather would you expect to accompany a passing cold front?

A

Towering cumulus clouds. Convection. Heavy showery precipitation. Unstable air. Winds variable and gusty.

50
Q

What kind of weather would you expect to accompany a passing warm front?

A

Gradual changes. Warm humid air sliding over the top of relatively colder air leading to warmer temperatures, low ceilings, low visibility, stratiform, clouds, steady continuous precipitation.

51
Q

What is an occluded front?

A

Fast moving cold front catches up to a slow moving warm front, forcing the warm air aloft.

52
Q

What direction does the wind flow around a low pressure system?

A

Counterclockwise, inward, and upward.

53
Q

What direction does the wind flow around a high-pressure system?

A

Clockwise, outward, and downward.

54
Q

What are the three types of turbulence?

A

Convective, mechanical, wind shear

55
Q

What are the three main ingredients of a thunderstorm?

A

Water vapor, unstable lapse rate, lifting action.

56
Q

What are the stages of a thunderstorm?

A

Cumulus: strong up drafts.

Mature: precipitations reaches the surface. Warm updrafts, cool downdrafts.

Dissipating: mostly downdrafts, rains out.

57
Q

What are the three principle thunderstorm types?

A

Single cell (air mass)

Multi cell (steady state)

Supercell (tornado, hail, damaging wind)

58
Q

You’re flying at night and find you flown into a thunderstorm. What should you do?

A
  • Disengage autopilot
  • Turn on pitot heat and defroster.
  • Set power to maintain IAS below VA
  • Maintain constant attitude, allow altitude, and airspeed to fluctuate.
  • Avoid turns, stressing airframe
  • Turn up cockpit lights
59
Q

What do you do if you encounter microburst?

A
  • Add full power and start climbing.
  • Climb straight ahead. If you’re not yet in it, immediately turn around while climbing.
60
Q

What are the three types of icing?

A

Clear: transparent, smooth. Droplets spread out and slowly freeze (+2 to -10)

Rime: rough, milky, opaque. Rapid freezing. (-15 to -20)

Mixed: combination of the two

61
Q

What are the intensity levels of structural icing that pilots can report to ATC?

A

Trace
Light
Moderate
Severe

62
Q

What are the different types of fog?

A

Radiation: clear nights, no wind.
Advection: moist ocean air over colder land.
Upslope: wind forces moist air up.
Steam: cold dry air moves over warm water.
Ice: extremely cold temps cause water vapor to form ice crystals.

Commercial Pilot (11 decks)

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