Weather - Aviation Weather Reports and Observations

Question 1

What is a METAR?

Answer 1

Metar is an hourly surface observation of conditions observed at an airport

Question 2

What are two types of METARS?

Answer 2

1) Routine METAR - transmitted hourly, and an aviation selected weather report
2) SPECI - special report given at any time to update the METAR for rapidly changing weather conditions, aircraft mishaps, or other critical info.

Question 3

What are the basic elements of a METAR?

Answer 3

• TYPE OF REPORTS - METAR and SPECI
• DATE AND TIME - in zulu time
• MODIFIER - (AUTO) means automated report
• WIND -
• VISIBILITY
• RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE (RVR)
• WEATHER PHENOMENA
• TEMP / DEW POINT
• ALTIMETER
• REMARKS (RMK)

Question 4

Describe several types of weather observing programs.

Answer 4

• Manual Observations
• AWOS - Automated Weather Observing System
• ASOS / AWSS - Automated Surface Observing System / Automated Weather Sensor System

Question 5

What is a PIREP?

Answer 5

Pilots En Route

Question 6

What are Radar Weather Reports (SD)?

Answer 6

reports are transmitted hourly, but can be up to 80 minutes old, this should only be used if no other radar information is available.