Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Piloting > Weather Information: Oral > Flashcards

Weather Information: Oral Flashcards

1
Q

What is a METAR?

A

A METAR is a current weather observation that is updated at a regular interval and applies to a 5-Nautical mile radius around the observation point (usually at any airport) reporting wind, visibility, storm activity, ceilings, temperature, altimeter setting, and remarks.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a TAF?

A

A TAF is a forecast of conditions expected over the next 24 hr. within a 6 stature mile (5 nautical) radius around an airport. It reports wind, vis, significant weather, sky condition, and possible wind shear.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How often are TAFs updated?

A

TAFs are updated four times a day.

More often if a special report is needed (meaning significant weather change)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How do TAFs indicate wind shear?

A

TAFs indicate forecast wind shear with the code “WS” after the sky conditions segment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a PIREP?

A

A PIREP is a Pilot Weather Report. PIREPs are important sources of observed weather aloft.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is a PIREP submitted?

A

PIREPs are submitted by pilots to an FSS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How can a pilot receive a PIREP?

A

PIREPs are received from an FSS or ATC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is standard sea level temperature and pressure?

A

Standard sea level temperature is 15°C (59°F)
Standard sea level pressure is 29.92” Hg.
These numbers are important for completing calculations, such as true airspeed, current lapse rate, and density altitude.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the Standard Lapse Rate?

A

The Standard Lapse Rate is 2°C per 1,000 ft. of altitude gained.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the Coriolis force?

A

The Coriolis force is a theory that explains how wind, pressure, and general weather patterns deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force is the reason wind and weather patterns generally move from west to east (left to right) in the United States.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the Significance of a close temperature-dew point spread?

A

A close temperature-dew point spread indicates the probable formation of visible moisture in the form of dew, mist, fog, or clouds. The decrease in temperature (most frequently at night) can result in a close temperature-dew point spread and fast forming fog.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why is wind shear dangerous?

A

Wind shear is dangerous because it is unpredictable and can cause significant changes in heading, airspeed, and altitude, especially close to the ground.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the characteristics of stable air?

A

Stable air is characterized by continuous precipitation, smooth air, poor visibility, stratiform clouds, and cool, dry air.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the characteristics of unstable air?

A

Unstable air is characterized by showery precipitation, rough air, good visibility, cumuliform clouds, and warm, humid air.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is clear air turbulence (CAT)?

A

CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE (CAT) is turbulence now associated with thunderstorms. It usually occurs along an upper-level temperature inversion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why is clear air turbulence (CAT) dangerous?

A

It is dangerous because it is often unexpected, and it can be severe.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are three types of structural icing?

A

Clear ice, rime ice, and mixed ice. Clear ice forms when drops are large, as in rain or cumuliform clouds. It is hard, heavy, and unyielding. Rime ice forms as a result of small drops found in stratiform clouds and drizzle. Air becomes trapped in between the drops and makes the ice appear white. Mixed ice is a combination of clear and rime ice.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How much can ice or frost degrade performance?

A

It is important not to operate with frost on the wings because even a seemingly thin coating of frost can degrade performance by up to 40%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where is weather information available on the ground?

A

Weather info is available on the ground from a Flight Service Station (FSS). You speak to a preflight briefer at an FSS by calling 1-800-WX-BRIEF anywhere in the country. With 1800wxbrief.com, you can receive weather info and file a flight plan online.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where is weather info available in-flight?

A

Weather information is available in-flight with
-HIWAS (Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service)
-FSS
-ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service)
-ASOS (Automatic Surface Observing System)
-AWOS (Automatic Weather Observing System
You can file a PIREP and obtain numerous types of weather information with a FSS. HIWAS is a recorded briefing of hazardous weather over select VOR frequencies. A FSS may be contacted at 122.2 MHz. Additional frequencies are shown on navigational charts. ATIS is recorded weather information for a terminal area. AWOS and ASOS are automated weather reporting stations found at many airports.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is a SIGMET?

A

SIGMETs are issued for all aircraft and may include icing not associated with thunderstorms, clear air turbulence, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is a Convective SIGMET?

A

Convective SIGMETs are issued for severe thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms, lines of thunderstorms, and tornados, all of which imply severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low level wind shear.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is AIRMET?

A

AIRMETs are issued for moderate icing, moderate turbulence, IFR conditions over 50% of an area, sustained surface winds of 30kts or greater, nonconvective low-level wind shear, and mountain obscuration.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What do winds and temperatures aloft forecasts indicate?

A

Pilots can make decisions regarding cruise altitudes and route selection that will make the best use of the most favorable winds and temperature inversions when flight planning.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is a Center Weather Advisory?

A

A Center Weather Advisory is an advisory provided by ATC for potentially hazardous weather expected to happen within the next 2 hr.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are the four types of fronts and of what significance is this to aviation?

A

The four types of fronts are cold, warm, stationary, and occluded. Each front indicates a different type of weather.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What type of weather is indicated by a cold front?

A

Cold fronts usually contain the most volatile weather. Because cold air replaces warm air quickly, the difference in pressure is the greatest, with the potential for violent weather.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What type of weather is associated with a warm front?

A

The weather associated with a warm front is usually relatively mild. Warm front weather is usually much more widespread and longer lasting than that of cold front weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What type of weather is associated with a stationary front?

A

A stationary front is when warm and cold air masses meet but do not mix. Wind always blows along the frontal boundary of a stationary front, and in some cases, embedded storms occur.

30
Q

What is an occluded front?

A

An occluded front is a combination of cold, warm, and cool air. Thus, weather in occluded fronts is a combination of cold and warm air front weather.

31
Q

What are the types of fog and how are they formed?

A

Fog types include radiation, advection, frontal, upslope, steam, and ice.

  • Radiation fog forms when the air close to the ground is cooled faster than the air above it. Usually forms at night or near daybreak.
  • Advection fog forms along coastal areas when the water is warmer than the air around it.
  • Frontal fog forms when relatively warm rain or drizzle falls through cool air and evaporation from the precipitation saturates the cool air.
  • Upslope fog forms as a result of moist, stable air being cooled adiabatically as it moves up sloping terrain.
  • Steam fog forms in winter when cold, dry air passes from land areas over comparatively warm ocean waters.
  • Ice fog occurs in cold weather when the temperature is well below freezing and water vapor sublimates directly as ice crystals.
32
Q

What conditions must be present for a thunderstorm to form?

A

Formation of a thunderstorm requires a lifting action, an unstable lapse rate, and sufficient water vapor.

33
Q

What is a microburst?

A

A microburst is a heavy downdraft occurring within a thunderstorm.

34
Q

Why is a microburst hazardous to aircraft?

A

Microbursts are hazardous to aircrafts because of extreme downforce of the oncoming winds forming the downdraft. Downdrafts become stronger as they encounter the surface and begin to move horizontally, flowing outward from the base of the thunderstorm. The vertical speed of the downdraft may exceed the aircraft’s ability to climb. Surface winds can be strong enough to cause significant degradation of performance to aircraft in flight.

35
Q

How long does a microburst typically last?

A

A microburst usually lasts for a total of 10 minutes with the maximum intensity winds lasting for 2 to 4 minutes

36
Q

What type of flying weather do low-pressure systems present?

A

Low-pressure systems are often regions of poor flying weather.

37
Q

What type of flying weather do high-pressure systems present?

A

High-pressure systems are predominantly regions of favorable flying weather.

38
Q

What direction does air flow around a high-pressure system?

A

Northern Hemisphere: Air currents move clockwise around high-pressure systems.

39
Q

What direction does air flow around a low-pressure system?

A

Northern Hemisphere: Air currents move counter-clockwise around low-pressure systems.

40
Q

Does radar detect clouds?

A

No, radar primarily detects particles of precipitation in a cloud of falling from a cloud.

41
Q

How many different types of winds and temperatures aloft charts are there?

A

There are two types fo winds and temp aloft charts:

  • forecast
  • observed
42
Q

What is the primary difference between the two types of winds and temperatures aloft charts?

A

forecast winds and temp aloft charts include expected conditions.
observed winds and temp aloft include info that reflects the actual conditions

43
Q

How are wind direction and speed indicated on a winds and temp aloft chart?

A

An arrow indicates the direction of the wind, while barbs on the tail of the arrow indicate wind speed.

44
Q

How is temperature indicated on the winds and temp aloft charts?

A

It is printed out in Celsius, just above and to the right of the circle that indicates the reporting station.

45
Q

How does the winds and temp aloft chart indicate calm wind?

A

Calm winds are indicated by the number “99,” which is printed to the lower left of the circle that identifies the reporting station.

46
Q

Do the significant weather prog charts show weather reports or weather forecasts?

A

The significant weather prog charts are FORECASTS of what weather conditions are expected to be at the valid time of the charts

47
Q

How often are significant weather prog charts updated?

A

Significant weather prog charts are updated four times a day, based on the synoptic data at 000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, and 1800Z.

48
Q

What information do the significant weather prog charts depict?

A

sig wx prog charts show forecasts for IFR and MVFR, as well as turbulence and freezing levels.

49
Q

What significant weather information provided on the surface prog charts?

A

The surface prog charts show low- and high-pressure centers, fronts, and significant troughs, as well as forecast precip and/or thunderstorms

50
Q

What would indicate an area of MVFR weather?

A

A scalloped line encloses an area of forecast MVFR weather on the upper panels of the significant weather prog charts.

51
Q

What would indicate an area of IFR weather?

A

A smooth line encloses an area of forecast IFR weather on the upper panels of the significant weather prog charts

52
Q

What does a number expressed a fraction indicate on the prog charts?

A

The upper number indicates the anticipated top of a turbulent layer in hundreds of feet MSL, while the bottom number indicates the forecast base of that turbulent layer.

53
Q

Does the significant weather prog chart indicate areas of icing?

A

No. While it does indicate areas of precipitation and freezing levels, it does not indicate icing directly.

54
Q

What is the purpose of the convective outlook chart?

A

The convective outlook chart is a 48 hr. outlook for thunderstorm activity presented in two panels.

55
Q

What geographic area is shown in the convective outlook chart?

A

The convective outlook chart indicates possible thunderstorm activity for the continental United States.

56
Q

In convective outlook charts, what is the difference between the information included in the left-hand panel and the information presented in the right-hand panel?

A

The left-hand panel covers the first 24-hr. period starting from 1200Z. The right-hand panel shows the forecast thunderstorm activity for the following 24-hr. period.

57
Q

What are the risk categories used to indicate the possibility of severe thunderstorm activity in an area?

A

The risk categories are slight, moderate, and high. There is also a note that reads “See Text” that indicated slight risk may exist, but the risk was not enough to warrant including the notation in the forecast with the current information. Pilots should refer to the textual convective outlook for additional information when “See Text” is included in a convective outlook chart.

58
Q

If a thunderstorm that does not meet the definition of severe thunderstorm is expected, is a risk category assigned to that area on the convective outlook chart?

A

No. If forecast thunderstorms are not expected to be severe, there is no risk category included for that area in the convective outlook chart.

59
Q

What is an AWOS?

A

AWOS stands for Automated Weather Observing System. It is an older automated reporting system that might provide only basic weather information, or it might provide a complete automated METAR. AWOS capabilities vary from location to location.

60
Q

What is ASOS?

A

ASOS stands for Automated Surface Observing System. The ASOS is being phased IN, replacing the older and more limited AWOS.

61
Q

What is ATIS?

A

The Automatic Terminal Information Service is a continuous broadcast of recorded information pertinent to a specific terminal area. Winds and runway information are commonly included in ATIS broadcasts to inform pilots and lower the workload on controllers.

62
Q

How are AWOS, ASOS, or ATIS of value to a pilot in the air who is approaching an airport with the intention of landing?

A

By listening to the broadcast prior to entering the patter, or prior to contacting the tower at a controlled airport, the pilot can become familiar with a wide assortment of pertinent information regarding field conditions, winds, active runway info, and NOTAM’s.

63
Q

Do AWOS, ASOS, and ATIS have any value to a pilot on a cross-country flight whose route of flight takes him or her near an airport where these services are available?

A

Yes, even en route a pilot can monitor these broadcasts to be aware of the current altimeter setting and possible NOTAM’s that are being broadcast.

64
Q

What is the limitation of AWOS, ASOS, and ATIS broadcasts that pilots should be aware of?

A

Because they are automated, the information being broadcast may not be entirely current. In the case of ATIS recorded broadcasts, the info broadcast can be as much as an hour old. Pilots should be aware of the limitation and plan accordingly.

65
Q

If we were at an airport with only one runway, and you calculated a crosswind component of 15kt, would that affect your decision to take off?

A

I would make my go/no-go decision based on the maximum crosswind component listed for my aircraft in the POH/AFM. If the crosswind were above that maximum crosswind component, I would not fly. If it were below the maximum crosswind component, I would base my decision on my level of experience, the terrain, and the existence of obstacles in the area that might cause a safety issue. If in doubt, I would not fly.

66
Q

If you were planning a flight on a day with light rain forecast, would that affect your plans?

A

If the ceiling were high enough to allow for adequate cloud clearance and if the vis were above VFR minimums, a light rain forecast would not automatically cause me to cancel the flight.

67
Q

If you were planning a flight on a day with light rain forecast and the freezing level was at 1,000 ft, would that affect your plans.

A

Yes, I would cancel the flight. Even light rain can cause a rapid and dangerous build-up of ice when flying above the freezing level.

68
Q

If your destination airport were reporting visibility below VFR mins due to fog, but your navigation log suggested the flight would take 75 minutes, would you depart as planned or wait?

A

Probably wait. If I had sufficient fuel, I could legally make the flight and opt not to land if the fog had not cleared, But the fog could also lift into a low layer of clouds. Until I had a better indication that the conditions would be above VFR minimums at my arrival time, I would delay my takeoff.

69
Q

If you had not flown in 11 weeks and intended to take a passenger flying, but found the weather to be MVFR at the time of your intended departure, would you fly?

A

Not under those conditions. If I had flown recently and was sure of having sharp skills, I would consider MVFR weather for a local flight or when flying cross-country into improving weather. But after more than 2 months away, I would want to fly under good VFR conditions until I felt comfortable and competent enough to add to my workload by flying in less than VFR weather.

70
Q

A pilot report from a b-737 indicates moderate turbulence in your area at an altitude you intend to fly. how would this affect your decision-making process?

A

That pilot report would make me reconsider my flight, my rout of flight, or the altitude I intend to fly. Pilot reports are subjective, based on the type of aircraft being flown. If a B-737 is reporting moderate turb, I may very well experience that to a much greater degree.

71
Q

What are three weather conditions that would absolutely make you cancel or postpone a cross-country flight?

A

Without a doubt, I would not fly into an area with a fast-moving cold front, embedded thunderstorms, or reports of fog at my destination airport. Any of those conditions would make me delay my flight until conditions improved, or cancel it altogether.

72
Q

In the future, would you be inclined to limit your flying to days and times when the weather is clear and calm?

A

No. I certainly would enjoy flying under those conditions, but I would base my decision of when and where to fly on my competence, the type of equipment I would be flying with (including the aircraft), and the weather conditions. Over time, I expect my increased experience to enhance my abilities and my judgement, allowing me to fly safely when the conditions are less than ideal.

Piloting (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions