Weather service

(Refer to Figure 14.) The wind and temperature at 12,000 feet MSL as reported by a pilot are

080° at 21 knots and -7°C. Winds are given after the 'WV' heading. Wind direction is listed first, followed by wind speed in knots. WV 08021/ means wind from 080° at 21 knots. Air temperature is given in 2 digits, (in degrees Celsius), after the 'TA' heading. If below zero, it will be prefixed with an "M." Therefore, /TA M7/ means that the outside air temperature is -7°C.

When requesting a briefing, pilots should identify themselves and provide as much information regarding the proposed flight as possible. The information received will depend on the type of briefing requested. The following would be helpful to the briefer:

1. Type of flight: VFR or IFR 2. Aircraft number or pilot's name 3. Aircraft type 4. Departure point 5. Route of flight 6. Destination 7. Flight altitude(s) 8. Estimated time of departure 9. Estimated time en route or estimated time of arrival

(Refer to Figure 12). What are the wind conditions at Wink, Texas (KINK)?

110° at 12 knots, gusts 18 knots.

(Refer to Figure 15.) What is the valid period for the TAF for KMEM?

12th 1800Z to 13th 2400Z. The valid period of the TAF is 1218/1324. The first two numbers in each four number grouping identify the date followed by the time in Zulu. It reads as 12th at 1800Z to the 13th at 2400Z.

(Refer to Figure 15.) In the TAF from KOKC, the "FM (FROM) Group" is forecast for the hours from 1600Z to 2200Z with the wind from

180° at 10 knots. The FROM group is forecast for the hours from 1600 (FM051600) to 2200Z (BECMG 0522/0524) with the wind from 180° at 10 knots (18010KT).

(Refer to Figure 12.) The wind direction and velocity at KJFK is from

180° true at 4 knots. The wind is reported as a five-digit group (six digits if speed is over 99 knots). The first three digits is the direction the wind is blowing from rounded to the nearest tens of degrees relative to true north, or 'VRB' if the direction is variable. The next two digits is the speed in knots, or if over 99 knots, the next three digits. If the wind is gusty, it is reported as a 'G' after the speed followed by the highest gust reported. The abbreviation 'KT' is appended to denote the use of knots for wind speed. The wind group for KJFK is 18004KT which means the wind is from 180° at 4 knots.

(Refer to Figure 17.) Determine the wind and temperature aloft forecast for MKC at 6,000 feet.

200° true at 6 knots, temperature +3 °C. A six-digit group shows wind directions (in reference to true north) in the first two digits, wind speed (in knots) in the second two digits, and temperature (in Celsius) in the last two digits. In this case, 2006+03 means 200° at 6 knots, and the temperature is 3°C. ^

(Refer to Figure 17.) Determine the wind and temperature aloft forecast for DEN at 9,000 feet.

230° true at 21 knots, temperature -4 °C.

(Refer to Figure 17.) What wind is forecast for STL at 9,000 feet?

230° true at 32 knots. A six-digit group shows wind directions (in reference to true north) in the first two digits, wind speed (in knots) in the second two digits, and temperature (in Celsius) in the last two digits. In this case, 2332+02 means 230° at 32 knots, and the temperature is 2°C.

(Refer to Figure 17.) What wind is forecast for STL at 12,000 feet?

230° true at 39 knots.

(Refer to Figure 15.) Between 1000Z and 1200Z the visibility at KMEM is forecast to be

3 statute miles Between 1000Z and 1200Z, the visibility at KMEM is forecast to be 3 SM (BECMG 1310/1312 00000KT....3SM).

(Refer to Figure 14.) If the terrain elevation is 1,295 feet MSL, what is the height above ground level of the base of the ceiling?

505 feet AGL Cloud layers in a PIREP are found after the 'SK' heading. Height of the cloud base is given in hundreds of feet, then the cloud cover symbol (SCT, BKN, etc.) is given, followed by the height of the cloud tops in hundreds of feet. All cloud heights in a PIREP are MSL. The first cloud layer was reported by a pilot to have bases at 1,800 feet and tops at 5,500 feet with broken (BKN) cloud cover (a broken cloud layer does constitute a ceiling). If the field elevation is 1,295 feet MSL and the base of the first cloud layer (BKN) is 1,800 feet MSL, then the base of the ceiling is 505 feet AGL. 1,800 MSL - 1,295 MSL = 505 AGL

(Refer to Figure 14.) The base and tops of the overcast layer reported by a pilot are

7,200 feet MSL and 8,900 feet MSL Cloud layers in a PIREP are found after the 'SK' heading. Height of the cloud base is given in hundreds of feet, then the cloud cover symbol (SCT, BKN, etc.) is given, followed by the height of cloud tops in hundreds of feet. A diagonal slash is used to separate cloud layers. The base of the broken (BKN) layer was reported to be 1,800 feet and tops at 5,500 feet (SK BKN018-TOP055). The question is asking for the overcast (OVC) layer that has a reported base at 7,200 feet and tops at 8,900 feet. All cloud heights in a PIREP are MSL (OVC072-TOP089).

When the term 'light and variable' is used in reference to a winds aloft forecast, the coded group and windspeed is

9900 and less than 5 knots.

SIGMETs are issued as a warning of weather conditions hazardous to which aircraft?

All aircraft

To update a previous weather briefing, a pilot should request

An abbreviated briefing.

Which type of weather briefing should a pilot request to supplement mass disseminated data?

An abbreviated briefing.

To best determine general forecast weather conditions covering a flight information region, the pilot should refer to

Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)

(Refer to Figure 15.) During the time period from 0600Z to 0800Z, what visibility is forecast for KOKC?

Greater than 6 statute miles During the period from 0600Z to 0800Z (0606/0608), the visibilities are forecast to be greater than 6 SM (P6SM).

What should pilots state initially when telephoning Flight Service for preflight weather information?

Identify themselves as the pilot

(Refer to Figure 12.) Which of the reporting stations have VFR weather?

KINK, KBOI, and KLAX IFR conditions are a ceiling less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles. KINK: Visibility is 15 statute miles and the sky is clear: VFR. KBOI: Visibility is 30 statute miles and sky is scattered at 15,000 feet: VFR. KLAX: Visibility is 6 statute miles with mist and the sky is scattered at 700 feet (SCT does not constitute a ceiling): VFR. KMDW: Visibility is 1-1/2 statute miles with rain and the ceiling is overcast at 700 feet: IFR. KJFK: Visibility is 1/2 statute mile with fog and the ceiling is overcast at 500 feet: IFR.

When requesting weather information for the following morning, a pilot should request

Outlook briefing

Which inflight advisory would contain information on severe icing not associated with thunderstorms?

SIGMET A SIGMET advises of weather potentially hazardous to all aircraft other than convective activity. Some items included are severe icing, and severe or extreme turbulence.

(Refer to Figure 12.) What are the current conditions depicted for Chicago Midway Airport (KMDW)?

Sky 700 feet overcast, visibility 1-1/2 SM, rain The current conditions at KMDW are 1-1/2 SM visibility (1-1/2SM) with rain (RA), ceiling overcast at 700 feet (OVC007).

To get a complete weather briefing for the planned flight, the pilot should request

Standard briefing.

When telephoning Flight Service for preflight weather information, pilots should state

The aircrafts identification or the pilots name

What should pilots state initially when telephoning Flight Service for preflight weather information?

The intended route and destination

What is indicated when a current Convective SIGMET forecasts thunderstorms?

Thunderstorms obscured by massive cloud layers.

What information is contained in a Convective SIGMET?

Tornadoes, embedded thunderstorms, and hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter. Any convective SIGMET implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low-level wind shear. The forecast may be issued for severe thunderstorms due to: 1. Surface winds greater than or equal to 50 knots; 2. Hail at the surface greater than or equal to 3/4 inch in diameter; or 3. Tornadoes, embedded thunderstorms, lines of thunderstorms.

What values are used for winds aloft forecasts?

True direction and knots. A six-digit group shows wind directions (in reference to true north) in the first two digits, wind speed (in knots) in the second two digits, and temperature (in Celsius) in the last two digits.

(Refer to Figure 15.) What is the forecast wind for KMEM from 1600Z until the end of the forecast?

Variable in direction at 6 knots. (VRB06KT)

When speaking to a Flight Service Specialist, you should state

Whether the flight is VFR or IFR

When telephoning Flight Service for a preflight weather information, pilots should state

Whether they intend to fly VFR only

AIRMETs are advisories of significant weather phenomena but of lower intensities than SIGMETs and are intended for dissemination to

all pilots

A weather briefing that is provided when the information requested is 6 or more hours in advance of the proposed departure time is

an outlook briefing

(Refer to Figure 15.) The only cloud type forecast in TAF reports is

cumulonimbus

(Refer to Figure 14.) The intensity of the turbulence reported at a specific altitude is

light from 5,500 feet to 7,200 feet. Turbulence in a PIREP is found after the 'TB' heading. /TB LGT 055-072/ means light turbulence between 5,500 feet MSL and 7,200 feet MSL.

(Refer to Figure 14.) The intensity and type of icing reported by a pilot is

light to moderate rime The intensity and type of icing is listed in a PIREP after the 'IC' heading. /IC LGT-MDT RIME 072-089 means light (LGT) to moderate (MDT) rime icing from 7,200 feet MSL to 8,900 feet MSL.

For aviation purposes, ceiling is defined as the height above the Earth's surface of the

lowest broken or overcast layer or vertical visibility into an obscuration.

(Refer to Figure 15.) In the TAF from KOKC, the clear sky becomes

overcast at 2,000 feet during the forecast period between 2200Z and 2400Z.

(Refer to Figure 12). The remarks section for KMDW has RAB35 listed. This entry means

rain began at 1835Z The entry RAB35 means that rain began 35 minutes past the hour.

In the TAF for KMEM, what does 'SHRA' stand for?

rain showersm

Which type weather briefing should a pilot request, when departing within the hour, if no preliminary weather information has been received?

standard