Meteorology EASA Exam Feedback

ATPL group feedback:

Describe the chief role of the WMO with regard to aviation meteorology :

• Establish and implement together with ICAO, a global regulatory framework for
the national meteorology services.

Haze, mist fog visibility

Haze = 5000m or less

Mist = Between 1000 to 5000m

Fog = Less than 1000m

AC and AS turbulence and icing when encountering them. (All of these explanations are
taken from the WMO). 1

AC 2
Turbulence = Light to moderate
Icing = light ice accretion may occur.
AS

Turbulence = Turbulence is weak and confined to the lower parts however it may be strong
when there is internal convection.
Icing = Is generally light

Trade winds where do they blow?

Remember the mnemonic. “NEver winter, SWeat summer”.

So North East in winter, South west summer.

Speed of a warm front – 10kts

You’re in a hold at 3000ft, able to see the runway but the aircraft on final is encountering
difficulties in his approach, what type of fog is this?
A- Mist and fog
B- Shallow fog

What is QNH

1
https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/observation-of-clouds-from-aircraft-descriptions-altostratus.html
2
https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/altocumulus-stratiformis-occur-sheet-layer-detached-
elements.html

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“QFE reduced to MSL using the values of the standard atmosphere”

What is QFE

“Is the barometric pressure at the aerodrome reference point” or “Is the recorded surface
pressure at the aerodrome”.
Also will show zero at the aerodrome reference point.

Tundra climate - “Frozen soil”

When taking off from an airfield in a cold air pool, on the leeside of a mountain, which of
these is most accurate?

“Improved performance in the first stages of departure.”

You’re taking off from a runway which is situated on the lee side of the mountain. What are
you likely to encounter?

“Low visibility and an inversion”

What is the mixing ratio?

“Express humidity as a ratio of the mass of water vapour mixed in with a mass of air”

AviationExam says, “The number of grammes of water vapour per kilogramme of dry air”

Two flight levels 14000 and 5000, with an ISA deviation of -14, what is the separation
between them?

9000 ft separation

According to the Koppen Climate Classification System what is this type of latitude. I had
this in my exam back in May and was completely stumped as to what the hell the Koppen
Climate Classification System is as the only Koppen I know is a nice refreshing glass of
Koppenberg on a summers evening.

Anyway, the answer is along the lines of a “temperate latitude”.

I know I got this right as from my MET review by the UK CAA they confirmed the answer I
put was correct ☺

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MET feedback
13 th JUNE 2018
“Firstly as per usual, do check with instructors if you are in doubt with my answers.
These are by far my answers and I believe is correct. It’s also a mix of answers with
instructors etc, and I might also be too exhausted from writing this doc, haha.
Regardless, I try to make this doc as digestible as possible for you guys but forgive
me if I made some mistakes, it’s tiring to write a proper one. Kindly CHECK when in
doubt!”

1. Where is projection of the Polar front jet stream on the surface most likely to
be found ?
a) 150 NM in front of cold front and 200 NM behind warmfront
b) 50-200 nm behind the cold front and 300-450 nm ahead of the warm
front

2.
Something like this diagram, asking what happens to the wind when front G
passes through T
a) Back, Increase
b) Back, decrease
c) Veer, Increase
d) Veer, decrease

3. Finding mean temperature on a temperature chart, very simple. The

temperatures were nicely listed and doesn’t make it difficult for me to take
which temperature into average calculation

4. SIGWX chart. Know your chart!

Something along the lines of what FL should you take in order to be safe from

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flight hazards from somewhere up north to Istanbul (I believe). The problem

here is finding Istanbul cause the line was vaguely drawn and the “I” was
almost hidden by a “cloud” on the SIGWX chart. However, very easy. Just
make sure that you check the following before you decide on an option, also
there’s always 2 very wrong answers, cross them out early!

Please check the FL so

you can compare this
with CAT areas or
icing/turbulence levels if
your journey is crossing a
CAT ‘cloud’ or dashed
lines.

Dashed lines = CAT areas, see “CAT

AREAS”

Cloud looking areas: look for arrows that points to it

with a hoverbox.
XXX means: Below the limit of the FL of the
SIGWX chart.
e.g. Turbulence from level below FL100-140
Moderate icing from level below FL100-140

5. There’s a Pressure system map, showing an airport with a “High pressure”

just on top on the right of the airport. Then they give u a METAR:-
a. Keypoints: Check the WIND direction according to the isobars then just flick
it a little according to the friction force (veer or back)
b. Know your pressure systems, in this case is High pressure therefore:-
1. Expect moderate to poor vis in the METAR
2. Low winds
3. Expect to see BR or FG or even FZFG (if temp = dew point temp)
4. You can straight away cross out answers that contains RA or DZ

6. Know your instruments ! Which of these instruments is used to measure RH?

a) Psychrometer
b) Anemometer  Wind speed
c) Transmissiometer  RVR
d) Thermometer  Temperature

7. What measures pressure?

a) Barometer
b) Transmissiometer

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c) Hygrometer
d) Anemometer

8. About 3 questions with METAR/TAF asking to find various variables.

Know the difference between lowest/highest vs most likely weather/forecast,
ask ur instructor they can explain it better. This will help you dictate whether
you will take BECMG into consideration or TEMPO. Just remember that
BECMG takes sometimes the full period to develop.

I was asked about highest forecasted visibility on ETA 1230 MADRID.

Which gives me CAVOK, and then the options are:-
a) Greather than 10 km
b) 10 km or more
c) 500
d) 2000

9. What causes the seasonal movement of ITCZ?

a) Annual movement of the sun
b) Pressure systems
c) Wind

10. Haze is reported at sunset, which runway is worst in terms of obscuration?

a) RW27
b) RW09
c) RW18
d) RW36

11. 10 Altimetry questions: do practice them. This also includes simple Q codes
like what is QNH, QNE, QFE and QFF? But the worst thing is that they are
reworded very well that it took me time to decide which is which. Have a
sound understanding and basically:-
a) QNH = Nautical height. pressure at an aerodrome converted to mean sea level
in accordance with standard atmospheric conditions.
b) QFE = Field elevation. The atmospheric pressure at the official aerodrome
elevation.
c) QNE = pressure altitude reduced to ISA
d) QFF = Pressure reduced to actual conditions at MSL

12. Moderate snow:-

a) SHSN
b) -SN
c) SN
d) SHGR

13. What is the responsibility of MWO?

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a) Monitor volcanic activity and ash clouds, and prepare

b) Brief crews for dispatch  I believe this is MO (Met office)
c) Analyse charts and prepare SIGMENTS within FIR
d) *newoption that might sound right*
Monitor the stations that makes the reports around a specific area

14. Main purpose of VAAC? Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre [#501380 BGS]
a) To alert military authorities to the possibility of hazardous onditions
b) To advise pilots on best practice when fling in volcanic ash louds
c) To close airways and airspace as required
d) To monitor and advise on the formation and progress of Volcanic Ash
clouds

15. Know your tropopause and poles

Which is correct?
a) Tropopause at the pole is lower than at the equator
b) Tropopause at summer is always lower

16. What is the main source of energy in TS?

a) Condensation
b) Convection
c) Sun
d) Wind

17. What is the maximum height and distance you can find mountain waves?
a) On the lee side XXX nm and may reach up to the stratosphere  pls
check the distance coverage on the lee side, I’ve forgotten ____ )
b) Windward side above the mountain
c) 400 nm on the lee side lower than the mountain level

Remember that MTW can reach up to FL600 !

18. Why are indications about height of tropopause not essential for flight doc?
a) Cause the tropopause keeps moving up and down
b) Tropopause is generally well above the flight level actually flown
c) Because it has no use

19. What dissipates orographic fog?

a) Solar radiation
b) Uphill wind  debating between the two, because I ran into a
question once that ways “reduction of uphill lifting” instead of just “uphill
wind”. So I thought this could be a less precise answer in another
perspective

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20. A long question asking about why does the wind veer/back according to the
time of the day and why do they increase/decrease. Make sure you know
wind increases and veers towards mid afternoon and then settles down in the
evening.

21. You are flying up high in FL 300 and come across the cirrus clouds:-
a) Icing is not possible because of ice crystal formations in the cloud
b) Severe icing in cirrus

22. The hazard of icing at higher level:-

a) It forms on your windscreen and blocks your view
b) Icing on the trailing edges

--“I chose icing on trailing edges cause I figured it would be more

significant if the ailerons/flaps are blocked from moving due to severity
of the icing which renders the plane with limited maneuverability. As for
windshield, I figured that planes could navigate with instruments these
days and it won’t be much of an issue, confirmed with instructor.
However, feel free to discuss with yours”

23. Warm air , cooled underneath

a) Advection
b) Radiation
c) Convection
d) Conduction

24. A question that I can’t remember, something to do with air mass properties of
Tropical Maritime and Arctic maritime. Just remember Arctic maritime comes
from a cold place, and it travels the ocean (warmer) → UNSTABLE and
Tropical Maritime comes from the Azores High which is the ocean (warmer)
that travels to cold coast → STABLE.
Know what are the characteristics of STABLE vs UNSTABLE air masses and
its associates.

25. Conditions you get in cold air pool?

a) Poor visibility, fogging
b) Showers in the afternoon, good visibility

26. Ferrell cell is …

a) The cell between Hadley and Polar cell
b) The cell with lowest tropopause
c) The cell that originates at the north/south pole

27. Where can a pilot find info on severe icing? Tick 2.

a) SIGMET

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b) SIGWX chart
c) METAR
d) TAF

28. What is characterized by the ITCZ?

a) Thunderstorms occurring all year around
b) Major convective action

*not exact wording*

29. Which is true about icing?

a) Large water droplets could form Clear Ice
b) Large water droplets could form rime ice
c) Small water droplets could form clear ice
d) mixed water droplets could form rime ice

30. Which of the following aids in the condensation process?

a) Micro metric particles and water droplets
b) Saturation level
c) Xxx

31. Why are there no TRS in the South Pacific Ocean?

a) ITCZ band movement
b) Converging action of equal trade winds
c) The ocean at this level has lower temperature insufficient to form TRS

32. Your runway is situated in between two mountains (a valley), what should you
as a pilot be aware of?
a) Poor visibility due to the inversion
b) Reduced performance in an approach
c) Thunderstorms
“apologies, I don’t really remember much about this question’s choices
except the one I pick was prob the best out of the rest, I might have
misworded the other choices so Best you ask your instructor what are
the possibilities of the valley inversion”

33. Mistral and Bora came out for me, know their locations,

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34. Main energy of TRS:-

a) Latent heat released from condensing Wind/Velocity
b) Differential temperatures across ocean/land

35. Where is subtropical climate at?

a) 10 degrees North
b) 30 degrees North (20N to 35N)
c) Equator

36. Non frontal depression: Characteristics of a polar low

1. From arctic maritime, northerly
2. Blowing to UK normally
3. Unstable and strong convection
why? Because Arctic Maritime = COLD passes through the ocean=WARM,
thus unstable air
4. Quickly disappears on land
5. ONLY forms over sea

37. I got 2-3 questions about the theory behind…

1. Adiabatic cooling
When air rises, it cools and expand (adiabatically)
2. Relating that to Relative humidity and water vapor
pressure, read it up!

38. What happens to RH when a saturated parcel of air is being lifted?

a) RH increases
b) Mixing ratio increases
c) RH remains the same
d) RH decreases
“ I see this as air lifted = adiabatic cooling → temperature decrease. Remember that
RH is inversely proportional to temperature. The lower the temp the higher the RH
and vice versa. HOWEVER, it says “saturated” parcel of air.. therefore it has already
reached saturation. i.e. 100%, thus same.”

39. In an IR satellite, you see a sort of white cloud formation, on a visible image
however u only see a translucent image *along those lines*
a) Cirrus cloud
b) Fog
c) Haze
d) CB

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40. Which is correct regarding winds with equal spacing isobars/ pressure
gradient?
a) VHIGH > VST and VST < VLOW
b) VHIGH < VST and VST > VLOW
c) VHIGH > VST and VST > VLOW
d) VHIGH < VST and VST > VLOW

41. For once, I didn’t get this question. But my friend did. It has been quite
Type of storm Occurrence per year controversial
as of DARWIN Cyclone West 5, East 2 late as to
which Philippines TRS 9
Hurricane Atlantic 18* all types, 6 Major
hurricanes
Bay of Bengal 4-6 (?)
South Indian Ocean 10 ish
South Indian Ocean plus 10-12 ish
Bay of Bengal
Southwest Pacific 9 TRS, 4-5 severe ones
Caribbeans 8-10
standards/survey line Is EASA/CAA following. But I found these values have
been solid.
CHECK !

42. Presence of lenticular clouds:-

a) Instability

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b) Mountain waves
c) Icing
d) Precipitation

May 2018
Altimetry

2 Altimetry questions, one indicated and a simple true altitude one similar to BGS. I was a
little anxious of so-called new altimetry questions that I had been reading on the forums, so to
make sure I was prepared, I also went through the GNAV altimetry ones which I feel are a
little bit more involved. If you can go through those, that should get you fully prepared for
any new questions. Make sure you are confident with the methods on working them out.

An aircraft maintains a constant indicated altitude of 6500 ft from A (600 ft/AMSL - QNH
1012 hPa) to B (930 ft/AMSL - QNH 977 hPa). Assuming that the altimeter subscale setting
remains unchanged at 1012 hPa, the height of the aircraft above the surface at B is:

- 4625ft

You are flying at FL 160. Outside air temperature is -27°C, and the pressure at sea level is
1003 hPa. What is the true altitude?

- 15100ft

Others

During a flight at FL 100 from Marseille (QNH 1012 hPa) to Palma de Mallorca (QNH 1015
hPa), an aircraft remains at a constant true altitude. The reason for this is that:

- The air over Marseille is warmer than that over Palma de Mallorca

Four Stages of a mid-latitude occlusion?

- Cyclogensis, Developed, Occlusion, Frontolysis (Remember CDOF)

What height would the production of the first mountain wave be seen?

Answers included:

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- Same level as mountain

- Low down just about the inversion (This one)

- Rotor Zone

What instrument measures pressure?

- A Barometer

What wing planform and ice builds up with creating the worst results?

- Thin and large drops

- Thin and small drops (This)

- Thick and large

- Freezing Fog and supercritical aerofoil

2 Metar/Taf questions

I would advise going through all the BGS and other QB ones, just to get an understanding on
the different ways they can ask you these. The rules with these are:

If asks for MOST LIKELY = IGNORE TEMPOS

If asks for LOWEST FORECAST AT LOWEST EXPECTED = INCLUDE TEMPOS

If asks for FORECAST OR EXPECTED = Consider BCMGS + TEMPOS

BECMG takes priority over TEMPO. So If we had BECMG at 18/20 4800m, then TEMPO
between 20/24 3200m, then TEMPO 20/24 1200. This is showing us that The visibility will
start at 4800m, reduce to 3200, reduce to 1200m and then go back to 4800m. BECMG is a
PERMENANT change, whereas TEMPO is a temporary hence the change.

Volcanic Ash Advisory (New Question)

This was asking what a Volcanic Ash Advisory does, one of the answers said monitoring
eruptions and the other said advises post eruption on ash movement etc.

Maritime/Continental Polar questions

Location similar question to BGS.

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And another weather at X

One question on icing, clear ice/rime ice. Just know and be confident with the different types
of icing and how they form.

2 Questions on Polar Low and Thermal Low, it’s the correct/incorrect one on bgs.

Cold Air Pools (New Question)

Type of weather on the leeward side of a cold air pool, go through the different types of
weather infront, middle and behind a cold air pool. Answers were including, reduction in vis,
affects performance etc.

CAT/Jet Streams

Polar/Tropical air side

Couple questions on cold/warm and warm occlusions also.

ITCZ question.

Saturated/Unsaturated Lapse rate question, similar to BGS, 100% saturated, answers were
RH remains constant, water vapour remains constant.

850hpa, FL question (know the according ones)

St Elmos Fire – Static discharge along windscreen

This is what I can remember so far, otherwise would 100% advise being confident with
concepts and knowing your stuff.

Hope this helps.

MET Feedback:

I HAVE FINALLY PASSED MET

Although the exam was tricky it was very feedback based and had some Bristol questions that I recognised plus
my instructor helped me massively for this as a big section I wasn’t too sure on I went through with him the
day before and I had about 10 questions on that

• My first 8/9 questions were all altimetry and unfortunately as a lot of you may have read on ATP or
Facebook etc they were really not good, and I have to agree they were horrible

• Lots and lots of figures in each one, I cant remember the stats for each one but will do my best
• You are at FL390 and a mountain is at 22789ft, an airport is located at 5000ft on QNH 978 and
another at 7000ft on QNH 955, to clear the mountain on a day that is warmer than ISA which airport would be

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the best to use and what would be your true altitude, anyone with similar question please help with the
wording as I’m not too sure

Four stages of a mid latitude occlusion

• Cyclogensis-Developed-Occlusion-Frontolysis

What is the result of super cooled water droplets landing on the aircraft
• Obstructs pilots view by blocking windows

What wing planform and ice build up will create the worse results
• Thin and large drops
• Thin and small drops
• Thick and large
• Freezing Fog and supercritical aerofoil

What aids the condensation process:

• Micro metric particles and water droplets

What is the most powerful energy source for the building and power of a storm-
• Condensation

Where is the most dangerous part of a TRS-

in the wall near the eye

Speed of the wind inside the eye-

63kts?

What is happening to the air in a TRS-

Ascending

What causes steam fog (also known as Arctic smoke)

• Formed over sea areas in wintertime, mainly in polar high latitude regions. “Cold air from a land mass
moves out over a comparatively warmer sea/water surface”.

What creates radiation fog

• Forms in conditions or very light wind and clear skys (high pressure systems). More in autumn and
winter.

What is the ideal conditions for the formation of mountain waves- tick 2 for the mark
1) Stable air at mountain top altitude
2) A wind at least 20 kts blowing across the mountain ridge.

What height would the production of the first mountain wave be seen
AvExam says, “In the vicinity of the “roll cloud”, or the rotor zone beneath the first wave on the lee side.

• Same level as mountain

• Low down just about the inversion
• Rotor zone
• Bananas

What conditions would you get in a cold air pool

• Poor climb performance and increased ground roll
• Poor visibility in the climb
• Increased T/O power

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• Bananas

2 questions regarding turbulence of a jet stream ie cold air side

If we have a break in the tropopause what can be expected to be found here:

• Clear air turbulence is located in the breaks

Possible sight of a jet stream core

• I believe it would be streaks of Cirrus cloud

Slope of a warm front

Speed of a warm front
• 15kts
• 30kts
• 45kts
• 60kts

Where can a pilot find info on severe icing

• Sigmet and SWC

FL180 heading north to south which direction is the wind coming from
Had this in my first attempt MET exam. Just draw it out using the back to the wind theory.

1000ft AGL in the NH heading DCT for a low pressure system which direction is the wind coming from

What instrument measures humidity

• Hygrometer and psychrometer

What instrument measures pressure

• Mercury barometer

What normally dissipates frontal fog-

• passage of a warm front
•
Where does frontal fog normally occur-
• ahead of a warm front

• I had 5 METAR and TAF Questions which weren’t too bad at all most 2 markers

Which airport is showing improving visibility conditions

Arriving to EGDK at 2230 ETA what is the lowest visibility that can be expected

You are ETA 2400 and expected to land using an ILS with a DH of 300ft using the metar below is landing still
possible?

• The answer i went for was at the time of landing the VV001// so i said no you would have to divert to
an alternate

• Few questions on the ITCZ regarding Nairobi and flying there during mid day in the rainy season what
can you expect

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• 5-6 questions on icing

• Which clouds bear what types of ice and what turbulence can be expected with it

• What temperate does icing best occur at

• What altitude with this cloud gives what sort of icing

• Which of the following airports will be experiencing this weather listed below
• If travelling from G-T what type of wind will be expected at the surface in the NH
• 2 on what altitude is the following HPa
• Why are the roaring forties so much faster than expected-
• It meets less landmasses

March 2018

1. About to depart for an airfield which is a 3hr flight away. Which 5 of the following
reports would give you a forecast for the destination at the arrival time?
i. METAR
ii. TAF
iii. SIGMET
iv. ATIS
v. VOLMET
vi. Aerodrome Warning
vii. Windshear warning
viii. Radio message of current conditions at arrival airport
ix. AIRMET

2. Aerodrome QFE 958hPa. QNH 983hPa at MSL. QNH 1013hPa on altimeter sub-scale.
Flying at an indicated 5000ft. OAT +5. What is the true altitude above the aerodrome?
a. 3515ft
(‘True altitude of the aerodrome’ is actually asking for the height above the
aerodrome. Use QFE)

3. what happens to wind the between 2000ft and the surface (geostrophic to surface)
b. Wind ‘backs and slacks’ and crosses the isobars towards the centre of the low

4. Which force makes air turn left in the northern hemisphere?

a. Coriolis
b. PGF
c. Frictional
d. Centripetal (CPF)

5. What is the visibility in a dust storm?

a. 200m
b. 600m
(Worst case scenario? If heavy dust storm: 200m. If moderate dust storm: 200-600m)

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6. When taking off from an airfield in cold air pool on the leeside of a mountain, which of
these is most accurate.
a. decreasing visibility as you climb
b. improved performance in first stages of departure
c. thunderstorms
d. something nonsense
(In this question they are saying that there is a pool of cold air at the surface,
insinuating that there is an inversion)

7. An aircraft is flying through cirroform cloud at FL300, ice accretion in engines and on
the airframe is:
a. Possible because these clouds are composed of ice crystals, however anti-icing
equipment is not effective, crews should request heading changes to avoid dense
cirroform cloud
b. Possible and anti-icing equipment should be turned on, crews should remain
vigilant in case of moderate ice accretion on the airframe or engines
c. Unlikely to be a problem as these clouds are usually composed of ice crystals
therefore icing on the airframe or in the engines is unlikely to occur
d. Unlikely because all through these clouds contain super cooled water droplets,
the very low temperatures combined with the aircrafts TAS means structural icing
is unlikely to occur

8. You are taking off from an airfield at meal sea level with a surface temperature of 3°C.
There is Nimbostratus (8 oktas) at 5000ft with a ceiling temp of 7°C. The climb out flight
path takes you directly towards a mountain range. Which conditions could be an
indication that icing is likely to occur outside of the cloud on your departure from the
airfield?
a. The dew point is lower than the temperature at the cloud ceiling
b. There is turbulence due to orographic lifting from the mountain range
c. The temperature at 2000ft is -4°C indicating an inversion between 2000ft and
5000ft

9. Choose the Correct statement about the ITCZ

a. Dry trade winds mix with moist equatorial air creating unpredictable weather
b. Converging winds can lead to large amount of tropical thunderstorms that have a
short lifespan but intensive rain.
c. Usually creates very large storms moving easterly due to the combination of NE
and SE trade winds
d. band of cloud that stays very close to the geographical equator all year round

10. What happens when a parcel of air reaches 100% relative humidity?
a. The parcel of air is just saturated

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b. The pressure exerted on a parcel of air by its surroundings is equalised by the

pressure exerted by the vapour within it

11. In which climate zone is Central Europe?

a. Tropical
b. Continental(Polar)
c. Mid-latitude Climate
d. Subtropical

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12. Continental Air Masses usually:

a. Are Colder
b. Are Warmer
c. Carry more moisture
d. More dry because they travel mainly over land thus lose moisture/don’t pick any
up

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Feb 2018

1. QNH 983hpa. Temperature deviation from ISA -15oC. 1mb = 27ft. What is the true
altitude?
a. 11460
b. 10160
c. 8640
d. 9740
Have challenged question as not enough information to calculate answer. If assume
1013 set and FL100, answer C is correct; if assume FL130 answer A is correct.

2. AMS (Aeronautical Meteorological Station) – What do they do on a day-to-day basis?

a. Monitor TRS
b. Observe pressure and temp changes between land and sea based stations
c. Report on upper winds
d. Radioactive material

3. Encounter CAT in straight and level flight, what hazard should you expect:
a. Instrument damage
b. Fuel flow affected
c. Close to performance ceiling so controls may be damaged
d. Aircraft structural damage reducing fatigue life of airframe

4. TAF include vis at 9999. Does that mean:

a. Vis more than 10km
b. Vis 10km or more
c. ?
d. ?

5. Planned to fly over mountains at 15000ft true altitude. ISA dev is -15O. What should
altimeter read?
16,??? - Only answer above 15000ft (colder than ISA, TA will be less than IA)

6. What track do TRS follow?

a. East to west between latitudes 10 and 15O N then generally north
b. East to west between latitudes 5 and 10O N then only north east
c. ?
d. ?

7. Position of PFD in N Hemisphere from summer to winter

a. More southerly in winter
b. ?
c. ?

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d. ?
8. What does a ground-based radar detect?
a. Obscuration
b. Visibility & ?
c. Precipitation and intensity
d. ?

9. Fog forms ahead of a warm front due to:

a. Evaporation in cold air
b. Evaporation in warm air
c. Warm surface?
d. ?

10. Definition of fog:

Visibility reduced to <1000m due water particles

11. TS avoidance at FL300?

20nm

12. With a quasi-stationary front rain fall will be predominantly:

a. Both sides of front but mostly in cold air (Comments? Would have said rain falls
through sloping warm frontal surface into cold air)
b. Both sides of front but mostly in warm air
c. ?
d. ?

13. Flat pressure system over Athens on 20 may. Which TAF will most likely apply:
a. ……/02kts 5000 HZ 29/15
b. ……/02kts ……… 15/15
c. ?
d. ?

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Jan 2018

1. Which of the following are correct:

i. In a mixed cloud, ice particles are formed at the expense of super-cooled water
droplets
ii. In the mid latitudes heavy rainfall is only produced by the coalescence process
I is correct / II is correct / both correct / neither correct

2. Where is the greatest potential difference found in a thunderstorm?

a. Between the surface of the earth and the tops of the TS clouds as well and
between different parts of the same cloud
b. Between an active and a dissipating TS cloud
c. Between the top of the TS cloud and the surrounding air
d. Something nonsense

3. What causes the global variation in the distribution of electrical charges in the
ionosphere at the 500kV level?
a. Calm weather
b. Distribution of thunderstorms
c. Position of the sun at aphelion/perihelion
d. Adiabatic effects (I think this was the option, was nonsense anyway)

4. A cold air pool is characterised by

a. Stationary cold front over the sea
b. Topographic depression filled with cold air
(2 other options, both seemed unreasonable)

5. What is the height of steam fog?

a. Less than 500ft
b. Less than 1500ft
c. Between 50ft and 1500ft
d. Between 500ft and 5000ft

6. In the stratosphere due to the warm air layer being situated above the cold air layer
there is no convective activity, resulting in:
a. No cloud
b. Usually no turbulence
(2 other nonsense answers)

7. A secondary depression is frequently observed where?

a. On a cold front
b. On a warm front
c. Ahead of a warm front

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d. Ahead of an occluded front

8. What is the advantage of using satellites with volcanic ash clouds?
a. Visual identification of ash clouds
b. Ash clouds show up as areas of white on IR satellite imagery
(2 nonsense answers)

9. Ground radar can be used to detect what?

a. Fog and precipitation
b. Precipitation and its intensity
c. Precipitation/obscuration, visibility
(1 nonsense answer)

10. At a quasi-stationary front where is precipitation observed?

a. Widespread in the cold air and slight precipitation along the front
b. Widespread in the warm air
c. Something along the lines of hail and snow in the cold air and along the front
(1 nonsense answer)

11. What is virga?

Precipitation that does not reach the ground. Hazard: cold air downdraughts due
evaporation.

12. High-pressure systems in winter: Typical weather?

Overland frosts, mist, fog, light wind (possibility of nocturnal low level jets if not
under centre of high (i.e. appreciable gradient wind).

13. Characteristics of Savannah climate? Wet summer, dry winter

14. What has the strongest effect on climatology/temperature after El Nino/La Nina?
Differential ocean heating and currents above ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation).

15. Diameter and Height of TRS?

Depends on size! Large is >480nm. Medium classification is 180->360nm so typical
is 270nm (500km which I think is the option offered).

16. Height of rotor clouds in relation to mountain on leeward side.

Below the level of the mountaintop.

17. .Effect of ice on stall speed?

Raises stall speed (increased weight, lost lift, disturbed airflow)

18. Maximum sustained TRS speed.

Options here were 63, 95 and 112 knots

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A category 5 hurricane requires a sustained wind >135kt. (Highest gust recorded is

220kn)

19. What satellite imagery used for tops of cumulus cloud?

Infrared

20. Role of MWO?

Meteorological watch offices prepare warnings of hazardous weather conditions.
Also, issue warnings for wind shear in the climb-out and approach paths.

21. Content of VHF/HF VOLMET?

METAR/SPECI/TREND used in both plus TAF, SIGMET used in HF

22. 9999 – is this “greater than 10km” or “10km or greater”

10km or greater

23. Something along the lines of - " Which of the following phenomena in terms of visibility
has the greatest obscuration"
a. Sand
b. Hail
c. Snow
d. Rain

24. How is lightning formed (Can’t remember exact wording)

a. Sun spots heating the ionosphere generating electrical potential
b. electrical potential being generated between the earth’s surface and the clouds
c. ?
d. ?

25. Had a few questions asking about pressure altitude and true altitude

26. What is the distance and vertical extent of turbulence caused by mountain waves
a. up to tropopause and 300NM
b. 500ft and 50NM
c. 1000ft and 10NM
d. ?

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December 2017

1. Speed of movement of a warm front?

a. 10
b. 30kts
c. ?
d. ?

2. HF and VHF VOLMET, which statement is true?

a. Trends in both
b. TAF in both
c. continuous includes TAF
d. Trend prohibited

3. When would frontal fog dissipate?

a. With passage of warm front
b. passage of cold front
c. ?
d. ?

4. According to Koeppen’s climates, which climate is humid and exists between 30 – 50N.
a. Temperate climate
b. Tropical climate
c. ?
d. ?

5. Where do lightning strikes occur most frequently?

a. Between CB and the ground
b. between a mature and a dissipating CB
c. ?
d. ?

6. When see cloud above tropopause?

a. Strong up draughts creating Noctiluscent cloud
b. overshooting top
c. ?
d. ?
(Noctiluscent cloud can appear in the mesosphere, nacreous or polar stratospheric
cloud can occur in the stratosphere)

7. What climate affects southern Europe?

Warm temperate

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8. Question about when to expect lee lows?

a. Wind blowing east to west parallel to ridge line
b. wind blowing north to south of an east-west ridge line
c. ?
d. ?

9. How long does a cold air pool last?

a. 2-3 days
b. 2-3 hours
c. 2-3 weeks
d. ?

10. How would St Elmo’s fire be described?

a. Discharge on aircraft associated with build-up of static electricity
b. charging of aircraft associated with air parcels passing over wings and
windscreen
c. ?
d. ?

11. Question about measuring or identifying CB cloud via satellite images (Trainees could
not quite remember)?
a. IR images only
b. IR or Visual
c. IR & Visual
d. ?

12. In the stratosphere, warmer temperatures exist above colder temperatures so it is free of
conventional cloud formation. Which statement true of stratosphere?
a. Free of cloud
b. Generally clear of turbulence (can have nacreous/polar stratospheric cloud in
stratosphere or overshooting CB; can also have turbulence due mountain wave!)
c. ?
d. ?

13. Question about satellite imagery, options included:

a. IR more reliable in summer due greater difference between cloud and surface
temperatures/
b. can’t determine height of low cloud (disadvantage of IR is unable to distinguish
low cloud or fog from surface)

14. In what conditions is lowest usable FL safely above TA?

a. QNH greater than 1013 & temp greater than ISA
b. Cold low pressure

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c. QNH less than 1013 & temp less than ISA

d. QNH 1015 & very cold air
15. What is the expected duration of a mid-latitude depression?
a. Less than 4 days
b. 2 hours
c. 10 days
d. ?

16. Where would a secondary depression be located?

a. Behind cold front
b. ahead of cold front
c. behind warm front
(On trailing edge of cold front)

17. What instrument is the basis of a pressure altimeter?

a. Hygrometer
b. Transmissiometer
c. aneroid barometer
d. mercury barometer

18. What FL would you experience turbulence associated with MTW?

a. FL45
b. FL15
c. FL30
d. FL50
(Not sure of actual question, MTW turbulence can reach tropopause and even extend
into stratosphere; worst at lower levels)

19. In what conditions would frontal fog be most likely to form?

a. Light winds
b. high surface temperature
c. ?
d. ?
(Low surface temperature & dew point allows air to become saturated easily)

20. Visibility in a warm air mass?

a. Less than 1km
b. 5-10km
c. ?
d. ?

21. Question on comparing satellite images. IR shows very white image, Visual shows
opaque image. What type of cloud most likely?
a. Stratus

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b. cirrus
c. CB
d. ?
(White on IR indicates cold temps so high cloud and visual indicates density)

22. Harmattan blowing 050 degrees from Sahara over an airfield on west coast of Africa.
What conditions could be expected?
a. Dust & sand
b. Dust & sea moisture
c. no pollution
d. ?

23. At 18000ft temp is ISA +10 degrees. What would be the thickness of the layer between
FL60 and FL120?
6240ft

24. What conditions are most likely on the surface beneath a cold air pool?
a. Lightning
b. Poor visibility
c. Hail
d. Microburst

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November 2017

1. What visibility range would you expect in a heavy sandstorm?

200m

2. What are the characteristics of a cold air pool?

Cold air at altitude.

3. What weather expect from a cold air pool?

Snow showers

4. On a flight from London to Paris, what is the best way to check weather conditions in
case of having to divert?
a. ATIS
b. VOLMET
c. ?
d. ?

5. What weather would you associate with a stable high pressure?

Clear skies, with possible haze or fog

6. What is the cause of a valley inversion?

Katabatic effect

7. What is the most explicit effect of ice formation in freezing rain?

a. Accumulation of undetectable ice changing the shape of the aerofoil
b. seizure of control surfaces
c. ice forming behind the de-icing area on wing
ALL!

8. What to do flying through cirrus cloud to minimise effect of ice crystal icing?
Monitor for power fluctuations

9. In which pre-flight briefing material would you find information about icing?
a. MOTNE (met operational telecom network)
b. AIRPROX
c. Special AIREP
d. ?

10. When would you find cloud above the tropopause?

a. Cloud pushing through tropopause
b. Noctiluscent cloud (in Mesosphere)
c. ?

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d. ?
11. Questions about measuring equipment: hygrometer, psychrometer, anemometer,
ceilometer, transmissometer.

12. Flat pressure system over Athens (on a chart): What weather would you expect?
Calm, haze

13. Movement associated with stationary front?

<5kts, air flow parallel to front

14. Movement of a TRS?

East to west then northeast

15. What climate is between latitudes 30 and 50 degrees?

Temperate

16. What climate is warm in summer and mild in winter?

Warm temperate

17. Multi choice question on mountain wave regarding conditions required.

Options included speed in excess of 20kt at mountain top, wind direction
perpendicular to mountain range.

18. Number of TRS occurrences affecting E Australia.

9
19. How does volcanic ash appear on satellite image?
Grey streak of cloud

20. Slope of a cold front?

a. 1:20
b. ?
c. 1:500
d. 1:80

21. Mixing ratio in polar and tropical air masses?

Tropical 25g/kg – Polar 0g/kg

22. Wind speed blowing along straight isobars compared to wind blowing around a high and
low-pressure system with equal spacing between isobars?
Faster around high, slower around low.

23. If the temperature of a parcel of saturated air is reduced, what happens to relative
humidity?
Remains constant (100%).

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24. Which chart would be most appropriate for identifying sub-tropical jet stream?
a. 300hpa
b. 500hpa
c. 100hpa
d. 200hpa (39000ft)

25. What conditions would you encounter when flying away from a microburst?

26. What visible indication of the presence of windshear? Fog? (Inversion?)

27. Image of an occluded front situated west to east across southern UK, pressure
increasing northwards behind occlusion. What air mass would be affecting midlands?
Polar air

28. Comparing Altostratus to Altocumulus cloud, where would worst turbulence be

expected?
Ac

29. What conditions are most likely in nimbostratus cloud in terms of icing, precipitation
and turbulence?
Best option included ice pellets and snow, other options included hail.

30. Another (or same) question about NS cloud regarding icing? Not sure of answer options
think included seldom greater than moderate/ frequently severe.

31. Question about 500kV charge travelling through the ionosphere?

a. solar influx
b. Perihelion
c. TS.
d. ?
There is estimated to be around 2,000 thunderstorms active around the globe at one
time creating over 100 lightning strikes per second. These thunderstorms generate a
potential difference of 200,000 to 500,000 volts (200 – 500KV) between the Earth’s
surface and the ionosphere.

32. Question about El Nino?

a. Associated with shift of low and high pressure over Pacific
b. Earth’s rotation/permanent transfer of heat from equator to N Hemi.
c. ?
d. ?

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33. Given details of operational minima regarding visibility then a METAR including RVR.
Question is can you land?

34. What structural limitations will be most severe in CAT?

a. General structural damage
b. controls at absolute ceiling

35. Multi choice (5 of 7). On a 3hr flight from A to B, what info would be most useful for
landing at B?
i. TAF valid at eta
ii. SIGWX valid for eta
iii. SIGMET valid for eta
iv. current METAR including TREND
v. NOTAM
vi. current METAR
vii. Current ATIS

36. Up to what height above the surface would you expect steam fog?
a. 500ft
b. 1500ft
c. ?
d. ?

37. Speed of movement of a warm front?

a. 10kt
b. 30kt
c. 50kt
d. 60kt

38. Tropical Continental air originates.

a. Southern France
b. Southern Italy
c. ?
d. ?

39. What most likely to dissipate orographic fog?

a. Upslope wind
b. downslope wind
c. ?
d. ?

40. In the flare on landing and encounter sudden headwind, what experience?
a. Ballooning

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b. land short of runway

c. ?
d. ?

41. How often is a wind shear warning updated?

Every minute

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October 2017

1. Savannah climate average temperature

a. 30 – 50C
b. 20 – 30C
c. ?
d. ?

2. Depth of shallow fog

a. 5m
b. 7m
c. less than 2m
d. ?

3. What is hardest for pilot to detect?

a. mixed ice on leading edge of white aircraft
b. clear ice on trailing edge
c. ice on fuselage not visible
d. ?

4. Which is the most hazardous type of ice accretion on the wing?

a. on the ailerons
b. ice behind the de-icing area
c. clear ice on wing
d. ?

5. Weather in high pressure area

Best option ‘fog’

6. Which represents stable air conditions

a. TS
b. Inversion
c. air rising and sinking
d. ?

7. How frontal fog dissipates.

With passing of warm front

8. Saturation mixing ratio

Increases exponentially with temperature

9. Clear ice forms due to

Latent heat released delays freezing of SCWD

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10. Weather behind a cold front:

Cumulus, showers

11. What latitude do you find westerlies

40 -50 degrees (think roaring 40s)

12. How many TRS in E Australia

a. 9
b. 3
c. 24
d. ?

13. Radiation fog extends up to

a. 500ft
b. 2000
c. 5000
d. 10000

14. Size of drizzle droplet:

Up to 0.5mm

15. Symbols for icing

16. Surface wind on airfield measured as 150/12 to north and 060/28 to east
Windshear from downburst

17. Relative Humidity calculation

18. Cold air mass passing over warmer land surface will cause
a. Convection
b. Inversion
c. arctic fog
d. ?

19. Why are breaks in tropopause important to aviation

Jet stream location

20. Moderate showers from CB likely to be

a. SHSN
b. –SN
c. +SG
d. ?

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21. Coriolis
a. inversely proportional to latitude
b. proportional to latitude
c. ?
d. ?

22. Latitude of PFDs

50-60o

23. Warm sector weather in summer

a. Fog
b. Cu
c. ?
d. ?

24. TRS direction of movement – East to west then north/ east to west then east (Trainees
not sure of answer options)

25. What transfers energy in to TS

a. Evaporation
b. Condensation
c. freezing
d. ?

26. Movement of stationary front

a. direction of cold front
b. direction of warm front
c. direction of warm sector isobars
d. parallel to front

27. What is pressure altitude

a. QNH
b. SPS
c. ?
d. ?

28. Heavy sand/dust storm

Forward vis less than 200m and sky obscured.

29. Moderate SS/DS

Vis 200 – 600m.

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30. Which of the following are classed as obscuration?

a. DS
b. HZ
c. Flying into sun
d. RA on windscreen

31. Aircraft in cruise over airfield can see the ground. Aircraft at low altitude on approach at
airfield in same location has to go around. Why?
a. Shallow fog
b. radiation fog
c. ?
d. ?

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Aug/Sept 2017

1. Maximum Height of a CB:

12km - another question on the height with correct answer: 40'000ft (Remember,
max height can be tropopause!)

2. Roaring forties in the SH are usually stronger than the westerlies in the NH

3. If maximum content of water vapour is 20g/kg. What is RH if the actual content of water
vapour is 15g/kg?
75%

4. Worst area for CAT in the vicinity of the polar jet stream is normally located :
On the depression side

5. A typical value for the visibility in Heavy snow shower is likely to be around :
100m (poss. 50m)

6. When encountering a CB cloud, vertical and horizontal separation should be :

5000ft and 10NM if below FL200

7. What is true about St. Elmo’s fire weather phenomenon?

St Elmo’s fire is an electrical discharge in the air

8. State the location of the roaring forties?

40-50S

9. How many Hurricanes form on average per year in the Atlantic?

12

10. What is the appropriate temperature at the tropopause located at a height of 20km?
-100ºC

11. What will clear orographic fog?

A change of the airflow

12. How many tropical cyclones form on average per year east of Darwin?
2

13. Who prepares a SIGMET?

A meteorological WATCH office

14. How is the average water vapour content in the Earth's atmosphere distributed?

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Almost 0g/m3 near the poles up to 25g/m3 near the Equator

15. How often is a windshear report updated?
Every minute

16. Describe the chief role of the WMO with regard to aviation meteorology :
Establish and implement together with ICAO, a global regulatory framework for the
national meteorology services.

17. Which meteorological satellite pictures have a higher resolution, pictures from
geostationary satellites or pictures from polar orbiting satellites?
Pictures from polar orbiting satellites

18. What is mixed/opaque ice and where can you find such ice?
Mixed ice consists of clear ice and rime ice can be found in NS clouds.

19. Describe routine air report and special air report?

An AIREP is a routine air report and a PIREP is a special air report

20. Which meteorological satellites are closer to earth, polar orbiting or geostationary
satellites?
Polar orbiting are closer to the earth than geostationary satellites

21. Name the weather phenomena to be stated in a special air report?

a. Thunderstorms, without hail that are obscured, embedded, widespread. (NOT
ISOLATED CB)
b. Heavy dust storms and any sand storm (no! just Heavy dust or sand storms)
c. ?
d. ?

22. Is there any obligation for pilots to prepare air-reports?

Yes, all air-reports shall be reported as soon as practicable.

23. Name the weather phenomena to be stated in a special air report?

Volcanic ash cloud

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