Hazardous Weather Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Crosswind?

A
  1. Wind that is not parallel
  2. to a runway
  3. or flight path.
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2
Q

What is a Gust?

A
  1. Sudden,
  2. short
  3. increase in wind speed.
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3
Q

What is a Tailwind?

A
  1. more than 90 degrees
  2. to the longitudinal axis
  3. of the runway
  4. or aircraft.
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4
Q

What is variable wind?

A

Frequent wind direction change.

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5
Q

What is Wind Shift?

A
  1. A narrow zone
  2. along which there is an abrupt change
  3. of wind direction.
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6
Q

What is Ceiling?

A
  1. lowest layer aloft reported as broken or overcast;

2. or the vertical visibility into an indefinite ceiling.

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7
Q

What is Indefinite Ceiling?

A

upward ceiling is a surface-based obscuration, (ex fog)

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8
Q

What is fog?

A
  1. minute water droplets
  2. reduce horizontal visibility to less than 5/8SM
  3. does not fall to the ground.
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9
Q

What is precipitation?

A

Any form of water that falls to the ground.

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10
Q

What is blowing snow?

A
  1. Snow lifted from the ground by wind
  2. 6’ up or more,
  3. reduces horizontal visibility to less than 7SM.
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11
Q

What is Volcanic Ash?

A
  1. Fine particles of rock powder from a volcano

2. may remain airborne for long periods.

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12
Q

What is Mountain Obscuration?

A
  1. when pilots can’t maintain visual contact with mountains or ridges
  2. due to clouds,
  3. precipitation, or
  4. obscurations.
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13
Q

What is Aircraft Turbulence?

A
  1. Irregular motion of an aircraft in flight,
  2. normally rapid up and down motions,
  3. caused by a rapid variation of wind speed.
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14
Q

What is Convective Turbulence?

A
  1. Turbulent vertical motions
  2. result from convective currents
  3. and the subsequent rising and sinking of air.
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15
Q

What is Mechanical Turbulence?

A

Turbulence caused by obstructions, such as trees, buildings, terrain, etc.

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16
Q

What is Mountain Wave?

A
  1. when stable air flow passes over a mountain or mountain ridge
  2. makes a disturbance
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17
Q

What is wind shear?

A
  1. A change in wind speed and/or direction
  2. in a short distance
  3. resulting in a tearing or shearing effect.
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18
Q

What is temperature inversion?

A

When temperature increases with altitude.

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19
Q

What is CAT?

A

Clear Air Turbulence.

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20
Q

What is Clear Air Turbulence?

A
  1. FL200 - FL500
  2. in cloud-free regions,
  3. associated with wind shear,
  4. can affect aircraft without warning.
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21
Q

What is Rime Ice?

A
  1. Rough, milky, opaque ice
  2. formed by the instantaneous freezing
  3. of small super cooled water droplets.
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22
Q

What is Clear Ice?

A
  1. glossy, translucent ice
  2. formed by slow freezing
  3. of large super cooled water droplets.
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23
Q

What is a Thunderstorm?

A
  1. produced by cumulonimbus clouds,
  2. always accompanied by lightning and thunder
  3. usually with strong gusts of wind, heavy rain, and sometimes hail.
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24
Q

What is a Downburst?

A
  1. strong downdraft
  2. creates damaging winds on or near the ground.
  3. Winds can be straight or curved
  4. Size, duration, and intensity varies.
  5. Can cause significant damage.
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25
Q

What types of winds are responsible for most weather-related accidents?

A

Adverse winds

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26
Q

What two phases of flight are the most vulnerable?

A
  1. Takeoff

2. Landing

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27
Q

What aircraft are most affected by adverse winds?

A

Small aircraft.

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28
Q

Why are smaller aircraft most affected by adverse winds in the takeoff/landing phase of flight?

A

They tend to have slower airspeeds in those phases.

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29
Q

Can adverse winds affect air traffic decisions?

A

Yes

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30
Q

In what two main ways can adverse winds affect air traffic decisions?

A
  1. Runway Changes

2. Slower arrival rates

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31
Q

What are the 4 types of adverse winds?

A
  1. Crosswind
  2. Tailwind
  3. Gusts
  4. Changing winds
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32
Q

In what direction, relative to the wind, do aircraft attempt to depart/land as much as possible?

A

Into the wind

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33
Q

Why do aircraft depart/land into the wind as much as possible? (2 reasons)

A
  1. Groundspeed is slowed

2. More lift is generated

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34
Q

What 3 effects can a crosswind have on an aircraft?

A
  1. Reduce aircraft performance.
  2. Can blow aircraft off course
  3. Can force aircraft to lean or drift on landing/takeoff
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35
Q

In what two ways can a crosswind force an aircraft to lean or drift on landing/takeoff?

A
  1. Cause Loss of Control.

2. Cause Landing gear to collapse.

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36
Q

What effect can a tailwind have on an aircraft?

A

drastically reduce aircraft performance.

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37
Q

How can an aircraft compensate for a tailwind during takeoff/landing?

A

Operate a higher speeds at those times

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38
Q

If an aircraft needs to operate at higher speeds at takeoff and landing, how does a runway need to be changed to allow this?

A

Runway length needs to increase.

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39
Q

How can a tailwind reduce aircraft performance during takeoff?

A

Slower climbs

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40
Q

In what 3 ways can gusts disrupt an airflight?

A
  1. Cause rapid changes in airspeed
  2. Airspeed changes again when gust dissipates
  3. Aircraft may maneuver unexpectedly.
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41
Q

If an aircraft speed rapidly changes (especially in response to a gust) what can that lead to?

A

Altitude change.

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42
Q

What are the 2 types of changing winds?

A
  1. Variable wind

2. Sudden wind shift

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43
Q

What problem can variable wind cause aircraft?

A

Aircraft can have difficulty aligning/adjusting

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44
Q

Where can sudden wind shifts typically be found?

A

Leading edge of storms

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45
Q

What is the characteristic of wind direction in changing winds?

A

Wind direction can change dramatically and rapidly.

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46
Q

IMC?

A

Instrument Meteorological conditions

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47
Q

What is the greatest cause of fatal accidents?

A

Visual flight into IFR weather.

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48
Q

What is the most common cause of visual flight into IFR weather accidents?

A

Vertigo

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49
Q

What are the 5 hazards of IFR weather/conditions?

A
  1. Fog
  2. Precipitation
  3. Volcanic Ash
  4. Indefinite Ceiling
  5. Mountain Obscuration
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50
Q

What is the primary hazard caused by Indefinite Ceiling?

A

Restricts slant range (air-to-ground) visibility.

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51
Q

What is the most common IFR weather hazard?

A

Fog

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52
Q

When does fog form?

A

When temp and dew point are the same

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53
Q

What is fog?

A

clouds that begin at the surface

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54
Q

Can fog form rapidly?

A

yes

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55
Q

What 3 forms of precipitation commonly produce IFR weather?

A

Rain
Drizzle
Snow

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56
Q

How low can heavy rain reduce visibility?

A

below 1 SM

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57
Q

How low can snow reduce visibility to?

A

zero

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58
Q

How much visibility is there in “whiteout” conditions?

A

zero

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59
Q

What type of snow is prone to being blown?

A

powdery

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60
Q

What can create whiteout conditions?

A

Blowing snow

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61
Q

What can ingesting volcanic ash provoke an engine to do?

A

Fail

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62
Q

What can volcanic ash on the ground cause?

A

Loss of traction

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63
Q

Is volcanic ash easy to see?

A

No.

64
Q

In what circumstances is volcanic ash especially difficult to see?

A
  1. Night

2. IFR weather

65
Q

Is volcanic ash always seen by RADAR?

A

No

66
Q

In terms of Mountain Obscuration, elevation variations can make surface weather reports __________.

A

Misleading

67
Q

Regarding Mountain Obscuration, why can elevation variations make surface weather reports misleading?

A

Weather Stations are typically in valleys.

68
Q

______ can hide mountainous terrain?

A

Clouds

69
Q

What are the 3 main causes of turbulence?

A
  1. Convective air currents
  2. Obstructions to wind flow
  3. Wind shear.
70
Q

What type of turbulence is caused by convective currents?

A

Convective turbulence.

71
Q

What type of turbulence is caused by Obstructions to wind flow?

A

mechanical turbulence

72
Q

In what weather conditions is convective turbulence frequent?

A
  1. Warm summer afternoons

2. Light winds

73
Q

If moisture is present, what is convective turbulence indicated by?

A

Billowy cumuliform clouds.

74
Q

Where does convective turbulence derive its strength?

A

Surface heating

75
Q

What can cause convective turbulence to vary widely?

A

Uneven surface heat.

76
Q

What are obstructions to wind flow?

A

Anything that disturbs smooth airflow.

77
Q

What 2 factors does the intensity of mechanical turbulence depend on?

A
  1. Wind speed

2. Shape of obstructions

78
Q

What is one type of extreme mechanical turbulence regarding mountains?

A

Mountain wave

79
Q

Where does mountain wave form?

A

Downwind side of a mountain

80
Q

Can mountain wave produce extreme turbulence?

A

Yes

81
Q

What causes mountain wave?

A

Mountains remain stationary while winds blow rapidly through them

82
Q

Can mountain waves extend vertically to high altitudes?

A

Yes

83
Q

What 3 types of cloud formations can indicate mountain wave.

A
  1. Cap
  2. Rotor
  3. Alto/Cirro cumulus standing lenticular.
84
Q

At what altitude can wind shear occur?

A

Any

85
Q

What causes wind shear?

A

Temperature Inversions

86
Q

Where can temperature inversions cause wind shear?

A

Where warm and cold air meet

87
Q

What are the 3 most common locations/circumstances for wind shears to occur?

A
  1. Low to the ground
  2. Along storm fronts
  3. In a valley
88
Q

Why do wind shears occur so often low to the ground?

A

Ground cools at night

89
Q

Why do wind shears occur so often in valleys?

A

Cold air gets trapped in a valley.

90
Q

When are CATs most frequent and intense?

A

During winter

91
Q

How can CATs be avoided by aircraft?

A

Change altitude.

92
Q

What is the code for light turbulence?

A

LGT

93
Q

What is the aircraft reaction to light turbulence?

A

Slight, erratic changes to altitude, pitch, roll, and yaw.

94
Q

What is the reaction inside the aircraft to light turbulence?

A
  1. slight strain against seat belts
  2. Unsecured objects may be slightly displaced
  3. little or no difficulty walking
95
Q

What is the code for moderate turbulence?

A

MOD

96
Q

What is the aircraft reaction to moderate turbulence?

A
  1. Changes in altitude and/or attitude
  2. Changes in indicated airspeed
  3. aircraft remains in positive control
97
Q

What is the attitude of the aircraft?

A

The direction it is turning (pitch, roll, or yaw)

98
Q

What is the reaction inside the aircraft to moderate turbulence?

A
  1. definite strains against seat belts
  2. Unsecured objects are dislodged
  3. walking is difficult
99
Q

What is the code for severe turbulence?

A

SEV

100
Q

What is the aircraft reaction to severe turbulence?

A
  1. large, abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude
  2. large variations in indicated airspeed
  3. Aircraft may be momentarily out of control
101
Q

What is the reaction inside the aircraft to severe turbulence?

A
  1. Occupants are forced violently against seat belts
  2. Unsecured objects are tossed about
  3. walking is impossible
102
Q

What is the code for extreme turbulence?

A

EXTRM

103
Q

What is the aircraft reaction to extreme turbulence?

A
  1. Aircraft impossible to control

2. Structural damage possible

104
Q

What are the 4 categories of turbulence?

A
  1. Light
  2. Moderate
  3. Severe
  4. Extreme
105
Q

What is “Chop”?

A
  1. turbulence which causes rapid bumpiness

2. No change in altitude or attitude.

106
Q

What are the 2 classifications of chop?

A
  1. Light

2. Moderate

107
Q

What are the 5 factors that can affect aircraft turbulence?

A
  1. Aircraft size
  2. Altitude
  3. Airspeed
  4. Wing loading
  5. Intensity
108
Q

What is the formula for wing loading?

A

aircraft weight (in pounds)/wing area (in square feet)

109
Q

In what 2 types of clouds does super cooled water often exist?

A
  1. Stratiform

2. Cumulus

110
Q

What are the 3 types of ice an aircraft may encounter?

A
  1. Rime
  2. Clear
  3. Mixed
111
Q

What is the most common type of ice an aircraft may encounter?

A

Rime

112
Q

What is the least serious type of ice an aircraft may encounter?

A

Rime

113
Q

Is Rime Ice easy to remove?

A

yes

114
Q

Is Rime controllable with anti-icing equipment

A

yes

115
Q

What does Rime ice on the aircraft do to the smooth flow of air

A

Disturbs the smooth flow of air

116
Q

What are 2 favorable conditions for Rime ice?

A
  1. Small droplets

2. Lower liquid water content in cloud

117
Q

What are 4 aspects of clear ice that make it worse for aircraft than Rime ice?

A
  1. difficult to see
  2. difficult to remove
  3. May not be controllable with anti-icing equipment
  4. Greatly disturbs airflow
118
Q

What are the 2 favorable conditions for clear ice?

A
  1. Large droplets

2. Higher liquid water content in the cloud

119
Q

What is mixed icing?

A
  1. Layers of both rime and clear

2. combines the effects of both

120
Q

What are the 4 intensity levels of icing?

A
  1. Trace
  2. Light
  3. Moderate
  4. Severe
121
Q

At what level of icing is anti-icing equipment not utilized unless the ice is encountered for over an hour?

A

Trace

122
Q

At what 2 levels of icing does the ice not present a problem if anti-icing equipment is used?

A
  1. Trace

2. Light

123
Q

At what level of icing is immediate flight diversion necessary?

A

Severe

124
Q

What 4 factors affect icing?

A
  1. Aircraft type
  2. Altitude
  3. Airspeed
  4. Meteorological conditions
125
Q

What type of aircraft is less susceptible to icing?

A

Commercial aircraft

126
Q

What are the 2 reasons why commercial aircraft are usually less susceptible to icing?

A
  1. Strong anti-icing equipment

2. Tend to operate at altitudes too cold for icing.

127
Q

What effect does altitude have on icing?

A

Lower altitudes are usually more conducive to icing.

128
Q

What 3 meteorological conditions can affect icing?

A
  1. Temperature
  2. Moisture content
  3. Droplet Size.
129
Q

What 5 effects may icing have on aircraft?

A
  1. increase drag
  2. increase weight
  3. decrease lift
  4. Block airflow to pilot tubes
  5. Light aircraft may lose control.
130
Q

What is the least significant effect icing can have on an aircraft?

A

increase weight

131
Q

What is the most significant effect icing can have on an aircraft?

A

decrease lift

132
Q

What effect can ice blocking airflow to pilot tubes have?

A

Causes incorrect speed/altitude headings

133
Q

What are 8 types of hazards thunderstorms can contain?

A
  1. Hail
  2. Icing
  3. winds
  4. Tornadoes
  5. Turbulence
  6. IFR conditions
  7. Microbursts/downbursts
  8. Rapid pressure changes
134
Q

Should pilots avoid storms

A

yes

135
Q

What 3 things do thunderstorms need to form?

A
  1. Water Vapor
  2. Unstable air
  3. Converging winds near surface or fronts
136
Q

What are the 3 stages of a thunderstorm?

A
  1. Towering cumulus
  2. Mature
  3. Dissipating
137
Q

How powerful to the updrafts have to be in the towering cumulus stage to form a thunderstorm?

A

Greater than 3,000 ft./min

138
Q

What is the most hazardous stage of a thunderstorm?

A

Mature

139
Q

In the mature stage of a thunderstorm, what is the leading edge of the downdraft called?

A

Gust front

140
Q

In what stage of a thunderstorm does the precipitation reach the surface?

A

Mature

141
Q

What 2 things occur in the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm?

A
  1. Precipitation ends

2. Cloud vaporizes from below

142
Q

What are the 3 types of low level wind shear and downburst?

A
  1. Microburst
  2. Macroburst
  3. Low Level Wind Shear
143
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of a microburst?

A
  1. Up to 2.5 miles wide
  2. Lasts 2-5 mins
  3. Peak winds: 150 kts
144
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of a macroburst?

A
  1. 2.5 - 10 miles wide
  2. Lasts 5-30 minutes
  3. Peak winds: 120 kts
145
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of a low level wind shear?

A
  1. 10 kts or more per 100’
  2. in a layer more than 200’ thick
  3. within 2000’ of the surface
146
Q

What are the 3 wind shear/downburst warning systems

A
  1. LLWAS
  2. TDWR
  3. WSP
147
Q

LLWAS?

A

Low Level Wind Shear Alert System

148
Q

Low Level Wind Shear Alert System?

A
  1. Detects wind shear at the surface

2. Installed around airports

149
Q

TDWR

A

Terminal Doppler Weather Radar

150
Q

Terminal Doppler Weather Radar?

A
  1. Weather radar

2. Detects microbursts, gust fronts, convective storms.

151
Q

WSP

A

Weather system processor

152
Q

Weather system processor?

A
  1. Enhanced system for airport surveillance radar (ASR)

2. Detects low level wind shear.

153
Q

ASR?

A

Airport surveillance radar

154
Q

What are the 2 effects of windshear?

A
  1. rapid gain/loss of airspeed

2. aircraft can go above/below glideslope unexpectedly.

155
Q

What are the 2 effects of downbursts during landing/takeoff

A
  1. Rapid loss of lift

2. Can be impossible to recover from