Textual Weather Flashcards
How long are the following valid for?
a. METAR
b. TAF
a. 1 hour
b. Usually 24 hours, but can change based on weather changes
When are METARs and TAFs issued?
METAR - 55 minutes past the hour
TAF - Every 6 hours
What is the required and optional data in a PIREP?
Required - Routine (UA) or urgent (UUA) - /OV - location - /TM - time - /FL - flight level or altitude above sea level - /TP - aircraft type Optional - /SK - sky cover - /TA - temperature - /WV - wind velocity - /TB - turbulence - /IC - icing - /RM - remarks
What are area forecasts?
a. What do they tell you?
12 hour aviation forecasts prepared 3 times daily, plus a 6 hour categorial outlook, with each section being amended as needed.
a. General descriptions of hazards, air mass and frontal conditions, icing and freezing levels, turbulence and low level wind shear, significant clouds and weather for an area the size of several states.
What are Winds and Temperatures Aloft charts?
a. What are their time ranges?
Forecasts of wind direction and velocity (to the nearest 10 degrees based on true north) for selected flight levels.
a. 6, 12 and 24 hours
What is a prognostic chart?
a. What level do they extend up to?
It is a forecast chart (not an observation chart) issued every 6 hours, forecasting weather in 12 and 24 hour periods.
a. FL240 - 24000 MSL
What is a surface analysis chart?
a. How often are they developed?
b. What do they depict?
A depiction of the surface weather as it was a few hours earlier to the time stamped on the chart.
a. Every 3 hours
b. Atmospheric pressure patterns, location of high/low pressure systems, and frontal movements.
What is a weather depiction chart?
a. When are they issued?
b. How long are they valid?
A computer generated chart based on METARs depicting broad overview of the flying conditions at that time.
a. Every 3 hours
b. Only at the time the chart was issued
What is the difference between an AIRMET, SIGMET, and a Convective SIGMET?
AIRMETs are potentially hazardous to small aircraft only, while SIGMETs are potentially hazardous to all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs are issued for wide spread, strong, or embedded thunderstorms.
What are the 3 types of AIRMETs?
Tango - Turbulence and surface winds greater than 30 knots
Sierra - IFR conditions or mountain obscurations
Zulu - Icing
What is a center weather advisory (CWA)?
Issued by control centers and concern both AIRMET and SIGMET type conditions described in greater detail and related to a specific ARTCC area.
What is a ceiling?
The lowest broken or overcast area.
How can you update weather enroute?
Flightwatch 122.0, calling an FSS, asking ATC, using the G1000.
