Regional Met

Question 1

What are the OCTA levels

Answer 1

0-1 NSC CAVOK (bases higher than 10,000ft)
1-2 FEW
3-4 SCT
5-7 BKN
8 - OVC

Question 2

What is the coverage of GRAFOR in regards to cloud (ISOL, OCNL, FRQ, EMBD, TYPE OF CLOUD, XXX)

Answer 2

ISOL – coverage up to 50%
OCNL - coverage greater than 50% but less than 75%
FRQ - coverage greater than 75%
EMBD can be added to indicate that convective cloud is embedded in layers
of other cloud.
Type of cloud: TCU or CB.
XXX means tops are above 10,000 FT AMSL

Question 3

ROFOR characteristics

Answer 3

A ROFOR is a route forecast of wind, temperature and significant weather for a specific route and flight levels.

•ROFOR are for preflight use and are available from: MetService and MetJet

•Valid from estimated time of departure to ETA(+4 hours)

Question 4

TAF how many issued

Answer 4

Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton - 4

Queenstown, whenupai - 2

Question 5

What is taf radius and its tempo change validity

Answer 5

8km,

Temp changing lasting les than 60 minutes in each instance

Question 6

What is validity of SIGMET wx

Answer 6

Severe icing/turbulence or mountain waves (4 hours)
•Thunderstorms/sandstorms or dust storms (4 hours)
•Volcanic ash and tropical cyclones (6 hours)

Question 7

What is airep and pirep

Answer 7

AIREP - Routine report of meteorological conditions made from an aircraft in flight, while an AIREP Special is provided when hazardous meteorological conditions are encountered
•AIREP, AIREP Special and PIREP are for use in-flight and are available from Airways

PIREP - A PIREP is similar to an AIREP Special and is an abbreviated AIREP Special provided by domestic operators in New Zealand whenever weather phenomena of significance or of a hazardous nature are encountered
•Then passed onto MetService

Question 8

AAW wind and temp levels and how many AAW areas

Answer 8

•Text product that provides forecast winds at levels 1000, 3000, 5000, 7000 and 10,000 ft,

•Forecast temperatures for 5000, 7000 and 10,000 ft

•17 AAW areas in NZ

Question 9

Medium-level SIGWX WHAT DO DIFFERENT THINGS MEAN (CB, validity, heights)

Answer 9

•CB implies TS, GR, MOD/SEV TURB and ICE
•From FL100-FL250
•Valid +/- 3 hours of published valid time
•ISOL, OCNL, FRQ and EMBD for CB
•FEW, SCT, BKN and OVC for clouds other than CB

Question 10

What are the three different barbs

Answer 10

Small barb - 5 knots

Feather barb - 10kts

Pennant barb - 50kts