fss 206.1 - procedures for completing a speci weather obs

A SPECI is an ______ reported when selected changes in weather conditions ______ occur off the hour

aerodrome Special Meteorological report, significant to aviation

A SPECI observation must be taken and transmitted whenever ______ have changed in the amount specified (except in the case of the end of _________)

one or more of the elements, a thunderstorm or precipitation

The amount of change specified is with reference to ______.

the preceding METAR or SPECI observation

A SPECI observation will be required when a significant change is observed from the following weather elements:

• Ceiling

• Obstruction to Vision

• Sky Condition

• Visibility

• Tornado, Waterspout or Funnel Cloud

• Thunderstorm

• Precipitation

• Wind

• Volcanic eruption

• Additional observations

What is a weather element that can constitute a SPECI, if so designated by NAV CANADA?

Temperature

A SPECI report must be transmitted whenever ceiling decreases to less than, or increases to equal or exceed the following values of height:

1,500, 1,000, 500, 300 feet, or additional limits as specified in the service provider unit library

What are additional heights that are applicable only at aerodromes with approved precision approaches and only down to and including the lowest published minima for these aerodromes?

400, 200, and 100 feet

A SPECI report must be transmitted whenever ceiling decreases to less than, or increases to and exceeds 100, 200, or 400 feet at aerodromes with _______ and only down to including ________ for these aerodromes.

approved precision approaches, the lowest published minima

Sites will have their own list of ceiling criteria SPECIs based on ______.

their approaches

The highest minimum for March is associated with the ______ approach at 488 feet AGL. Therefore, this would mean that for additional IFR approach and alternate limits, _______ is a criterion for a SPECI for March.

NDB RWY 14 approach, 500 feet

A SPECI report must be reported whenever a layer aloft is observed _______ and no layer aloft was reported _____ in the preceding report.

below 1,000 feet, below this height

A SPECI report must be transmitted whenever freezing fog _______

begins and ends

Special attention must be paid regarding the formation of _____ when transitioning from FG to FZFG as temperatures fall below the freezing mark.

rime ice

It is important to be vigilant when the temperature drops into ______, as FZFG could transition back into FG.

the -25 and -35 range

A SPECI report must be transmitted when prevailing visibility decreases to less than, or increases to equal or exceeding:

3 SM, 1 ½ SM, 1 SM, ½ SM

Which prevailing visibility values are applicable only at aerodromes with approved precision approaches and only down to and including the lowest published minima for these aerodromes?

¾ SM, ¼ SM

A SPECI must be reported for tornadoes, waterspouts, and funnel clouds when:

Is observed, is reported from a reliable source, disappears from sight

A SPECI must be reported whenever a thunderstorm:

1. Begins

2. Ends (_______ have elapsed without the occurrence of thunderstorm activity)

15 minutes

A SPECI report must be transmitted whenever any precipitation ______ or has a _______

begin, end, change in intensity

Which type of precipitation would be written in a SPECI for its beginning and end only?

Ice Crystals

A SPECI report must be transmitted, as required, to report the beginning and end of ________, regardless of _______.

each individual type of precipitation, simultaneous occurrences of other types

A leeway of _____ is allowed after the precipitation ends before a SPECI is mandatory.

15 minutes

Changes in the ______ of precipitation do not require a SPECI if the break in precipitation does not exceed _____ and there is no change to the ______ in the precipitation.

character, 15 minutes, intensity

The observer can issue a SPECI as soon as the precipitation ends when the precipitation is ________ but no later than 15 minutes after.

not expected to recommence

A SPECI must be reported when:

1. The rounded temperature increases by ______ from the previous reported value and the previous reported value was _____

5°C or higher, 20°C or higher

A SPECI must be reported when:

2. The temperature decreases to a reported value of ______ from the previous report

2°C or lower

For stations where SPECI reports are required for temperature changes, see ______

Appendix III: Sites where SPECI reports are required for temperature changes

Do not issue additional SPECI when the temperature fluctuates near a reportable value of 2°C over an extended period. The temperature must rise by ____ then drop again to a reportable value of _____ for an additional SPECI to be issued.

5°C or more, 2°C

A SPECI must be reported for wind when:

1. Speed (2-minute mean) increases suddenly to ____ the previously reported value and exceeds ____

at least double, 30 knots

A SPECI must be reported for wind when:

2. Direction changes sufficiently to fulfill criteria required for a _____ as per section 3.3.3

“wind shift”

A SPECI must be reported for wind when:

3. The existence of low-level wind shear along the ______ at _____, which is considered to aircraft operations, must be reported

runway takeoff or approach path, 1,500 feet AGL and below

Upon receiving a wind shift alarm on HWOS, the observer must _______ to ensure that all criteria in 2.5.3 Wind Shift are met before issuing a SPECI

validate the data

A wind shift shall be recorded when all of the following occur:

• The direction from which the wind is blowing changes ________

• The change in direction takes place ________

• The time of the wind shift shall be the time at which the wind begins to shift and

• The wind shift shall also be recorded in Remarks

by 45° or more, in less than 15 minutes

A wind shift shall be recorded when all of the following occur:

• The direction at the completion of the shift _________

• The time of the wind shift shall be the time at which the wind begins to shift and

• The wind shift shall also be recorded in Remarks

shall not be variable

A wind shift shall be recorded when all of the following occur:

• The average wind at the completion of the shift is _______

• The time of the wind shift shall be the time at which the wind begins to shift and

• The wind shift shall also be recorded in Remarks

10 knots or more

Information on the existence of wind shear in the lower layers along the runway takeoff or approach path at 1,500 feet AGL and below must be reported in the following format:

METAR ___ ______ or _____ if wind shear applies to all RWYs

WS, RWYDrDr, ALL RWY

_____ additional wind shear information in Remarks

Do not add

Wind shear is a change in ________ in a short distance resulting in a tearing or shearing effect. It can exist in ______.

wind speed and/or wind direction, horizontal or vertical direction and occasionally in both

A SPECI report shall be reported whenever a volcanic eruption is observed. The following data shall be included in Remarks when known:

1. Name of the volcano

2. Direction (_____) and approximate distance (______) of the volcano

• 16 points, true, of the compass

• International statute miles

A SPECI report shall be reported whenever a volcanic eruption is observed. The following data shall be included in Remarks when known:

3. Date/Time (_______) of eruption

4. Height and direction of movement of _____

5. Other pertinent data

UTC, ash cloud

The criteria for SPECI must be regarded as ______ for taking SPECI observations. Observers are encouraged to exercise initiative by taking additional observations when any weather condition exists that _________ or is otherwise significant.

the minimum requirements, may impact the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations

Additional observations must be transmitted as a SPECI based on the following:

• On request of a _________

• Aircraft accident. Include in Remarks the words _______

• Additional requirements for local operation

• Observer’s initiative

forecast centre or Air Traffic Services (ATS), “ACCIDENT REPORT”

The following are standards for accident observations:

1. _______ an aircraft accident at or near the weather observing station, the observer shall make an accident observation

2. The accident observation must be recorded and transmitted

Immediately upon learning of

The following are standards for accident observations:

3. It must be as _________ as possible, with particular care being taken to include in Remarks the words “Accident Report” and any _______ that might relate to the accident, or might be of significance to the Aircraft Accident Investigator

complete and accurate, meteorological facts

The following are standards for accident observations:

4. The service provider shall preserve the integrity of accident observations

5. All accident observations shall be retained until _______

the inquiry or investigation is completed

The time assigned to SPECI observations shall be when an element(s) is first _________ as per established criteria.

seen / heard / felt / increased / decreased

If more than one element has changed sufficiently to cause a SPECI, the time shall be the time of observation of _______.

the element considered to be most important to aviation

For ending a thunderstorm, the time of the SPECI shall be ______ after the ____ is heard.

exactly 15 minutes, last peal of thunder

For the end of precipitation: the time of the SPECI can be any time between the ending of precipitation and _____ as per the allowed leeway at the discretion of the observer.

The delay between the time of the SPECI and the time of the transmission should not exceed ____.

up to 15 additional minutes, 2 minutes

When the observer goes out to do the hourly weather observation and observes light precipitation, or ______, at their discretion they may choose to wait to report that element in the hourly METAR.

If the element is _______ (example thunder heard) they should report a SPECI.

another element that is not severe, severe

NAV CANADA employees shall prioritize duties as outlined in ______.

the MATS

Other personnel (i.e. non-NAV CANADA employees) who take weather observations shall give such duties the priority _______.

specified by their employing agency

When duties include observing and reporting weather conditions, the observer shall give highest priority to weather observing duties when the imminent occurrence of severe weather conditions (e.g. +FC, TS), either observed or forecast, requires _____.

the rapid dissemination of a warning or advisory.