FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Exam | Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest Update 2024

How often are METARs issues? - Every hour, or whenever the weather changes and necessitates a change. In that situation, a SPECI (special METAR) is issued. What is a SPECI? - A special METAR which is created in between the hourly METARs due to a change in weather necessitating the change. Do METARs describe actual or forecast conditions? - METARs depict actual field conditions. Define Radiation fog - Shallow fog, ground fog. occurs on clear nights, little or no wind, and small temp/DP spread (high relative humidity). Occurs at night or daybreak. Radiation cools the ground. The ground cools the air. When the air is cooled to the dew-point, fog forms. Define Advection fog - This fog forms when moist air moves over colder ground or water. Common along the coast. What is lake effect? Describe one major consequence of lake effect in winter. - Air moving across a sizeable lake absorbs water vapor. Showers may appear on the leeward side if the air is colder than the water. If the air is warmer than the water, fog often develops on the leeward side. In the winter, lake effect snow is a concern because as a cold front passes over the warmer lake water, snow, instead of showers will occur. What happens when the Temperature/dewpoint are very close? - Small Temp/DP spread is essential to the formation of fog. How often are TAFs issued? - Valid for a 24-hour period, TAFs are issued four times daily at 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, and 18Z, and updated as conditions warrant. TAFs include information about wind speed and direction, visibility, present weather, ceilings, and low-level wind shear. Why is it important to know when the various charts and reports are issued? - Because you always need to use the most up to date information and knowing when the next forecast is coming up is essential for making critcal flight decisions. For instance, if it is 05:55Z, the TAF from 00Z is the most upto-date forecast, however, in only 5 minutes, the 06Z TAF will be the most up-to-date forecast and could contain critical information. What is an Amended TAF? - An amended TAF is issued when the current TAF no longer adequately describes the ongoing weather or the forecaster feels the TAF is not representative of the current or expected weather. Which sky conditions are considered a ceiling? - Broken, Overcast, VV (vertical visibility[indefinite ceiling])