Weather Reporting And Forecasts Flashcards by Justin Swan

What do FIC’s provide?

-Access to weather briefings and flight planning services
-Flight Information Services En-route (radio frequency)
-Meteorological info: taf, METAR, speci, sigmet, airmet, pirep, altimeter setting, radar, lightning
-aeronautical info: notam, crfi, manot, etc

Known as an Aviation Weather Briefing Service (AWBS)

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What does an FSS provide?
What is provided during initial communications with an aircraft?
Where are they located? (Class)

-Aerodrome advisory service (AAS)
-information pertinent to the arrival and departure of flights at aerodromes and transit through an MF area.
-they provide:

i. runway;
ii. wind direction and speed;
iii. air traffic that warrants attention;
iv. vehicle traffic;
v. wake turbulence cautionary;
vi. aerodrome conditions;
vii. weather conditions;
viii. additional information of interest for the safety of flight.
NOTAM RSC and CRFI

Located in class e control zones

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What do FSS and FIC both provide?
How do you address them on the radio?

Notam, rsc, crfi, weather observation
Address them as “RADIO”

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What are some other sources you can use to get weather info?

Internet (nav Canada, windy, weather network)
1-866-WXBRIEF
ATIS (automatic terminal info service)

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What does the term CAVOK mean in an ATIS?
What system do they use for chronological order of issuance?

No cloud below 5 000 feet AGL or below the highest minimum sector altitude (MSA) whichever is higher;
• Visibility of 6 SM or more; and
• No precipitation, thunderstorms or CBs, shallow fog, or low drifting snow.

The phonetic alphabet is used

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What is a VOLMET used for?

Used for flights over high seas

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Where can a pilot find what weather briefing services are available at a particular location?

a.CFS

b.DAH

c.CAP

d.VNC

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Which is one of the four main FISE frequencies?

a.126.7 MHz

b.123.55 MHz

c.123.2 MHz

d.123.0 MHz

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Pilots can get information during the en route portion of flight from a FSS using the FISE frequency.
True or false?

False, FIC is for FISE

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For a long range flight it would be best to contact?

a.TCAS

b.FSS

c.AWIS

d.AWBS

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NOTAM, RSC, and CRFI are included in advisories for a period of . . . . . hr for domestic traffic, and . . . . . hr for international traffic, after dissemination by means of telecommunication.

a.6, 12

b.12, 24

c.18, 24

d.12, 18

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Pilots are required to tune in the ATIS prior to making initial contact with ATC / FSS.
True or false?

False, If ATIS is available, all pilots should use it, not mandatory.

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A notam is issued for what changes?

• Aeronautical Facility
• Service
• Procedure
• Hazard

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What is a notamn
Notamr
Notamc?

New notam
Replacing notam
Cancelling a previous notam

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If the information on timing is uncertain, then the approximate duration will be indicated using a date-time group followed by the abbreviation “______”.
• In such a case the NOTAM is in effect until?

EST/APRX
In effect until a NOTAMR or NOTAM C is issued at the est/aprx time

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NOTAMs are not usually issued more than . . . . . days in advance.

a.5

b.14

c.24

d.12

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Which would require the issuance of a NOTAM?

a.NBD will be undergoing maintenance.

b.Control tower frequency change.

c.Snow clearing operations.

d.All of the above.

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K0001/13 NOTAMN
Q) CZYZ/QMRLR/IV/NBO/A
A) CYAM B) 1307311800 C) 1307312000
D) DAILY 1800-2000
E) SAULT STE.MARIE ALL AD LGT U/S

Which is the incorrect statement about the NOTAM?

a.Valid from 31 July 2013 at 18:00 local till 31 July 2013 at 20:00 local.

b.Valid from 31 July 2013 at 18:00 UTC till 31st July 2013 at 20:00 UTC.

c.K0001/13 is the NOTAM continuity number.

d.All aerodrome lights are unserviceable for CYAM.

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What is a METAR?
How often is it issued?
Is it a forecast or actual weather?
What is the radius of a METAR?

Routine aviation weather report
Issued every hour utc
Actual weather at the time
5nm radius of the aerodrome

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In a METAR:
Winds are true/magnetic?
Windspeed in mph/knots?
Clouds asl/agl?
Visibility NM or SM
Times in local or UTC?
What is a CCA?
When is METAR valid?
What is issued if there is enough change in conditions but not on the hour?

True
Knots
Agl
SM
UTC
correction code (alpha being the first)
Valid at the time of observation
A SPECI is issued

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What is a speci?
Can more than one be issued?

Is a special report that denotes changes off-hour.
Yes more than one can be issued

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sky coverage amounts in a metar and taf are cumulative. True or false?
What are the codes for sky cover amounts?

True

• SKC (sky clear)
• FEW (few, <1 to 2 oktas)
> SCT (scattered, 3 to 4 oktas)
• BKN (broken, 5 to <8 oktas)
• OVC (overcast, 8 oktas)
> VV (sky obscured)
• CLR (no cloud below 10 000 as reported from an AWOS)

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What is AWOS?
What word is used in a METAR to indicate an AWOS is observing the weather?
Are they as reliable as a human report?

Automated weather observation station
AUTO
No, some cannot detect cloud types and there may be snow or rain on camera.

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How many clouds layers is an AWOS limited to?
It will report CLR if no layers are detected below a height of ____

4 layers
25,000 feet

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What is a LWIS? Where is it used? How often is it issued? What is included in the report?

Limited Weather Information System at aerodromes where installation of AWOS to provide METAR AUTO and SPECI AUTO reports cannot be justified BUT some information is required for IFR approaches. Every hour only > Wind speed and direction; • Temperature and Dew Point; • Altimeter Setting.

Order in which to give a PIREP?

1. Location and time 2. Altitude 3. Aircraft type 4. Cloud (base, amount, top) 5. Temperature 6. Wind direction and speed 7. Turbulence 8. Icing 9. Remarks

Regarding PIREP, what do the following stand for? U/A UUA OV TM FL WX TA TB IC RM SK UACN10 UACN01

Normal PIREP Urgent PIREP Over location Time Flight level hundreds of feet Weather and visibility Temperature Turbulence Icing Remarks Sky conditions Normal PIREP Urgent PIREP

Where can you find info on decoding PIREP reports?

TC AIM MET 3.6

What is RVR? Where is it located on the runway?

Runway visual range the maximum horizontal distance, as measured by an automated visual landing distance system and reported by an ATC unit or an FSS for the direction of takeoff or landing, at which the runway, or the lights or markers delineating it, can be seen from a point above its centreline at a height corresponding to the average eye level of pilots at touchdown. • RVR is measured by a visibility sensor such as a RVR sensor located near the runway threshold.

How is visibility reported in a METAR? a.Prevailing visibility near ground level. b.Flight visibility as seen from the cockpit. c.Visibility determined by RVR sensors. d.Visibility as seen from the tower.

R25/2000FT/N The RVR report indicates the a.current runway visual range is 2 000 feet and this value is not changing. b.10-minute average runway visual range is 2 000 feet and this value is not changing. c.current runway visual range is 2 000 feet. d.5-minute average runway visual range is 2 000 feet and this value is not changing.

Two cloud layers exist. The first layer covers 2/8th of the sky from 2 000 to 2 500 feet ASL. The second layer covers 3/8th of the sky from 5 000 to 6 000 feet ASL. These layers would be reported on a METAR with a field elevation of 1 000 feet ASL as a.FEW010 BKN040. b.FEW010 SCT040. c.FEW020 SCT050. d.FEW020 BKN050.

METAR CYVR 180700Z 21009KT 15SM FEW020 SCT060 BKN170 03/M01 A2981 RMK SC1SC2AC2 SLP096= The METAR reports the ceiling as a.2 000 feet ASL. b.6 000 feet AGL. c.17 000 feet ASL. d.17 000 feet AGL.

The clouds/weather and icing/turb charts on a gfa depict the most probable weather conditions expected to occur at or below the ___ hPa or ____ feet level.

400 24,000

GFA charts are issued __ times daily at approximately how long before the beginning of the forecast period? How many charts issued? __ sets of __.

Four times a day 1/2 hour before 2 sets of 3 each

Each set of a GFA contains a forecast for IFR pilots as well. True or false?

True

Units of measure for a gfa: Wind speeds? Cloud heights? Visibility? Times?

Knots Hundreds of feet ASL unless noted Statute miles UTC

Where can you find a list of abbreviations for a GFA if you’re unsure?

AIM MET MANAB (manual word abbreviations)

For meteorological purposes the IFR Outlook is based on the following: •IFR: Less than ___ feet AGL and/or less than __ SM visibility. > MVFR: Between ___ and ___ feet AGL and/or between __ and __ SM visibility. > VFR: More than ___ feet AGL and more than __ SM visibility.

IFR 1,000 AGL, AND/OR 3 SM MVFR 1-3,000 AGL, AND/OR 3-5 SM VFR +3000 AGL AND +5 SM

Isobars on a GFA are spaced at __ hPa intervals

4 hPa

__ clouds are not depicted on the GFA

Cirrus

On a GFA, what are convective clouds labeled as? Non convective? What are their spatial coverage areas? (Ie. xtnsv greater than 50%)

Convective: ISOL - Isolated - 25% or less OCNL - Occasional - 26-50% FRQ -Frequent - Greater than 50% Non convective: LCA - Local - 25% or less PTCHY - Patchy - 26-50% XTNSV - Extensive - Greater than 50%

On a GFA, A dashed outer line with internal bars that are solid and slanted are used to enclose areas of ___ or ____ precipitation. • A solid outer line with a dotted interior is used to enclose areas of _____ precipitation.

Intermittent/showery Continuous

The speed and direction of forecast surface winds are only indicated by wind barbs and an associated wind speed value when: sustained speed of ___ KT or more or, gusts to __ knots or more.

20 30 gust

• Icing is depicted whenever ____ or ____ icing is forecast for the coverage area. What do the symbols look like?

Moderate or severe

Where can you find areas of light icing on a GFA icing/turb chart?

In the comments box

Turbulence is depicted on a GFA whenever ____ or ____ turbulence is forecast for the coverage area. What do the symbols look like?

Moderate or severe

What are the height intervals of the freezing level (dashed lines) on the icing chart?

2,500 foot intervals

The GFA is automatically amended by ___ and ___ bulletins when issued

AIRMET, SIGMET

How can you tell if a GFA has been re-issued due to an error?

CC (correction code +phonetic identifier) in the comments box

What is the difference between a surface analysis chart and a surface prognostic chart?

Analysis is the actual weather Prognostic is the forecast weather

Regarding wind on surface charts, what do the arrows feathers indicate? Are they given in true or magnetic?

True

Define the following symbols

Know these station surface analysis symbols and meanings

• Remember: 700-400 hPa is approximately ____ to ____ feet ASL.

10,000 to 24,000 feet

Example of a surface station analysis

How often are upper level charts issued? Can they be accurate at time of you viewing them?

Twice a day Not very accurate as the wind readings are up to 3 hours old

Why are the Upper Level charts often referred to as Constant Pressure Charts?

the Upper Level Charts are based on levels of constant pressure. As well as most aircraft will be set to standard pressure at that altitude

Average altitudes for most frequently used pressure charts are?

> 850 hPa = 5 000 feet ASL = 150 dM (decametres) > 700 hPa = 10 000 feet ASL = 300 dM • 500 hPa = 18 000 feet ASL = 570 dM > 250 hPa = 34 000 feet ASL = 1 050 dM

What do the lines on a constant pressure chart indicate?

• Lines drawn on a constant pressure chart, are not isobars (do not show pressure), represent the approximate height of the pressure level of the chart and are known as Contours or Contour Lines. • Contours are labelled in decametres (10's of metres) and spaced 60 m (6 decametres) apart except at 250 hPa where the spacing is 120 m.

What is an isotach on a constant pressure chart?

Dashed lines for points of the same wind speed

Understand these symbols on an upper level (constant pressure chart)

Can a ceiling be indicated as below the chart height with xx ?

Yes an upper level chart only reads so low

The GFA forecast is valid for altitudes below a.32 000 feet. b.24 000 feet. c.18 000 feet. d.12 500 feet.

The GFA is issued . . . . . times daily and consist of . . . . . charts each. Select one: a.4, 6 b.6, 3 c.4, 3 d.2, 6

Marginal VFR weather conditions are determined according to ceilings between a.1 000 to 3 000 feet AGL and/or visibility between 3 to 5 SM. b.1 500 to 3 000 feet AGL and/or visibility between 3 to 5 SM. c.1 000 to 3 000 feet AGL and visibility between 3 to 5 SM. d.1 500 to 3 000 feet AGL or visibility between 5 to 8 SM.

The motion of synoptic features on the GFA will be indicated when movement is expected to be a.5 KT or more. b.10 KT or more. c.15 KT or more. d.20 KT or more.

An area of fog reducing visibility on the GFA to 1/4 SM would be indicated on the GFA by a.enclosing it with a dashed orange line. b.describing the region affected with a comment on the side. c.enclosing the region with a scalloped border. d.enclosing the region with a green border with speckled hatch marks.

Surface prognostic charts are a.forecasts issued 48 and 36 hours before valid time. b.forecasts issued 36 and 24 hours before valid time. c.analysis of weather valid for 36 and 48 hours. d.analysis of the current surface weather.

The 700 mB chart level is equivalent to a pressure altitude of 10 000 feet ASL. True or false?

True

Geostationary satellites are placed in orbit above the equator at an altitude of approximately ______ KM. Polar satellites orbit the earth at an altitude of approximately ___ km.

36,000 850

How many orbits does a geostationary satellite complete in a day? Polar orbiting?

One full rotation a day Polar 14 times a day, once every 105 minutes

Geostationary satellites will be able to monitor a given area at intervals of every one, five, or ten minutes when put into rapid scan mode, true or false?

True

Because the earth rotates beneath polar orbiting satellites, they appear to move west by approximately __ time zones per orbit.

Polar orbiting satellites can provide images of a given area every __ hours

Do Infrared or visible images have clouds that appear better defined?

Visible

An advantage of polar orbiting satellites over geostationary satellites is a.the ability to track quickly moving systems over a longer period of time. b.remaining focused over the same geographical area. c.the level of detail in the image captured. d.all of the above.

Infrared satellite images are able to detect the temperature emitted by all objects above a.-272°C. b.-312°C. c.-176°C. d.-84°C.

On an infrared satellite image, colder temperatures are depicted as . . . . . and correspond to . . . . . altitudes. a.brighter, higher b.brighter, lower c.darker, higher d.darker, lower

The smallest object (resolution) that can be identified from an infrared image is a.1 km. b.2 km. c.3 km. d.4 km.

Weather radar can see water best when it is in its ____ form.

Liquid

Why type of precipitation doesn’t produce an echo?

water vapour, clouds and fog, ice crystals, and small dry hail do not produce an echo!

What three characteristic pattern can show hail on a radar?

Finger or protrusions Hooks (associated with tornadoes) Scallops edges on cloud line

radar shadows are caused by a weather system so dense that radar energy cannot penetrate it. Meaning there could be more cells behind it. True or false?

True

• When flying below the freezing level (warmer than 0°C) avoid storms by a minimum of ___ NM. • When flying above the freezing level (colder than 0°C) avoid storms by a minimum of ___ NM. •avoid a storm that is changing shape rapidly by a minimum of ___ NM

5 NM 10 NM 20 NM

The purpose of weather radar is to detect a.thunderstorms. b.clouds. c.snow or ice crystals. d.lightning.

When an iso-echo contour display indicates a thin white band surrounding the iso-echo hole, the phenomena most closely associated is a.turbulence. b.snow. c.hail. d.lightning.

What is the reason for weather radar attenuation? a.The improper tilt of the radar. b.Near cells blocking radar feedback from distant cells. c.Caused by ground return. d.Improper gain settings on the radar display.

Rainfall gradient and turbulence are high when rainfall increases or decreases rapidly over a a.short horizontal distance. b.short vertical distance. c.long horizontal distance. d.none of the above.

A black-hole on the weather radar display will most likely represent Select one: a.the hard core of a thunderstorm cell. b.an area of hail. c.a rain shower. d.a harmless snow shower.

Lightning detection, also called a ____ device, detects lightning with a ___ degree view up to ___ NM away from the aircraft

Spherics 360 degree view 200 NM

The advantage of a stormscope compared to radar is a.lower cost. b.provides more detail. c.updates are faster. d.better at finding turbulent areas for avoiding them.

XM weather receives weather information from a.the internet. b.a satellite receiver. c.an AM receiver. d.a cellular tower.