Private Helicopter Test Prep

What are the eligibility requirements for a private pilot certificate?

-At least 17 years of age

-Able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language

-Current Third Class medical certificate

-Received required ground & flight training endorsements

-Meet applicable aeronautical experience requirements

-Pass required knowledge and practical tests

What privileges and limitations apply to a private pilot?

-May not act as PIC of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire;

-May not act as PIC of an aircraft for compensation or hire

-May not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees

To act as pilot-in-command, or in any other capacity as a required flight crewmember of a civil aircraft, what must a pilot have in his/her possession or readily accessible in the aircraft?

-Valid pilot certificate

-Photo identification

-Current and appropriate medical certificate

With respect to certification, privileges, and limitations of airmen, define the terms: "Category," "Class," and "Type."

-Category: broad classification of aircraft; i.e., airplane, rotorcraft, glider, etc.

-Class: classification of aircraft within a category having similar operating characteristics; i.e., single-engine land, multi-engine land, etc.

-Type: specific make and basic model of aircraft including modifications that do not change its handling or flight characteristics; i.e., DC-9, B-737, C-150, etc.

What are the requirements to remain current as a private pilot?

Flight review within preceding 24 months in aircraft for which pilot is rated by an authorized instructor and logbook endorsement certifying satisfactory flight review

To carry passengers: within preceding 90 days three takeoffs and landings as sole manipulator of the flight controls; if night, three takeoffs and landings to a full stop

To exercise the privileges of a private pilot certificate, what medical certificate is required, and how long is it valid?

Third class

Under 40 when taken, then expires at end of 60th month

Over 40 when taken, then expires at end of 24th month

If a pilot changes his/her mailing address and fails to notify the FAA Airmen Certification branch of the new address, how long may the pilot continue to exercise the privileges of his/her pilot certificate?

30 days after the date of the move

What documents are required on board an aircraft prior to flight?

Airworthiness certificate

Registration certificate

Owner's manual or operating limitations

Weight and balance data

How can a pilot determine his/her aircraft is equipped with a Mode C altitude encoding transponder?

Referencing current weight and balance equipment list

When will an aircraft registration certificate expire?

When any of the following occur:

-Aircraft registered under the laws of a foreign country

-Registration canceled at written request of the holder of the certificate

-Aircraft totally destroyed or scrapped

-Ownership of the aircraft is transferred

-Holder of certificate loses U.S. citizenship

-Thirty days after the death of the holder of the certificate

Who is responsible for ensuring that an aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition?

Owner or operator

After aircraft inspections have been made and defects have been repaired, who is responsible for determining that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition?

The PIC

What records or documents should be checked to determine that the owner or operator of an aircraft complied with all required inspections and airworthiness directives?

Maintenance records (aircraft and engine logbooks). Owner/operator shall ensure maintenance personnel make appropriate entries in aircraft maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been approved for return to service.

What regulations apply concerning the operation of an aircraft that has had alterations or repairs which may have substantially affected its operation in flight?

Cannot operate or carry passengers until an appropriately rated pilot with at least a private pilot certificate flies the aircraft; makes an operational check of the maintenance performed or alteration made; and logs the flight in the aircraft records.

What is an Airworthiness Certificate and how long does it remain valid?

-Issued by the FAA only after the aircraft has been inspected and found to meet the requirements of 14 CFR and is in a condition for safe operation.

-Remains in effect as long as the aircraft receives the required maintenance and is properly registered in the U.S.

Can a pilot conduct flight operations in an aircraft with known inoperative equipment?

Yes, under specific conditions

Operation of an aircraft with a Minimum Equipment List (MEL), as authorized by 14 CFR 91.213(a).

Operation of an aircraft without a MEL under 14 CFR 91.213

What are Minimum Equipment Lists?

Precise listing of instruments, equipment and procedures that allows an aircraft to be operated under specific conditions, with inoperative equipment.

MEL is the specific inoperative equipment document for a particular make and model aircraft by serial and registration numbers.

FAA approved MEL includes only those items of equipment the FAA deems may be inoperative and still maintain an acceptable level of safety with appropriate conditions and limitations.

What limitations apply to aircraft operations conducted using the deferral provision of 14 CFR 91.213(d)?

When inoperative equipment is found during preflight or prior to departure, the decision should be made to cancel the flight, obtain maintenance prior to flight, or to defer the item or equipment.

Maintenance deferrals are not used for inflight discrepancies. Manufacture's POH procedures are to be used in those situations.

What limitations apply to aircraft operations being conducted using MELs?

Once an operator requests an MEL and a letter of authorization (LOA) is issued by the FAA, then the MEL becomes mandatory for that aircraft. All maintenance deferrals must be done in accordance with the MEL.

What are the procedures to follow when using 14 CFR 91.213(d) for deferral of inoperative equipment?

Pilot determines whether the inoperative equipment is required by type, design, the regulations, or ADs (type certificate, operations, 91.205, AD), . If the inoperative equipment is not required, and the aircraft can be safely operated without it, the deferral may be made. Pilot then removes or deactivates the inoperative item, and places an INOPERATIVE placard near the appropriate switch, control, or indicator.

What are the required maintenance inspections for aircraft?

Not operated for hire: Annual

Operated for hire or giving flight instruction for hire: 100 hour and annual

If an aircraft has been on a schedule of inspection every 100 hours, under what condition may it continue to operate beyond the 100 hours without a new inspection?

By not more than 10 hours while enroute to a place where the inspection can be done. The excess time used to reach a place where the inspection can be done must be included in computing the next 100 hours of time in service.

What is the difference between an annual inspection and a 100-hour inspection?

No differences; however, difference is who is allowed to perform these inspections. A&P mechanic can do 100 hour inspections. A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA) must do annual.

Be capable of locating the required maintenance and equipment inspections for your aircraft in the aircraft and engine logbooks. What should these include?

-Annual inspection/100 hour inspection

-ELT inspection (12 calendar months)

-ELT battery expiration date

-Transponder certification (24 calendar months)

-Compliance with applicable Ads

*If operating under IFR, pitot-static pressure system, altimeter, and automatic pressure altitude reporting system must have been tested and inspected in the preceding 24 calendar months.

What are some of the responsibilities an aircraft owner has pertaining to aircraft documents, maintenance and inspections of their aircraft?

Have a current Airworthiness Certificate and Aircraft Registration in the aircraft.

Maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition including compliance with all applicable Airworthiness Directives.

Ensure maintenance is properly recorded.

Keep abreast of current regulations concerning the operation of that aircraft.

Notify the FAA Civil Aviation Registry immediately of any change of permanent mailing address, or of the sale or export of the aircraft, or of the loss of citizenship.

Have a current FCC radio station license if equipped with radios, including ELT, if operated outside of the U.S.

What are "Special Flight Permits," and when are they necessary?

May be issued for an aircraft that may not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is capable of safe flight. Typically used for:

Flying an aircraft to a base where repairs, alterations, or maintenance are to be performed, or to a point of storage;

Delivering or exporting an aircraft;

Production flight testing new-production aircraft;

Evacuating aircraft from areas of impending danger;

Conducting customer demonstration flights in new-production aircraft that have satisfactorily completed production flight tests.

How are "Special Flight Permits" obtained?

Assistance and necessary forms may be obtained from the local FSDO or Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR).

What are "Airworthiness Directives" (ADs)?

A medium the FAA uses to notify aircraft owners and other potentially interested persons of unsafe conditions that may exist because of design defects, maintenance, or other causes, and to specify conditions under which the product may continue to be operated.

Regulatory in nature; compliance is mandatory.

What kind of helicopters can you fly with a private pilot certificate?

Any helicopter up to 12,500 pounds, except for the R-22 and R-44 unless the SFAR to Part 61 is followed.

Can you fly a twin turbine powered helicopter?

Yes. You can fly any aircraft up to 12,500 pounds, except for the R-22 and R-44 (unless you meet the requirements outlined in SFAR 73 to Part 61.

If you take your flight review in a Bell 206, can you act as PIC in the R-22?

No, according to SFAR No. 73 2(c)(1): No flight review completed to satisfy 61.56... shall be valid for the operation of the R-22 helicopter unless that flight review was taken in an R-22.

To act as PIC in the R-22 how often do you have to take a flight review if you have less than 200 hours?

Every 12 calendar months; review must include enhanced training in autorotation procedures, engine Rotor RPM control without the use of the governor, low rotor RPM recognition and recovery, and effects of low G maneuvers and proper recovery procedures.

State the general characteristics in regard to the flow of air around high and low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere.

-Low Pressure: inward, upward, and counterclockwise

-High pressure: outward, downward, and clockwise

What is a "trough"?

An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure

At the surface when air converges into a low, it cannot go against the pressure gradient, nor can it go downward into the ground; it must go upward. Therefore, a low or trough is an area of rising area. Rising air is conducive to cloudiness and precipitation; hence the general association of low pressure and bad weather.

What is a "ridge"?

An elongated area of relatively high pressure.

Air moving out of a high or ridge depletes the quantity of air; therefore, these are areas of descending air. Descending air favors dissipation of cloudiness; hence the association of high pressure and good weather.

What are the standard temperature and pressure values for sea level?

15°C and 29.92" Hg

What are "isobars"?

A line on a weather chart which connects areas of equal or constant barometric pressure

If the isobars are relatively close together on the surface weather chart or a constant pressure chart, what information will this provide?

-Spacing of isobars on these charts defines how steep or shallow a pressure gradient is.

-When isobars are spaced very close together, a steep pressure gradient exists which indicates higher wind speeds

-A shallow pressure gradient (isobars not close together) usually means wind speeds will be less.

What causes the winds aloft to flow parallel to the isobars?

Coriolis force

Why do surface winds generally flow across the isobars at an angle?

Surface friction

At what rate does atmospheric pressure decrease with an increase in altitude?

1" Hg per 1,000 feet

What does "dew point" mean?

The temperature to which a sample of air must be cooled to attain the state of saturation

When temperature and dew point are close together (within 5°), what type of weather is likely?

Visible moisture in the form of clouds, dew, or fog.

Also, these are ideal conditions for carburetor icing.

What factor primarily determines the type and vertical extent of clouds?

Stability of the atmosphere

How do you determine the stability of the atmosphere?

Unstable air is indicated when temperature decreases uniformly and rapidly as you climb (approaching 3°C per 1,000 feet).

If temperature remains unchanged or decreases only slightly with altitude, the air tends to be stable.

Instability is likely when air near the surface is warm and moist.

Surface heating, cooling aloft, converging or upslope winds, or an invading air mass of colder air may lead to instability and cumuliform clouds.

Stable Air

-Clouds - Statiform

-Turbulence - Smooth

-Precipitation - Steady

-Visibility - Fair to Poor

Unstable Air

-Clouds - Cumuliform

-Turbulence - Rough

-Precipitation - Showery

-Visibility - Good

At what altitude above the surface would the pilot expect the bases of cumuliform clouds if the surface temperature is 82° and the dew point is 62°?

[(Temperature - Dew Point)/4] x 1,000 = base of clouds

82-62 = 20

20/4 = 5

5 x 1,000 = 5,000 feet AGL

What is the definition of the term freezing level and how can you determine where that level is?

The lowest altitude in the atmosphere over a given location at which the air temperature reaches 0°C.

It is possible to have multiple freezing layers when a temperature inversion occurs above the defined freezing level. A pilot should use icing forecasts as well as PIREPs to determine the approximate freezing level.

Area forecasts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and low-level significant weather charts are several examples of aviation weather products that contain icing information.

What conditions are necessary for structural icing to occur?

Visible moisture and below freezing temperatures at the point moisture strikes the aircraft.

Name the main types of icing an aircraft may encounter in-flight.

Structural, induction system, and instrument icing

Name the three types of structural icing that may occur in flight.

Clear ice: forms after initial impact when the remaining liquid portion of the drop flows out over the aircraft surface, gradually freezing as a smooth sheet of solid ice

Rime ice: forms when drops are small, such as those in stratified clouds or light drizzle. The liquid portion remaining after initial impact freezes rapidly before the drop has time to spread out over the aircraft surface.

Mixed ice: forms when drops vary in size or when liquid drops are intermingled with snow or ice particles. The ice particles become embedded in clear ice, building a very rough accumulation.

What action is recommended if you inadvertently encounter icing conditions?

Change course and/or altitude; usually, climb to a higher altitude, if possible

Is frost considered to be hazardous to flight? Why?

Yes, because while frost does not change the basic aerodynamic shape of the wing, the roughness o fits surface spoils the smooth flow of air, thus causing a slowing of airflow. This slowing of the air causes early airflow separation, resulting in a loss of lift.

What factors must be present for a thunderstorm to form?

-A source of lift (heating, fast-moving front)

-Unstable air (nonstandard lapse rate)

-High moisture content (temperature/dew point close)

What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?

-Cumulus stage: updrafts cause raindrops to increase in size

-Mature stage: rain at earth's surface; it falls through or immediately beside the updrafts; lightning; perhaps roll clouds.

-Dissipating stage: downdrafts and rain begin to dissipate.

What is a "temperature inversion"?

An inversion is an increase in temperature with height (a reversal of the normal decrease with height). An inversion aloft permits warm rain to fall through cold air below. Temperature in cold air can be critical to icing. A ground-based inversion favors poor visibility by trapping fog, smoke, and other restrictions into low levels of the atmosphere. The air is stable, with little or no turbulence.

State two basic ways that fog may form?

-Cooling air to the dew point

-Adding moisture to the air near the ground

Name several types of fog.

-Radiation fog

-Advection fog

-Upslope fog

-Precipitation-induced fog

-Ice fog

What causes radiation fog to form?

The ground cools the adjacent air to the dew point on calm, clear nights.

What is advection fog, and where is it most likely to form?

-Advection fog results from the transport of warm humid air over a cold surface.

-A pilot can expect advection fog to form primarily along coastal areas during the winter. Unlike radiation fog, it may occur with winds, cloudy skies, over a wide geographic area, and extends to high altitudes.

What is upslope fog?

Upslope fog forms as a result of moist, stable air being cooled adiabatically as it moves up sloping terrain. Once the upslope wind ceases, the fog dissipates. Upslope fog is often quite dense and extends to high altitudes.

Define the term "wind shear," and state the areas in which it is likely to occur.

-Wind shear: the rate of change of wind velocity (direction and/or speed) per unit distance; conventionally expressed as vertical or horizontal wind shear.

-May occur at any level in the atmosphere but three areas of special concern:

a. Wind shear with a low-level temperature inversion

b. Wind shear in a frontal zone or thunderstorm

c. Clear air turbulence (CAT) at high levels associated with a jet stream or strong circulation

Why is wind shear an operational concern to pilots?

Unexpected changes in wind speed and direction can be potentially very hazardous to aircraft operations at low altitudes on approach to and departing from airports.

What is the primary means of obtaining a weather briefing?

-Individual briefing obtained from a briefer at the AFSS/FSS.

-Tailored to your specific flight

-Available 24 hours a day through use of a toll-free number (1-800-WX-BRIEF).

What are some examples of other sources of weather information?

-Telephone Information Briefing Service (TIBS)(AFSS)

-Weather and aeronautical information available from numerous private industry sources.

-Direct User Access Terminal System (DUATS) can be accessed by pilots with a current medical certificate toll-free in the 48 contiguous states via personal computer.

-In Alaska, Transcribed Weather Broadcast (TWEB) and telephone access to the TWEB (TEL-TWEB).

Where can you find a list of AFSS/FSS and weather information numbers?

-Airport/Facility Directory under the "FAA and NWS Telephone Numbers" section.

-Also listed in the U.S. Government section of the local telephone directory.

What types of weather briefings are available from an AFSS/FSS briefer?

-Standard briefing: request when you are planning a flight and you have not received a previous briefing or have not received preliminary information through mass dissemination media (TIBS, TWEB, etc.)

-Abbreviated briefing: request when you need information to supplement mass disseminated data, update a previous briefing, or when you need only one or two items

-Outlook briefing: request whenever your proposed time of departure is six or more hours from the time of the briefing; for planning purposes only

-Inflight briefing: request when needed to update a preflight briefing

What pertinent information should a weather briefing include?

-Adverse conditions

-VFR flight not recommended

-Synopsis

-Current conditions

-Enroute forecast

-Destination forecast

-Winds aloft

-Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS)

-ATC Delay

-Information on special use airspace (SUA); SUA-related airspace and military training routes (MTRs) activity within the flight plan area and a 100nm extension around the flight plan area; review of printed NOTAM publications; approximate density altitude information; information on air traffic services and rules; customs/immigration procedures; ADIZ rules; search and rescue, LORAN, NOTAM, GPS RAIM availability; other assistance as required.

What is EFAS?

-Enroute Flight Advisory Service (EFAS): a service specifically designed to provide enroute aircraft with timely and meaningful weather advisories pertinent to the type of flight intended, route of flight, and altitude.

-Also a central collection point for pilot reported weather information (PIREPs)

-Also known as "Flight Watch."

What is HIWAS?

-Hazardous In-Flight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS): continuous broadcast of in-flight weather advisories including summarized Aviation Weather Warnings, SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETs, Center Weather Advisories, AIRMETs, and urgent PIREPs.

-Navaids with HIWAS capability are depicted on sectional charts with an "H" in the upper right corner of the identification box.

-Where implemented, HIWAS alerts are broadcast on all except emergency frequencies once upon receipt by ARTCC, terminal facilities, and AFSS/FSSs.

What is a METAR and what are the two types?

A METAR is an hourly surface observation of conditions observed at an airport.

Two types: 1) routine transmitted every hour; 2) aviation selected special weather report (SPECI), which is a special report that can be given at any time to update the METAR for rapidly changing weather conditions, aircraft mishaps, or other critical information

Describe the basic elements of a METAR.

A METAR report contains the following elements in order as presented:

-Type of reports: the METAR and the SPECI

-ICAO station identifier

-Date and time of report; 6 digit date/time group appended with Z (UTC). First two digits are the date, then two for the hour, and two for the minutes

-Modifier (as required): if use, the modifier AUTO identifies the report as an automated weather report with no human intervention. If AUTO is shown in the body of the report, AO1 or AO2 will be encoded in the remarks section to indicate the type of precipitation sensor used at the station.

-Wind: 5 digit group (six digits if speed is over 99 knots); first three digits = wind direction in tens of degrees referenced to true north; directions less than 100 degrees are preceded with a zero; next two digits are the average speed in knots

-Visibility: surface visibility in statute miles

-Runway visual range (RVR) as required

Weather phenomena

-Sky condition

-Temperature/dew point: 2 digit format in whole degrees Celsius; temperatures below zero are prefixed with M

-Altimeter

-Remarks (RMK) as required

Manual observations

Reports made from airport locations staffed by FAA or NWS personnel

AWOS

Automated Weather Observing System; consist of various sensors, a processor, a computer-generated voice subsystem, and a transmitter to broadcast local, minute-by-minute weather data directly to the pilot. Observations will include the prefix AUTO in data.

ASOS/AWSS

Automated Surface Observing System/Automated Weather Sensor System; the primary U.S. surface weather observing systems. AWSS is a follow on program that provides identical data as ASOS. Both systems provide continuous minute-by-minute observations that generate METARs and other aviation weather information. Transmitted over a discrete VHE frequency or the voice portion of a local NAVAID, and are receivable to a maximum of 25 NM from the station and a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet AGL. Observations made without human intervention will include the modifier "AUTO" in the report data.

What are PIREPs (UA), and where are they usually found?

-Two types: routine (UA) or urgent (UUA)

-Contain information concerning weather observed by pilots enroute

-Required elements for all PIREPS are message type, location, time (UTC), flight level (MSL), type of aircraft, and at least one weather element encountered (visibility in SM, distances in NM).

What are Radar Weather Reports (SD)?

-Contains information about precipitation observed by weather radar

-Transmitted hourly

What are Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)?

-A concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions within a 5 SM radius from the center of an airport's runway complex during a 24 hour time period.

-Use same weather code found in METAR:

-Type of reports: routine (TAF) and an amended forecast (TAF AMD)

-ICAO station identifier

-Date and time of origin (Conforms to international (ICAO) standards; 30 hour TAF for 32 high impact U.S. airports, others are 24 hour)

-Valid period and date: 2 digit date followed by 2 digit beginning and 2 digit ending hours in UTC. Routine TAFs are valid for 24 hours and are issued four times daily at 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z.

-Forecasts

Define "aviation area forecast."

-Abbreviated as "FA."

-Forecast of specified weather phenomena covering a flight information region or other area designated by meteorological authority.

-Issued 3 times daily for each of the 6 areas in the contiguous 48 states. Also issued for the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii, and Alaska.

What information is provided by an FA?

-Synopsis: brief discussion of the synoptic weather affecting the FA area during the 18 hour valid period

-Clouds and weather: description of the clouds and weather for the first 12 hour period for each state or group of states

What are Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories (WST, WS, WA)?

-(WST) implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing and low-level wind shear.

-Hazardous to all categories of aircraft.

-Severe thunderstorms due to surface winds greater than or equal to 50 knots; hail at the surface greater than or equal to ¾ inches in diameter; tornadoes

-Embedded thunderstorms

-A line of thunderstorms

-Thunderstorms producing greater than or equal to heavy precipitation that affects 40% or more of an area at least 3,000 square miles

What is a SIGMET (WS)?

-(WS) advised of non-convective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft

-Severe icing not associated with a thunderstorm

-Severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT) not associated with thunderstorms;

-Duststorms or sandstorms lowering surface of inflight visibility to below 3 miles

-Volcanic ash

What is an AIRMET (WA)?

-Advisories of significant weather phenomena that describe conditions at intensities lower than those which require the issuance of SIGMETs, intended for use by all pilots in the preflight and enroute phase of flight to enhance safety.

-Contain details about IFR, extensive mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong surface winds, icing, and freezing levels

What are the different types of AIRMETs?

-Sierra: describes IFR conditions and/or extensive mountain obscurations

-Tango: describes moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or greater, and/or nonconvenctive low level wind shear

-Zulu: describes moderate icing and provides freezing level heights

Describe the winds and temperature aloft forecasts (FB)

-Computer prepared forecasts for wind direction, wind speed, and temperature at specified times, altitudes, and locations.

-Up to 15,000 feet referenced in MSL; at or above 18,000 feet are referenced to flight levels (FL)

-Temperature indicated in degrees Celsius (two digits) for the levels from 6,000 through 24,000 feet. Above 24,000 feet, minus sign is omitted since temperatures are always negative at those altitudes. Temperature forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 2,500 feet of a location's elevation.

-Wind direction indicated in tens of degrees (two digits) with reference to true north and wind speed is given in knots (two digits). Light and variable winds or wind speeds less than 5 knots are expressed by 9900.

What valuable information can be determined from Winds and Temperature Aloft Forecasts (FB)

-Most favorable altitude: based on winds and direction of flight

-Areas of possible icing: by noting air temperature of +2°C to -20°C

-Temperature inversions

-Turbulence: by observing abrupt changes in wind direction and speed at different altitudes

What are Center Weather Advisories (CWA)?

-An aviation warning for use by aircrews to anticipate and avoid adverse weather conditions in the enroute and terminal environments.

-Not a flight planning product; reflects current conditions expected at the time of issuance and/or is a short range forecast for conditions expected to begin within 2 hours of issuance.

Give some examples of current weather charts available at the FSS or NWSO used in flight planning?

-Surface analysis chart

-Radar summary chart

-Short-range surface prognostic chart

-Significant weather prognostic chart

-Convective outlook chart

-Constant pressure analysis chart

What is a surface analysis chart?

-Computer prepared chart that covers the 48 contiguous states and adjacent areas.

-Provides a ready means of locating pressure systems and fronts.

-Gives an overview of winds, temperature and dew point at chart time.

What information does a weather depiction chart provide?

-Computer generated from METAR reports.

-Gives a broad overview of the observed flying category conditions at the valid time of the chart.

-Can get a "bird's-eye" view of areas favorable and adverse weather conditions at chart time

Define the terms: LIFR, IFR, MVFR and VFR.

-LIFR: Low IFR - ceiling less than 500 feet and/or visibility less than 1 mile

-IFR: Ceiling 500 to less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility 1 to less than 3 miles

-MVFR: Marginal VFR - ceiling 1000 feet to 3000 feet and/or visibility 3 to 5 miles inclusive

-VFR: Ceiling greater than 3000 feet and visibility greater than 5 miles; includes sky clear

What are radar summary charts?

-Computer generated graphical display of a collection of automated weather reports (SDs).

-Displays areas of precipitation as well as information about type, intensity, configuration, coverage, echo top, and cell movement of precipitation.

-Aids in preflight planning by identifying general areas and movement of precipitation and/or thunderstorms.

What are short-range surface prognostic charts?

Called "prog," these charts portray forecasts of selected weather conditions at specified valid times

Describe a U.S. low-level significant weather prog chart.

-Surface to FL240

-Two forecast periods, 12 hours and 24 hours, the chart is composed of four panels.

-Two lower panels depict the 12 and 24 hour surface progs, and the two upper panels depict the 12 and 24 hour significant weather progs.

-Covered are forecast positions and characteristics of pressure systems, fronts, and precipitation.

Describe a mid-level significant weather (SIGWX) chart.

Provides a forecast and an overview of significant enroute weather phenomena over a range of flight levels from 10000 feet MSL to FL450.

What is a convective outlook chart?

Depicts areas forecast to have the potential for severe (tornado, wind gusts 50 knots or greater, or hail ¾ inch diameter size or greater) and non-severe convection and specific severe weather threats during the following three days.

What are constant pressure analysis charts?

-Any surface of equal pressure in the atmosphere is a constant pressure surface.

-A constant pressure analysis chart is an upper air weather map where all information depicted is at the specified pressure of the chart.

-Pilot can approximate the observed air temperature, wind, and temperature-dewpoint spread along a proposed route.

What symbols are used to depict the following frontal systems on surface analysis charts? Cold, Warm, Stationary, Occluded.

-Cold: triangle

-Warm: semi-circle

-Stationary: opposite triangle/semi-circle

-Occluded: combination of the symbols for the warm and cold fronts

Define the term "ceiling."

The height above the surface of the base of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena aloft that hides more than half the sky.