NOTAMS

Question 1

A NOTAM is a notification that contains information concerning the establishment, condition, or change to one of the following items:

Answer 1

Aeronauticle Facility
Service
Procedure
Hazard

Question 2

How much advanced notice should a NOTAM give for a planned change?

Answer 2

Not more than 14 days but not less than 6 hours

Question 3

NOTAM Format

Answer 3

Question 4

Box 1

Answer 4

Question 5

Box 2

Answer 5

Question 6

What is the radius of a METAR?

Answer 6

5NM

Question 7

Are winds given in degrees true or magnetic in a METAR?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Decode R36/4000FT/D

Answer 8

Refering to runway visual range in a METAR.

This is telling us that if you stand at the threshold of runway 36 you will be able to see 4000ft down the runway but that visibiliy is deteriorating. (U would indicate an upward trend in visibility and N would be no change)

Note: Like variable winds, if the RVR is fluctuating between visibility distances, they will use a V to indicate that (RWY36/4000VP6000)

Question 9

What do - and + mean when seen in front of precipitation codes in a METAR?

Answer 9

• light precip
  + Heavy precip
  No symbol means moderate precip

** On TC exams they like to use moderate since most decoding does not actually state ‘moderate’ when no sign is present

Question 10

Decode -RADZ BR

Answer 10

Light rain and light drizzel, with mist

**Mist is a visibility that is equal to or greater than 5/8 SM)

Question 11

At what visibility fraction is FG used instead of BR in a METAR?

Answer 11

When visibility drops below 5/8 SM

Question 12

Sky cover amounts are cumulative, which means…

Answer 12

The layer amounts given include the sum of any layers below

Question 13

Why are sky cover codes and their amounts?

Answer 13

SCK: Sky Clear
FEW: 1 - 2 oktas
SCT: 3 - 4 oktas
BKN: 5 - <8 oktas
OVC: 8 oktas

An okta is how many 8ths of the sky are obscured, it is a unit of measurement specific to sky coverage

VV: Verticle Visibility (sky obscured)
CLR: No cloud below 10,000ft (only on AWOS systems)

Question 14

What are in the RMK section of a METAR?

Answer 14

SF5NS3 - Types of cloud in the sky

SLP134 - Sea Level Pressure in hectopascals. Here it is 1013.4 hPa.

Put a 9 or 10 and then a decimal before the last number, whichever is closest to 1000 is the right answer.

1013.4 is closer to 1000 than 913.4

Density Altitude will be added to a RMK section when it is 200 ft or higher above aerodrome elevation

Question 15

What are LWIS?

Answer 15

Limited Weather Information System

Designed for use at aerodromes where installation of AWOS to provide METAR AUTO and SPECI AUTO reports cannot be justified but some information is required for IFR approcahes.

Produces only hourly reports, usually containing:

• Wind speed and direction
• Temp and dew point
• Altimeter setting

Question 16

How do you give a PIREP?

Answer 16

Pilots should contact a FSS/FIC to report significant weather observations. The order in which to give these observations can be found in the back of the CFS or in the AIM.

Altitudes for a PIREP can be given AGL or ASL depending on how you’d like to give it

Question 17

Some PIREP codes

Answer 17

U/A: PIREP
UUA: Urgent PIREP
OV: Over listed with an identifier
TM: Time
FL: Flight Level/Altitude
WX: Weather and Vis
TA: Temperature
TB: Turbulence
IC: Icing
RM: Remarks
SK: Sky Conditions

Question 18

Decoded PIREP

Answer 18

Question 19

What is Prevailing Visibility?

Answer 19

The maximum visibility value common to sectors comprising one half or more of the horizontal circle. Determined by humans only.