Weather Flashcards
Where to get FAA weather briefing
Flight Service Program through Flight Service Stations-
1-800-wxbrief
2 main sources of weather data
Federal Government (FAA & National Weather Service)
Or Commercial Weather Information
Standard Briefing
Have not received a previous briefing
Abbreviated Briefing
When you need info to supplement mass disseminated date or update previous briefing
Outlook briefing
Departure 6+ hours from time of briefing
Inflight Briefing
Update preflight briefing
Weather Briefing Includes:
Adverse conditions
VFR flight not recommended
Synopsis
Current conditions
En route forecast
Destination forecast
Winds aloft
NOTAMS
ATC Delays
Addt’l info
FIS-B
Flight Information Service- Broadcast
Ground based broadcast surveillance provided through ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast)
Not good for tactical avoidance of weather (less than 3 mins), more for strategic planning 20+ mins out
En route Updated Weather
FSS 122.2 MHz
ATIS/ASOS/AWOS
Listen to Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)
FIS-B Datalink Weather
ATC workload permitting
METAR
Aviation Routine Weather Report
hourly reported surface observation of conditions observed at airport
or
SPECI special report to update rapidly changing weather conditions or a/c mishaps or other critical info
Elements of METAR
Type of Report
ICAO station identifier
Date & Time
Modifier
Wind (3 digit direction 2 digit speed)
Vis in statute miles
Runway Visual Range
Weather phenomena
Sky condition
Temp/Dew point
Altimeter
Remarks
ASOS/AWOS
Automated Weather Observing System
Automated Surface Observing System
computer generated
transmitter to broadcast local
minute by minute weather data
AWOS 1- wind, temp, dew, altimeter, density
AWOS 2- Plus Vis
AWOS 3- plus sky condition, ceiling, precip accumulation
ASOS receivable 25NM below 10,000 feet AGL
PIREPs
Pilot Reports
conditions as they actually exist
UA Routine
UUA Urgent
TAFs
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
concise statement of expected meteorological conditions within 5 SM of center of airports runway complex
Aviation Area Forecast FA
Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Alaska
specified enroute weather phenomena
18-24 hour period
GFA
Graphical Forecasts for Aviation
web-based graphics of observations, forecasts, and warnings 14-18 hours out
Surface-18K
Aviationweather.gov/gfa
GFA Forecast
TAF
CIG/VIS
Clouds
PCPN/WX (precip, weather)
TS
Winds
Turb
Ice
GFA Obs/Warn
METAR
PCPN/WX
CIG/VIS
PIREP
RAD/SAT
Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories
SIGMET WS
Convective SIGMET WST
AIRMET WA
CENTER WEATHER ADVISORY CWA
All reference MSL except ceilings AGL
Convective SIGMET WST
severe or greater turbulence, icing, and low level wind shear
valid 2 hours
E C or W USA
thunderstorms and surface winds += 50 kts, hail += 3/4 inch diamenter
tornadoes
SIGMET WS
potentially hazardous to all aircraft, valid 4 hours
severe icing not associated with thunderstorms, severe turbulence, dust storms, volcanic ash
G-Airmet
graphical advisory of weather that may be hazardous to aircraft but less severe than SIGMET
3 hours apart up to 12 hours
AIRMET WA
textual advisory of significant weather lower than SIGMET
Every 6 hours from 0245
use in prefligh and en route for safety
3 AIRMETS
SIERRA IFR/Mount Obsc
TANGO Mod Turbulence
ZULU Icing
Winds and Temp Aloft FB
4 digit wind direction (ref true north) and speed in knots + 2 digit tempo in celcius
Can use to find favorable altitude, areas of poss icing, temp invesions, turbulence
Center Weather Advisories
used to anticipate and avoid adverse weather
valid max 2 hours
Convective Outlook
potential for severe and non severe convection during following 8 days
Shows risk MRGL SLGT ENH MDT HIGH
Surface Analysis Chart
analyzed chart of surface weather observations
LIFR
IFR
MVFR
VFR
LIFR ceiling less than 500 vis less 1 mi
IFR 500-less than 1000 vis 1-less than 3
MVFR 1000-3000 and/or vis 3-5 miles inclusive
VFR 3K+ vis 5+
Short-Range Prognostic Charts
forecast of surface pressure systems, fronts, and precipitation for 2 1/2 day period
12, 18, 24, 48, 60 hours
Low Level Significant Weather Prog Charts
forecast of aviation weather hazards primarily for guidance in preflight briefings
FL 24000 and below
4 times per day 12 or 24 hour prog
Mid Level Significant Weather SIGWX
10K-45000
24 hours 4 times daily