AVIt meteorology

Be able to decode ASOS and AWOS reports with a high level of

 understanding and detail

ASOS - 15 before the hour to the hour, acquisition, processing, and distribution/transmission, minimum vis is ¼ and maximum is 10

AWOS - No SPECIs, every 20 minutes

Be able to identify the publications that contains the standards for surface

weather observations

Federal meteorological handbook

Be able to identify the time period when SPECI observations are made for ASOS and

manual surface observing stations

Significant weather changes

Be able to determine if SPECI observations are made at AWOS sites

No

Be able to define prevailing visibility and describe its significance to aviation

Vis for at least half horizon circle

Be able to state the factors that determine the intensity of rain, snow, drizzle & ice pellets

DSNT - more than 10 miles, VC - 5 to 10 miles, none - 0 to 5 miles

Be able to describe packing effect

Humans overestimate cloud cover

Be able to define vertical visibility

Distance to see into an indefinite ceiling

Be able to provide both definitions of ceiling

Broken/overcast or vertical vis

Be able to identify the advantages of automated surface weather systems

Wx at smaller airports, requires less workers, all the time

Be able to determine from a METAR whether an ASOS is augmented or totally

automated

AUTO for automated

Be able to identify the of meteorological sensors and their limitations

Lightning - ranging error, cant see cloud to cloud

Precip - one type of precip, mixes up rain and snow

Freezing Rain - compacted snow/frost

Be able to decode remarks that pertain to the operational status of the ASOS or AWOS

AO1 - cant determine between frozen and liquid precip

AO2 - can determine

Be able to describe each type of weather briefing

Outlook - more than 6 hours out for planning

Standard - no previous/preliminary info

Abbreviated - supplement, update, or 1-2 items

Be able to identify the document that provides pilots with guidance for preflight

briefings

AC 91-92

Be able to describe the purpose of ATIS and when ceiling and visibility are omitted from

an ATIS recording

Greater than 5000 feet and 5 SM

Be able to identify the ATC facility that makes Weather Advisory Broadcast

ARTCCs

Be able to identify the weather products that are included in a Weather Advisory

Broadcast

SIGMET, convective SIGMET, Urgent pilot report, center weather advisory, aviation watch notification message

Be able to identify the description of Flight Information Services

Method of disseminating meteorological and aeronautical info into cockpit

Be able to describe the advantages of Flight Information Services.

Enhances situational awareness, flight safety, and provides decision support tools

Be able to identify the three different types of Flight Information Services

Broadcast, contract-demand, contract-update

Be able to identify the equipment required to obtain FIS-B weather information.

Ground transmitter, aircraft receiver, cockpit display

Be able to identify the limitations of FIS-B

Line of sight, workload, and tactical

Be able to identify the advantage and disadvantages of satellite data link

Strategic, cant shoot the gap, unlimited reception

Be able to recognize the agencies responsible for aviation weather and each of

their responsibilities

NOAA - oceanic and atmospheric

NESDIS - National environmental satellite, data, and information services

NCEP - national center for environmental prediction

NWS - national weather service

CWSU - central weather service unit (ARTCCs)

WFO - weather forecast office

ATCSCC - air traffic control system command center (balances demand with capacity)

ARTCC - air route traffic control center (IFR and some VFR)

TRACON - advise pilots of hazardous wx at select airports

ATCT - air traffic control tower

FSS - flight service stations (wx brief)

Be able to give examples of various types of atmospheric observations

Pilot reports, satellite, radar

Be able to define analysis

 Study of the state of the atmosphere based on conditions

Be able to give examples of various types of analyses

Pressure, frontal

Be able to identify the two sources of aviation weather information

Federal government, commercial providers

Be able to identify the various functions of the federal government as a source of aviation weather information

Free, approval authority, forecasts and advisories

Be able to identify the two types of aviation weather information provided by

commercial weather providers

Repacking, proprietary weather products