Significant Weather Info Flashcards
State the primary means of obtaining a WX briefing?
Briefer (AFSS/FSS)
List sources of WX information
DUATS (Direct User Access Terminal System)
Telephone Information Briefing Service (FSS/TIBS)
Inflight Weather Information 122.2
Private Source
Flight Watch on 122.0 is no more
What information should a briefing always include?
Synopsis Current Conditions Enroute Forecast Destination Forecast Adverse Conditions VFR Flight Not Recommended NOTAMS Winds Aloft ATC Delays
What is EFAS?
Enroute Flight Advisory Service
122.0
No longer in use
Define HIWAS
Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory
(Continuous broadcast)
AUTOMATED
Provides inflight wx advisories including:
SIGMETs CONVECTIVE SIGMETs CENTER WX ADVISORIES AIRMETS URGENT PIREPS
How many types of METARs are there?
Two types
Routine METAR Report (Every Hour)
Aviation Selected Special Weather Report (SPECI)
What information can we expect on a SPECI?
Rapid change on wx conditions
Aircraft mishaps
Any critical information
It may be issued any time
Describe METAR elements
METAR/SPECI STATION IDENTIFIER DATE/TIME MODIFIER (AUTO) WIND VISIBILITY (RVR) WX PHENOMENA SKY CONDITION TEMP/DEW ALTIMETER REMARKS
State your process for obtaining weather data during the preflight phase?
Preliminary Flight Planning (Days in advance)
- Newspaper weather maps.
- TV and radio weather reports, such as The Weather Channel
- The Internet
Obtain Outlook Briefing
1. 6hrs or more before ETD
Obtain a Standard Briefing (Departure Day)
Telephone or electronic means include the following:
1. FSS
2. TIBS
3. DUATS
FAA-P-8740-30
What methods are actually recorded and qualify as weather briefing?
Recorded or electronic weather sources include
FSS
TIBS
DUATS
FAA-P-8740-30
State the reason why it is a good idea for the weather briefing to be recorded?
Per FAR 91.103
Each PIC must become familiar with
WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS
For a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an airport
The PIC is responsible for the outcome of the flight, therefore becoming familiar with weather and obtaining a weather briefing before each flight helps meet that requirement
The FARs do not state where an “official” briefing must come from
List forecasts and reports available to you for flight planning?
METAR PIREPS RADAR WEATHER REPORTS TAFs AREA FORECASTS SIGMET CONVECTIVE SIGMET AIRMET (S/T/Z) WINDS ALOFT/TEMP (FB) AVIATION WEATHER CHARTS
Define PIREP
Pilot Report
Report of meteorological conditions phenomena encountered by aircraft in flight
Actual conditions (not a forecast)
How is a pilot report filed in air?
Advise ATC you have a PIREP
Be Location Specific
Sky conditions (FEW/SCT/BKN/OVC) bases and tops
Turbulence Intensity (Negative/light/moderate/severe/extreme) Turbulence Frequency (chop/intermittent/continuous/occasional)
Air Temps in Celsius
Winds Aloft
(knots)
(Cardinal Direction N/E/S/W)
Icing Intensity (Trace/Light/Moderate/Severe) Type of ice (Rime/Clear/Mixed) When experiencing different icing conditions report where icing began and ended (e.g. Climb out)
Weather
In-flight visibility
Precipitation/Haze/Clouds
(Use whole numbers)
Remarks/Other
Things like wind-shear
Provide accurate measurements of the speed gained/lost, altitude and runway
Where can you find PIREPs?
FSS
DUATS
(Also found on aviationweather.gov)
What is a METAR?
Aviation Routine Weather Report
Weather observer interpretation of weather conditions at a given site and time
AC 00-45
What is an Area Forecasts?
Provides general descriptions of VFR sky and weather conditions affecting aircraft operations
12-hour aviation forecasts
6-hour categorical outlook
SFC - 45,000 AMSL
(Must be used in conjunction with the AIRMET Bulletins)
FAA P-8740-30
Are we still using Area Forecasts?
Good question??
What information does an Area Forecast contain?
Sypnosis
[brief discussion of sypnotic waeather affecting the FA area during the 18hr valid period]
Clouds and Weather
[Depiction of clouds and weather for the first 12hr period]
Cloud amount (SCT/BKN/OVC) for clouds with bases higher than or equal to 1000ft AGL below FL180
Cloud bases and tops (AMSL)
Precipitation
Visibility 3-5 SM and obstruction to visibility
Sustained surface winds of 20 knots or greater
12-18 hr Categorical outlook IFR Marginal VFR (MVFR) VFR Including precipitation and obstructions to visibility
AC 00-45
What is a Surface Analysis Chart?
Chart generated from surface station reports
Issued every 3 hours
Hawaii, tropical and Oceanic regions every 6 hours
What information does a Surface Analysis Chart contain?
Shows pressure systems, isobars, fronts, airmass boundaries
(such as: dry-lines and outflow boundaries)
AND
Station information (such as: wind, temperature/dew point, sky coverage, and precipitation)
What are the valid/issuance times for a Surface Analysis Chart?
[to be completed]
What is a radar summary chart?
[to be completed]
What information does a Radar Summary Chart contain?
[to be completed]
What are Radar Summary Chart valid/issuance times?
[to be completed]
Where can you find Winds/Temp Aloft?
[to be completed]
Why are winds and temperatures aloft important?
[to be completed]
How are values reported on a winds/temp aloft forecast?
[to be completed]
How long are winds/temps aloft valid for?
[to be completed]
How often are winds/temps aloft forecasted?
[to be completed]
Define SIGMET
Advises of weather, other than convective activity, that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft.
What info does a SIGMET contain?
SIGMETs are issued (for the lower 48 states and adjacent coastal waters) for the following weather-impacted reasons:
Severe Icing
Severe or Extreme Turbulence
Dust storms and/or sand storms lowering visibilities to less than three (3) miles
Volcanic Ash
Wat is an AIRMET?
Advises of weather potentially hazardous to all aircraft but does not meet SIGMET criteria
What info does an AIRMET contain?
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) or Mountain Obscuration
Ceilings less than 1000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles affecting over 50% of the area at one time
Extensive mountain obscuration
Turbulence
Moderate Turbulence
Sustained surface winds of greater than 30 knots at the surface
Icing
Moderate icing
Freezing levels
How can you determine the freezing level?
[to be completed]
What factors must be considered when determining the freezing level?
[to be completed]
What information do you consider before making an adequate go/no-go decision?
[to be completed]
Is wind direction depicted in weather charts True or Magnetic?
“If you read it it’s true, if you hear it it’s magnetic”
The answer for charts is True
Why is wind direction depicted in True?
Planning purposes
How can you convert between True and Magnetic headings?
[to be completed]
Describe sources to find unstable/stable air masses?
[to be completed]
What source do you use to find moisture in the atmosphere?
[to be completed]
What source do you use to find freezing levels?
[to be completed]
Where do you find frontal activity?[chart]
[to be completed]
What is a cold front?
[to be completed]
What are the characteristics of a cold front?
[to be completed]
What is a warm front?
[to be completed]
What are the characteristics of a warm front?
[to be completed]
What type of front provides better weather for flying?
[to be completed]
Tell me how are fronts depicted on a chart?
[to be completed]
Define high pressure systems
[to be completed]
Define low pressure systems
[to be completed]
How is an occluded front depicted on the chart?
[to be completed]
What is a stationary front?
[to be completed]
What is an occluded front?
[to be completed]
How is a stationary front depicted on the chart?
[to be completed]
Where can occluded/stationary fronts be found?
[to be completed]
What are the characteristics of a high pressure system?
[to be completed]
What are the characteristics of a low pressure system?
[to be completed]
What pressure system provides worse weather for flying?
[to be completed]
Where are pressure systems depicted?
[to be completed]
Define Ceiling
The heights above the earth’s surface of the lower layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as broken (BKN), overcast (OVC) or obscuration and not classified as thin or partial
Pilot/Controller Glossary
What reports and forecasts can you look at to define a ceiling?
[to be completed]
What are the conditions necessary for a thunderstorm to develop?
- Sufficient water vapor (humidity)
- An unstable temperature lapse rate
- An initial uplifting force (such as: front passage, mountains, heating from below, etc.)
What are clues you may find before a thunderstorm is developed? [warning signs]
Cumulus Clouds
Dark Skies
Wind Gusts/Wind Direction Change
Lightning
List some hazards related to thunderstorms
Severe Turbulence (Up to 20miles out) Hail Rain Snow Lightning Sustained Updrafts/Downdrafts Icing Conditions
AIM
What is a stable atmospheric condition?
[to be completed]
What is an unstable atmospheric condition?
[to be completed]
What items must you include when calling FSS to obtain a weather briefing?
Qualifications (e.g. Student, Instrument Pilot, etc) Type of flight (VFR) or (IFR) Aircraft Identification/pilot's name. Aircraft Type Departure point Estimated time of departure [ETD] Proposed flight altitude(s) Proposed route of flight (specify any landing points along the way, if any) Destination Estimated time en route [ETE]
FAA-P-8740-30
What does a standard briefing contain?
Adverse Conditions Synopsis Current Conditions En Route Forecast Destination Forecast Winds Aloft NOTAMs
FAA-P-8740-30
What types of weather briefings exists?
Abbreviated Weather Briefing
Outlook Briefing
In-Flight Briefing
In-Flight Datalink Weather
FAA-P-8740-30
What is an outlook weather briefing?
Proposed time of departure is 6 or more hours in the future.
The briefer will provide available forecast data applicable to your proposed departure time.
For planning purposes only
(Obtain a standard weather briefing closer to ETD)
FAA-P-8740-30
What is the key to safe flying?
Situational Awareness and Sound Pilot Judgement
FAA-P-8740-30
What sources of weather information are included for in-flight weather updates?
FSS
HIWAS (Hazardous In-Flight Weather Advisory Service)
Centers and terminal area facilities will broadcast a SIGMET or a Center Weather Advisory (CWA) alert once
on all frequencies upon receipt
En route weather via datalink
ATIS
AWOS
FLIGHT WATCH IS NO MORE
FAA-P-8740-30
What other source of in-flight weather can you mention, besides all the fancy frequencies and advisories?
The controller
You can ask for PIREPs received from other aircraft
To the extent possible, centers and terminal area facilities will issue pertinent information on weather in the immediate area and airport and, when requested, will help pilots avoid hazardous weather areas
FAA-P-8740-30
What weather charts can be used during the flight planning process?
SURFACE ANALYSIS WEATHER DEPICTION RADAR SUMMARY SIGNIFICANT WATHER PROGNOSTIC SHORT RANGE SURFACE PROGNOSTIC CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK CONSTANT PRESSURE ANALYSIS FREEZING LEVEL
What information does a PIREP contain?
Message Type Location (e.g. VOR, FIX, etc.) Time Altitude/Flight Level Aircraft Type Reported Weather Phenomena
Is a PIREP given in AGL or MSL?
MSL
Unless otherwise noted
How many types of PIREPs are there?
Routine (UA)
Urgent (UUA)
What information should be included in a PIREP?
Location (reference to a VOR, airport, or a geographical landmark)
Altitude
Type of Aircraft
Sky cover, including amount (FEW/SCT/BKN/OVC); bases and tops reports.
Flight visibility and weather encountered
Outside air temperature
Observed winds aloft
Turbulence and icing
Other significant weather data (e.g. distant weather observed)
FAA-P-8740-30
How wide of an area does a SIGMET affect?
Widespread
An area of at least 3000 square miles at any one time
(If total area to be affected during the forecast period is very large, it could be that only a small portion of this total area would be affected at any one time.)
How long is a SIGMET issued for?
6 hrs - conditions associated with hurricanes
4 hrs - all other events
If conditions persist beyond the forecast period, the SIGMET is updated and reissued.
What is a Convective SIGMET?
Implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low level wind shear
May be issued for any convective situation which the forecaster feels is hazardous to all categories of aircraft
How often is Convective SIGMET issued?
Bulletins are issued hourly at Hour+55
The text of the bulletin consists of either an observation and a forecast or just a forecast.
The forecast is valid for up to 2 hours
What information does a SIGMET include?
Severe surface weather including:
- Surface winds greater than or equal to 50 knots
- Hail at the surface greater than or equal to 3/4 inches in diameter
- Tornadoes
- Embedded thunderstorms
- Line of thunderstorms
(Thunderstorms greater than or equal to VIP level 4 affecting 40% or more of an area at least 3000 square miles)
How many types of AIRMETs are there and what are they?
3 Types
S/T/Z
How often are AIRMETs issued?
AIRMETs are routinely issued for 6 hour periods beginning at 0245 UTC.
Amended as necessary due to changing weather conditions or issuance cancellation of a SIGMET.
What is AIRMET (T)?
Describes moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or greater, and/or non-convective low-level wind shear.
What is AIRMET (Z)?
Describes moderate icing and provides freezing level heights.
What is AIRMET (S)?
Describes IFR conditions and/or extensive mountain obscurations.
What is a Microburst?
Small scale intense downdrafts which, on reaching the surface, spread outward in all directions from the downdraft center.
AIM
What type of shear can be expected from a microburst?
Vertical and horizontal wind shear dangerous to all types and categories of aircraft, especially at low altitudes.
A wind can go from headwind to tailwind fast
AIM
Are microburst easily detectable?
No
Due to small size, short life span, and since they can occur over areas without surface precipitation they cannot be easily detected using conventional weather radar or wind shear alert systems.
AIM
When is lightning strike likely to occur?
Altitudes where temperatures are between -5 C and +5 C
Flying in the clear in the vicinity of a thunderstorm
AIM
State the life cycle of a thunderstorm
Cumulus stage
Mature stage
Dissipating stage
What is a thunderstorm’s Cumulus stage?
(3-5 mile height) – lifting action of the air begins. Growth rate may exceed 3000 fpm.
What is a thunderstorm’s Mature stage?
(5-10 miles height) – begins when precipitation has become to fall from the cloud base.
Updraft at this stage may exceed 6000 fpm.
Downdrafts may exceed 2500 fpm.
All thunderstorm hazards are at their greatest intensity at the mature stage.
pilotscafe.com
What is a thunderstorm’s Dissipating stage?
(5-7 miles height) – characterized by strong downdrafts and the cell is dying rapidly.
pilotscafe.com
