Weather Services

Question 1

What are METARs?

Answer 1

Aviation routine weather reports (Meteorological Aerodome Report)

Question 2

What are TAFs?

Answer 2

Forecasts (Terminal Aerodome Forecast)

Question 3

What are PIREPs?

Answer 3

Pilot Weather Reports (reports directly from pilots at high altitudes)

Question 4

All times in reports are in what time zone?

Answer 4

Zulu time

Question 5

What does VRB mean?

Answer 5

Variable

Question 6

What does COR mean?

Answer 6

Corrected

Question 7

What does AUTO mean?

Answer 7

Automated observation

Question 8

What does SK mean?

Answer 8

Sky

Question 9

What does SCT mean?

Answer 9

Scattered

Question 10

What does BKN mean?

Answer 10

Broken

Question 11

What does OVC mean?

Answer 11

Overcast

Question 12

What does TCU mean?

Answer 12

Towering cumulus

Question 13

What does CB mean?

Answer 13

Cumulonimbus

Question 14

What does VV mean?

Answer 14

Vertical visibility

Question 15

What does CLR mean?

Answer 15

Clear

Question 16

What does A mean?

Answer 16

Altimeter

Ex. A2992

Question 17

What does M mean?

Answer 17

Minus (for temperature)

Ex. M10

Question 18

What does TEMPO mean?

Answer 18

Temporary

Ex. TEMPO 0920/0922 (Date and time)

Question 19

What does PROB mean?

Answer 19

Probability

Ex. PROB30 (meaning 30%)

Question 20

What does BECMG mean?

Answer 20

Becoming

Ex. BECMG 1013/1015 (Date and time)

Question 21

What does VC mean?

Answer 21

Vicinity

Question 22

What does BC mean?

Answer 22

Patches

Question 23

What does BL mean?

Answer 23

Blowing

Question 24

What does DR mean?

Answer 24

Drifting

Question 25

What does FZ mean?

Answer 25

Freezing

Question 26

What does MI mean?

Answer 26

Shallow

Question 27

What does PR mean?

Answer 27

Partial

Question 28

What does SH mean?

Answer 28

Showers

Question 29

What does TS mean?

Answer 29

Thunderstorm

Question 30

What does DZ mean?

Answer 30

Drizzle

Question 31

What does GR mean?

Answer 31

Hail

Question 32

What does GS mean?

Answer 32

Small hail or snow pellets

Question 33

What does IC mean?

Answer 33

Ice crystalsW

Question 34

What does PL mean?

Answer 34

Ice pellets

Question 35

What does RA mean?

Answer 35

Rain

Question 36

What does SG mean?

Answer 36

Snow grains

Question 37

What does SN mean?

Answer 37

Snow

Question 38

What does UP mean?

Answer 38

Unknown precipitation

Question 39

What does BR mean?

Answer 39

Mist

Question 40

What does DU mean?

Answer 40

Widespread dust

Question 41

What does FG mean?

Answer 41

Fog

Question 42

What does FU mean?

Answer 42

Smoke

Question 43

What does HZ mean?

Answer 43

Haze

Question 44

What does PY mean?

Answer 44

Spray

Question 45

What does SA mean?

Answer 45

Sand

Question 46

What does VA mean (in weather reports)?

Answer 46

Volcanic ash

Question 47

What does DS mean (in weather reports?)

Answer 47

Dust storm

Question 48

What does FC mean?

Answer 48

Funnel cloud

Question 49

What does +FC mean?

Answer 49

Tornado

Question 50

What does PO mean?

Answer 50

Well-developed dust or sand whirls

Question 51

What does SQ mean?

Answer 51

Squall

Question 52

What does SS mean?

Answer 52

Sandstorm

Question 53

What does WS mean in weather reports?

Answer 53

Wind shear Ex. WS010/31022KT

Question 54

What does KT mean in weather reports?

Answer 54

Knots

Question 55

What does FM mean in weather reports?

Answer 55

From

Question 56

How much do TAFs forecast in time?

Answer 56

24 hours

Question 57

What is the GFA?

Answer 57

Graphical Forecasts for Aviation, available online

Question 58

What are AIRMETs?

Answer 58

Weather information about hazards to light aircraft

Question 59

What are SIGMETs?

Answer 59

Weather information about hazards to all aircraft

Question 60

How often are AIRMETs and SIGMETs broadcast?

Answer 60

At 30-minute intervals (H+15 and H+45)

Question 61

What are convective SIGMETs?

Answer 61

Reports on tornadoes, thunderstorms, severe turbulence, icing and wind shear.

Question 62

How often are convective SIGMETs broadcast?

Answer 62

Hourly at H+55

Question 63

What type of briefing should a pilot request on a telephone briefing?

Answer 63

A "standard" briefing

Question 64

What other types of telephone briefings are there other than standard?

Answer 64

Abbreviated briefing Outlook briefing when departure time is 6 or more hours away

Question 65

What information should be given in a telephone briefing?

Answer 65

1. VFR or IFR 2. Ident of aircraft or pilot's name 3. Aircraft type 4. Departure point 5. Route of flight 6. Destination 7. Altitude 8. Departure time 9. Arrival time (or time en route) VFR Ident Aircraft, Depart Route Destination Altitude, Depart and Arrive