Study Session 3 Flashcards
Standard briefing
Complete weather and NOTAMs for a flight within 6 hours
Abbreviated briefing
Requested only if you want specific information or to obtain and update from a previous briefing
Outlook briefing
Requested for a flight more than 6 hours in advance
In a METAR report
Type of report ICAO station identifier Date and time of report Modifier (if required) Wind Visibility Runway visual range (RVR) Weather Sky condition Temperature/dew point Altimeter Remarks (RMK)
Weather intensity and VC
+ heavy, - light, no symbol = moderate.
VC will replace intensity and is applied for weather occurring in vicinity of airport (5-10 SM)
Weather descriptor TS SH FZ BL DR MI BC PR
Thunderstorm Showers Freezing Blowing Low drifting Shallow Patchy Partial
Weather Precipitation RA DZ SN SG UP GR GS PL IC
Rain Drizzle Snow Snow grains Unknown Hail Small hail/snow pellets Ice pellets Ice crystals
Visibility FG BR FU HZ PY SA DU VA
Fog (vis less than 5/8) Mist (vis between 5/8 to 6 SM) Smoke Haze Spray Sand Dust Volcanic ash
Other weather descriptors SQ DS FC SS PO \+FC
Squall Dust storm Funnel cloud Sandstorm Dust/sand whirls Tornado/waterspout
Define ceiling
Lowest broken or overcast layer or vertical visibility into a surface based obstruction
TAF
Terminal aerodrome forecasts
METAR
Aviation routine weather reports
What’s in a TAF
Type of report ICAO station identifier Date and time of origin Valid period of time Wind Visibility Weather Sky condition Wind shear (optional) Forecast change indications used where appropriate (temporary, from, becoming, probability)
Surface analysis chart
Computer prepared report of weather conditions transmitted every 3 hours and covers 48 states
Short-range surface prognostic (PROG)
Pressure systems, fronts, and precipitation for a 2 1/2 day period
12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 hours
12 and 24 issued 4x a day and others issued 2x a day
WSR-88D NEXRAD
Doppler radar
Provides impending weather conditions in clear and precipitation mode
Clear - updates every 10 minutes
Precipitation - updates every 4-6 minutes
FAA terminal Doppler weather radar
Provides severe weather reports and warnings to ATC
Airport surveillance radar
Detects location and intensity of precipitation
ASOS/AWSS
Automated surface observing systems and automated weather sensor system
More sensitive and provides more information than AWOS
Provide minute by minute observations and generate METARs
AWOS
Automated weather observing system
Transmits on a discrete VHF frequency
20-30 second weather message each minute
What does P mean?
Greater then
Forecast greater than 6 SM if coded P6SM
Runway visual range
Horizontal distance a pilot will see down the runway from the approach end
Reported when visibility is 1 SM or less
Depicted by an R
Wind
Records the direction FROM which the wind is blowing
Direction is true
Cloud height
Reported in hundreds of feet
080 = 8000
Temperature and dew point
Temp/Dew point
Temps below zero have M
Considered saturated if temp/dew point spread is 3 degrees or less
