NEHC Newsletter Quiz April 2012 Test your knowledge about aviation weather products. How familiar are you with aviation weather services? What information do you use for your pre-flight weather briefing? Answers to the questions in this quiz can be found in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H8083-25A), and Aviation Weather Services (AC 00-45G). Web addresses for these various references are listed at the end of the quiz. Have fun! 1. Standard terms are used to describe turbulence and icing intensity. Which of the following statements is correct? A. Light, moderate, severe & extreme are terms used to describe icing. B. Trace, light, moderate & severe are terms used to describe turbulence. C. Moderate icing is a rate of accumulation that may create a problem if flight is prolonged in the icing environment. D. Moderate turbulence describes a condition where unsecured objects are dislodged and occupants feel definite strains against seat belts and shoulder straps. 2. When reading an Area Forecast (FA) you know that: A. This forecast is issued every 8 hours beginning at 0445 UTC. B. The contraction “WND” is included if the sustained surface wind is expected to be 25 kts or moreduring the majority of the 6-hour outlook period. C. The FA provides a 12-hour specific clouds and weather forecast, followed by a 6-hour categorical outlook giving a total forecast period of 18 hours. D. In the conterminous U.S., FA’s are issued for six geographic areas including the Gulf of Mexico coastal waters west of 85W. 3. Short-Range Surface PrognosticCharts, commonly called Prog Charts, are useful to view the progression of surface weather features during the next 48 hours. You know that: A. 12-Hour Surface Prognostic charts are issued 4 times per day and are termed “Day 1” progs. B. 36- and 48- Hour Surface Progs are issued 4 times per day and are termed “Day 2” progs. C. Surface Prog charts are issued every six hours beginning at 0000 UTC. D. Answers A and C are correct.
4. A Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is a concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions significant to aviation for a specified time period within five statute miles (SM) of the center of the airport’s runway complex (terminal). Which statement below regarding this sample TAF? KBOS 141751Z 1418/1524 08009KT 4SM BR OVC004 FM150300 02007KT 2SM BR BKN008 FM151100 01006KT 5SM BR BKN008 FM151300 02006KT P6SM BKN010 FM151700 08007KT P6SM SCT035 FM152000 09008KT P6SM SCT150 A. The next TAF will be issued on March 15 at 00 UTC.
B. On March 15, beginning at 1700 UTC, the wind is expected to be from 080 degrees at 7 knots. The wind forecast is relative to magnetic north. C. On March 15, beginning at 2000 UTC, the ceiling is forecast to be at 15,000 MSL. D. On March 14, beginning at 1800 UTC, the wind is expected to be from 080 degrees relative to true north at 9 knots and the ceiling is forecast to be at 400 feet AGL.
5. Please select the correct answer regarding this sample Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR). METAR KBOS 131955Z AUTO 22015G25KT 180V250 3/4SM R17L/2600FT +TSRA BR OVC010CB 18/16 A2992 RMK AO2 TSB25 TS OHD MOV E SLP132 A. This METAR was taken by an automated station without a precipitation discriminator. B. The visual range on runway 17L is less than ¾ statute mile. C. Sea level pressure is 1013.2 inches of mercury. D. The air temperature is 18° Fahrenheit and the dew point is 16° Fahrenheit 6. An Aviation Selected Special Weather Report (SPECI) is an unscheduled report taken when the weather changes between the hourly reports (METAR). Which of the following conditions requires issuance of a SPECI? A. A change in atmospheric pressure of more than 0.01 inches of mercury, either up or down, in a 10 minute period. B. A layer of clouds or obscurations aloft is present below 1,000 feet and no layer aloft was reported below 1,000 feet in the preceding METAR or SPECI. C. The highest value from the designated RVR runway decreases to less than, or if below, increases to equal or exceed 1,800 feet during the preceding 10 minutes.
D. Wind direction changes by 45 degrees or more in less than 10 minutes and the wind speed is 15 knots or more throughout the wind shift. 7. Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecasts (FB) are computer prepared forecasts of wind direction, wind speed, and temperature at specified times, altitudes, and locations. When reading the FB you know that: A. Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1,500 feet of a location's elevation. B. Temperature forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 2,500 feet of a location's elevation C. Wind direction is indicated in tens of degrees (two digits) with reference to true north and wind speed is given in knots (two digits). D. All above answers are correct. 8. An AIRMET is a concise description of the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified en route weather phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft operations, but at intensities lower than those which require the issuance of a SIGMET. Which of the following statements accurately describes an AIRMET? A. An AIRMET may be issued when the weather phenomena are occurring or expected to occur over an area of at least 1,000 square miles. B. Severe icing or freezing rain is expected in an area of at least 3,000 square miles. C. All heights or altitudes are referenced to in an AIRMET are based on ground level, (AGL), unless otherwise noted, and annotated using the height in hundreds of feet, consisting of three digits (e.g., 040). D. AIRMETs are valid for no more than 6 hours. 9. Radar images are graphical displays of precipitation and non-precipitation targets detected by weather radar. The National Weather Service procures a number of radar products that are helpful to pilots. Which of the following statements about radar images is false? A. Base Reflectivity is a display of both the location and intensity of reflectivity data and encompasses several different elevation angles (tilts) of the antenna. B. Base Reflectivity images may be contaminated by, beam blockage, ground clutter, anomalous propagation and ghosts. C. Composite reflectivity is the maximum echo intensity (reflectivity) detected within a column of the atmosphere above a location. D. Comparing Base Reflectivity and Composite Reflectivity will not reveal important storm structure features and intensity trends of storms. 10. The National Convective Weather Forecast (NCWF) is a near real-time, high resolution display of current and one-hour extrapolated forecasts of selected
hazardous convective conditions for the conterminous United States. The NCWF is a supplement to, but does not substitute for, the report and forecast information contained within Convective SIGMETs. Which statement below is correct regarding this example NCWF?
A. The light blue polygon denotes the location of the one-hour forecast convective hazard field. B. The storm is moving southeast at 25 knots. C. Echo tops are at 45,000 MSL. D. A, B, & C are all correct. Furthermore, NCWF forecasts are provided only for convective hazard scale levels 3 or higher. AIM: http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs/AIM/ Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/pilot_handbook/media/PHAK%20%20Cover-Preface.pdf, Aviation Weather Services: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/d6a522c2 5e53cbf58625776f0050495c/$FILE/AC-0045G_chg1_fullDocument.pdf.