Air Traffic Basics

Is obtained from an automated surface weather observing system that prepares the meteorological reports for transmission without a certified weather observer

Is an automated surface weather observing system that prepares the meteorological reports for transmission with certified weather observers signed on to the system to add information to the observation

Is taken by a certified weather observer who is responsible for meteorological observation

Is the primary onservation code used in the United states (and worldwide) for reporting surface meteorological data.

How often is a METAR transmitted

A metar has two major sections: what are they?

Is an unscheduled report taken when certain criteria have been observed.

SPECI criteria are only applicable to stations which have the capability of_____?

A SPECI contains all of the data elements found in a _____?

If the report is a SPECI, announce it as ______?

The_____ is included in all reports to identify the station to which the coded report applies.

The _____ airport codes have a regional structure, are not duplicated, and are comprehensive

The _____ of report is the actual time of the report or when the criteria for a SPECI was met or noted

The first two digits of report coding format is:

The 3rd and 4th digits of report coding format is:

The final two digits of report coding format is:

If a special report os the most recent observation available, follow the location with the words"special report, ((first two/last two) digits of the time) observation"

Examples of date and time phraseology

The report modifier,_____, identifies the METAR/SPECI as a fully automated report with no human intervention or oversight

in the event of a corrected METAR or SPECI, the report modifer,_____,is substituted in place of AUTO

Announce AUTO as:

Announce COR as:

Examples of report elements phraseology

The horizontal motion of the air past a given point

The WIND Group coding format is:

1:The first 3 digits indicate?

2: _____is coded if the wind direction is variable and the speed os 6 kts or less

3:the next two(or 3) digits indicate?

4: if the wind is gusty what is coded?

Decoding wind group

If the wind direction is variable and the speed is greater than 6 knots, a variable wind group consisting of the extremes of the wind directions seperated by a ___ will follow the wind group

Visibility considered representative of conditions at the station; the greatest distance that can be seen throughout at least half the horizon circle(180degrees), not necessarily continuous.

What is the lowest visibility that can be reported by an automated station?

What is the highest visibility an automated station can report?

Examples of visibility phraseology

Is an instrumentally derived value, based on standard calibrations, that represents the horizontal distance a pilot may see down the runway from the approach end.

RVR is reported when:

If the RVR is less than its lowest reportable value, the group is preceded by an ____ and spoken as _____

If the RVR is greater than its highest reportable value, the group is preceded by a ____ and spoken as _____

When RVR is variable, both the lowest and highest values are coded with a _____ between them.

The _____ specifies any weather phenomena occuring at, or in the vicinity or, the station

Is any of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground

Is any phenomenon in the atmosphere, other than precipitation, that reduces horizontal visibility

The proximity qualifier "___" indicates weather phenomena between 5 and 10 statute miles from the points of observation

When more than one type of present weather are reported at the same time, present weather _____ be reported in the following order:

•Tornado

•thunderstorm

•Present weather in order of dominance

Notations for reporting present weather

Descriptors are spoken before the weather phenomenon except for _____ which is spoken after the precipitation

When multiple precipitation types are encoded, DO/DO NOT speak the word "and" between them

Is the state of the sky in terms of such parameters as sky cover, layers and associated heights, ceiling, and cloud types

Is the amount of celestial dome (sky) which is hidden by clouds and/ or obscurations

Is an array of clouds and/or obscurations whose bases are at approximately the same level

Is a categorization of the amount of sky cover at and below each reported layer

Is the lowest layer aloft reported as broken or overcast; or the vertical visibility into an indefinite ceiling

Is vertical distance into a surface-based obscuration that an observer would be able to see

Is the ceiling classification applied when the reported ceiling value represents the vertical visibility upward into a surface based obscuration

Is the abbreviation used by manual stations to indicate no layers are present

Is the abbreviation used by automated stations to indicate no layers are detected at or below 12,000 feet above the surface

Is a measure of the hotness or coldness of the air as measured by a thermometer

Is the temperature to which the air must be cooled at constant pressure and constant water-vapor content in order for saturation to occur

Is the pressure value to which an aircraft altimeter scale is set so that it will indicate the altitude above mean sea level of an aircraft on the ground at the location for which the value was determined

Are plain language or coded data added to the body of the METAR/SPECI to report significant information not provided for in the body of the report

Remarks are seperatedfrom the body of the report by the contraction ____

Indicates weather phenomena beyond 10 SM of the points of observation

Is an explosion caused by the intense heating of subterranean rock which expels lava,steam,ashes,etc through vents in the earths crust

Is a violent, rotating column of air which does not touch the surface, usually appended to a cumulonimbus cloud

Is a violent, rotating column of air touching the ground

Is a violent, rotating column of air that forms over a body of water, and touches the water surface; tornado that touches a body of water

Is the maximum instantaneous wind speed that exceeded 25 knots since the last METAR

Is a change in the wind direction of 45 degrees or more in less than 15 minutes with sustained wind speeds of 10 knots or more throughout the wind shift

Is the prevailing visibility determined from the usual point of observation

Is the prevailing visibility determined from the airport traffic control tower (ATCT) when the surface visibility is determined from another location

Is a condition when the prevailing visibility is less than 3 statute miles and rapidly increases and decreases by 1/2 mile or more during the period of observation

Is the visibility in a specified direction that represents at least a 45 degree arc of the horizon circle

Generally any and all forms of cisible electrical discharge produced by a thunderstorm

What are the frequencies of lightning ?

Lightning occuring between cloud and ground

Lightning which takes place within the cloud

Streaks of lightning reaching from one cloud to another

Streaks of lightning which pass from a cloud to the air, but do not strike the ground

Is visible wisps or strands of precipitation falling from clouds that evaporate before reaching the surface

What 2 things make virga important?

Is a ceiling of less than 3,000 feet which rapidly increases or decreases in height during the period of onservation

At designated stations, when pressure is rising or falling rapidly at the time of observation, the remark____ (rising rapidly) or _____(rapidly falling) is included in the report

NOTE :USE PAGES 78-89 IN LESSON PLAN 24

The earths atmosphere is divided into 5 layers what are they?

The lowest layer of the earths atmosphere is _____?

Most air traffic happens in this layer of the earths atmosphere

An increase in temperature with altitude is abnormal and is defined as what?

The tranisition boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called ?

In this layer temperature increases with altitude making it a stable layer, generally devoid of significant weather except for thunderstorm tops which extend into it

A hypothetical vertical distribution of the atmospheric temperature, pressure, and density, which by international agreement is considered to be representative of the atmosphere for pressure-altimeter calibrations and other purposes

Relatively strong winds concentrated within a narrow, horizontal band in the upper troposphere

Rwo jet streams are commonly identified:

This jet stream is located between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude

This jet stream is located between 20 and 40 degrees latitude

Jet streams often produce this

Which layer of the atmosphere contains almost all clouds and precipitation?

Whixh layer of the atmosphere is stable and generally devoid of significant weather?

What is the value of sea level pressure in the standard atmosphere

Which two jets streams are commonly identified?

Water in the invisible gaseous form

The change of liquid water to water vapor

The change of ice to water vapor

This is the raw material for clouds and precipitation

A measurenof hotnessnor coldness of the air

Warm air can hold more/less water vapor than cold air?

The maximum possible quantity of water vapor that a parcel of air can hold at any given temperature and pressure

Means that a parcel of air can hold more water vapor

Means an air parcel contains all the water vapor it can hold

The temperature to which a given parcel of air must be cooled at constant pressure and constant water vapor content in order for saturation to occur

The ratio usually expressed as a percentage of water vapor actually in the air compared to the amount of water vapor the air could hold at a particular temperature and pressure

When the temperature-dew point spread decreases to____, the air becomes______, and condensation will form dew or fog

The change of water vapor to liquid water

What is the raw material for clouds and precipitation?

A parcel of air that has the capacity to hold more water vapor is?

When the _______decreases to zero, the air becomes______, and condensation will form dew, foh, or clouds

A visible mass of tiny water droplets an/or ice particles in the atmosphere above the earths surface

Clouds form when air is ______ to its dew point and becomes______?

-Consists of a featureless low layer that can cover sky

-often produces widespread IFR weather

-little or no turbulence, but can produce icing

-high level clouds which form above 20,000ft

-usually composed of ice crystals

-typically thin and white in appearance

-contains no significant icing

-resembles white fluffy cotton balls or heaps

-indicates upward vertical motion or thermal uploft of air

-tops. An reach over 60,000ft

A parcel of ______air expands and cools as pressure decreases with height

A parcel of ______air warms as it encounters increasing pressure and is compressed

Air in motion relative to the surface of the earth

A maximum of atmospheric pressure on a surface weather chart; also kjown as an anti-cyclone

Air flow around a high______in a ______motion and sinks

a minimum of atmospheric pressure on a surface weather chart; also known as a cyclone

Air flow around a low ______in a _______motion and rises

air flow around a low______ in a counterclockwise motion and _______causing the air to cool and eventually condense into clouds and prexipitation

A large body of air that has similar horizontal temperature and moisture characteristics

Region where air masses originate and acquire their properties of temperature and moisture. These properties are acquired by prolonged contact(days to weeks) with the underlying surface

An extremely deep cold air mass which develops mostly in winter over arctic surfaces of ice and snow

A relatively shallow cool to cold air mass which develops over high latitudes

A warm to hot air mass which develops over low latitudes

A dry air mass which develops over land

A moist air mass which develops over water

When classification is applied the five air masses may be applied

Cold air mass moving over a warm surface produces ______air associated with turbulence, good visibilty,cumuliform clouds and showers

A warm air mass moving over a cold surface often produces______air associated with smooth air, poor visibility, stratiform clouds, fog, and drizzle

A boundary or tansition between two air masses of different density, and thus,(usually) of different temperature

A front that moves in such a way that colder air replaces warmer air

A front that moves in a such a way that a warmer air replaces colder air

A front which is stationary or nearly so.

A composite of two fronts as a cold front overtakes a warm front or stationary front

Have a steep slope and air is forced upward abruptly

Typically have a gentle slope so the air rising along the frontal surface is gradual

a maritime tropical(mT) air mass is _____and _____

A ______air mass moving over a ______surface often produces unstable air associated with turbulence, good visibility, cumuliform clouds and showers

Which front moves in such a way that warmer air replaces colder air?

What type of front has a steep slope which often leads to a narrow band of showers and thunderstorms if the rising air is unstable

Any forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground

Precipitation formation requires the following:

Pre ipitation of snow crystals, mostly beanched in the form of six-pointed stars

Precipitation of transparent or translucent pellets of ice, which are round or irregular, rarely conical, and which have a diameter of 0.2 inch(5mm) or less

Occur when there is a shallow layer aloft with above freezing temperatures, with deep layer of below freezing air based at the surface

Rain that freezes on contact with the ground or exposed objects

Occurs when there is a deep layer aloft with above freezing temperatures, with a shallow layer of below freezing air at the surface

Precipitation, either in the form of drops larger than .02 inches, or smaller drops, which in contrast to drizzle are widely seperated

The three necessary ingredients for precipitation formation are _____lift, and a growth pocess

Which precipitation type occurs when there is a deep layer aloft with above freezing temperatures, with a shallow layer of below freezing air at the surface?

Are NWS offices located in every air route traffic control center (artcc), providing meteorological consultation, forecasts, and advice to ARTCCs and other FAA facilities weather impact

Is an armospheric condition which, when encountered in flight, can potentially cause damage to the aircraft, personal injury, a crash, or death

Is responsible for most weather -related accidents

_____and _____ are the most critical periods of any flight and are most susceptible to adverse wind

When used in aviation refers to a wind that is not parallel to the runway or path of an aircraft

As wind turns more _____to the runway to become a crosswind, airplane performance gradually______?

A sudden, brief increase in the speed of the wind

Any wind more than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the runway

This can cause an airplane to bounce on the runway and possibly lead to a crash

A tailwind can be hazardous during both takeoff and landing because why?

Wind direction is considered to be variable when, during the 2 minute evaluation period, it fluctuates by 60 degrees or more and the wind speed is more than 6 knots.

Is a term applied to a change in wind direction of 45 degrees or more which takes place in less than 15 minutes and has sustained winds of 10 knots or more throughout the wind shift

When an airplane is taking off into a headwind, gusts may cause it to

A variable wind can be hazardous on takeoff and landing because it could______.

Which type of aircraft will perform better in adverse wind conditions, due to its higher takeoff and approach speeds?

Weather conditions below the minimum for flight under visual flight rules

What is the single greatest cause of fatal accidents?

The feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning

The lowest layer aloft reported as broken or overcast; or the vertical visibility into an indefinite ceiling

The ceiling classification that is applied when the reported ceiling value represents the veryical visibility upward into a surface based onscuration

An______ceiling is more hazardous than an _____ceiling caused by a layer aloft

A visible aggregate of minute water dropleys based at the Earths surface and reducing horizontal visibility to less than 5/8 statute mile.

_____is the most common and persistent weather hazard encountered in aviation.

Any of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground

Snow lifted from the surface of the earth by the wind to a height of 6 feet or more above the ground and blow about in such quantities that the reported horizontal visibility is reduced to less than 7 statute miles

Fine particles of rock or powder that oroginate from a volcano and that may remain suspended in the armosphere for long periods

Weather phenomena causing the obscuration of mountain peaks caused by clouds, precipitation, smoke, haze, mist or fog.

Most aircraft accidents related to instrument weather invole pilots who_____

Which precipitation types most commonly produce instrument weather?

Irregular motion of an aircraft in flight, especially when characterized by rapid up and down motion, caused by a rapid variation of atmospheric wind velocities

Turbulent vertical morions that result from convective currents and the subsequent rising and sinking of air.

Convective currents are most active on _______when winds are light

Turbulence caused by obstructions, such as trees, buildings, mountains, etc.

An armospheric wave disturbance formed when stable air flow passes ober a mountain or mountain range

A change in wind speed and/or wind direction in a short distance resulting in a shearing effect

A layer in which temperature increases with altitude

The interface or transition zone between two air masses of different density.

A higher altitude(20,000 to 50,000ft) turbulence phenomenon occuring in cloud-free regions, associated with wind shear, particularly between the core of a jet stream and the surrounding air

Name 4 intensities of turbulence

What type of turbulence momentarily causes slight erratic changes in altitude and/or attitude(pitch,yaw,roll)

During what type of turbulence is the aircraft violently tossed about and practically impossible to control?

When the air is too dry for cumuliform clouds to form,______currents caused by uneven surface heating can still be active and cause turbulence

Which type of cloud would provide visual proof that a mountain wave exists?

What generates turbulence between two wind currents of differing wind directions and/or speeds

A condition of the atmosphere that reduces an aircrafts performance capability below a level od standard performance at a specified altitude

In general, an deposit of ice forming on an object

Is ice that sticks to the outside of an airplane

What are 3 types of icing?

Rough, milky, opaque ice formed by the instantaneous freezing of small supercooled water droplets after they strike the aircraft

A glossy, clear, or translucent ice dormed by the relatively slow freezing of large supercoolex water droplets

A mixture of clear and rime ice

Name 4 types of icing:

liquid water at temperatures below the freezing point

Most dangerous thing about icing is?

High density altitude _____an aircrafts power and thrust

Although,______is the most common type of icing, it is the least serious because it is easier to remove

With______ice,the rate of accumulation may create a problem if flight is prolonged(over 1 hour). Occasional use of de-icing equipment removes/prevents accumulation

Aircraft icing potential is NOT depedant upon____

A:aircraft type and design

B:pilot rating

C:meteorological factors

Which adverse effect of structural icing is LEAST significant to an aircraft?

The convective cell of a cumulonimbus cloud having lightning and thunder

Name the 3 distinct stages of a thunderstorm cell:

a strong downdraft which induces an outburst of damaging winds on or near the ground. Damaging winds, either straight or curved, are highly divergent.

A downburst that covers an area up to 2.5 miles along a side with peak winds as high as 150 knots that lasts 2 to 5 minutes

A downburst that covers an area greater than 2.5 miles up to 10 miles along a side with peak winds as high as 120 knots that last 5 to 30 minutes

Thunderstorm cell formation requires______,unstable air, and lift

It may be impossible to recover from ______encountered at low altitude.

A wind shear of 10 knots or more per 100 feet in a layer more than 200 feet thick which occurs within 2,000 feet of the surface

While an aircraft is on approach, a shear from a ____to a _____causes airpseed to decrease, nose to pitch down, aircraft to drop below the glideslope

A shear from a _____to a _____ causes airspeed to increase, nose to pitch up, aircraft to rise upward above glideslope

Wind shear is especially dangerous when it is encountered _______

While an aircraft is on approach, a shear from a tailwind to a headwind causes airspeed to _____, the nose to pitch_____, and the aircraft to _____the glideslope