Study Session 3

Question 1

Standard briefing

Answer 1

Complete weather and NOTAMs for a flight within 6 hours

Question 2

Abbreviated briefing

Answer 2

Requested only if you want specific information or to obtain and update from a previous briefing

Question 3

Outlook briefing

Answer 3

Requested for a flight more than 6 hours in advance

Question 4

In a METAR report

Answer 4

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)

Question 5

Weather intensity and VC

Answer 5

+ heavy, - light, no symbol = moderate.

VC will replace intensity and is applied for weather occurring in vicinity of airport (5-10 SM)

Question 6

Weather descriptor 
TS
SH
FZ
BL
DR
MI
BC
PR

Answer 6

Thunderstorm
Showers
Freezing
Blowing
Low drifting
Shallow
Patchy
Partial

Question 7

Weather Precipitation 
RA
DZ
SN
SG
UP
GR
GS
PL
IC

Answer 7

Rain
Drizzle
Snow
Snow grains
Unknown
Hail
Small hail/snow pellets
Ice pellets
Ice crystals

Question 8

Visibility 
FG
BR
FU
HZ
PY
SA
DU
VA

Answer 8

Fog (vis less than 5/8)
Mist (vis between 5/8 to 6 SM)
Smoke
Haze
Spray
Sand
Dust
Volcanic ash

Question 9

Other weather descriptors 
SQ
DS
FC
SS
PO
\+FC

Answer 9

Squall
Dust storm
Funnel cloud
Sandstorm
Dust/sand whirls
Tornado/waterspout

Question 10

Define ceiling

Answer 10

Lowest broken or overcast layer or vertical visibility into a surface based obstruction

Question 11

TAF

Answer 11

Terminal aerodrome forecasts

Question 12

METAR

Answer 12

Aviation routine weather reports

Question 13

What’s in a TAF

Answer 13

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)

Question 14

Surface analysis chart

Answer 14

Computer prepared report of weather conditions transmitted every 3 hours and covers 48 states

Question 15

Short-range surface prognostic (PROG)

Answer 15

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

Question 16

WSR-88D NEXRAD

Answer 16

Doppler radar
Provides impending weather conditions in clear and precipitation mode

Clear - updates every 10 minutes
Precipitation - updates every 4-6 minutes

Question 17

FAA terminal Doppler weather radar

Answer 17

Provides severe weather reports and warnings to ATC

Question 18

Airport surveillance radar

Answer 18

Detects location and intensity of precipitation

Question 19

ASOS/AWSS

Answer 19

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

Question 20

AWOS

Answer 20

Automated weather observing system

Transmits on a discrete VHF frequency
20-30 second weather message each minute

Question 21

What does P mean?

Answer 21

Greater then

Forecast greater than 6 SM if coded P6SM

Question 22

Runway visual range

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Wind

Answer 23

Records the direction FROM which the wind is blowing

Direction is true

Question 24

Cloud height

Answer 24

Reported in hundreds of feet

080 = 8000

Question 25

Temperature and dew point

Answer 25

Temp/Dew point

Temps below zero have M

Considered saturated if temp/dew point spread is 3 degrees or less