FAA AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER PRACTICE EXAM 170
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2025
How often are METARs issues? - ANSWER-Every hour, or whenever the weather
changes and necessitates a change. In that situation, a SPECI (special METAR) is
issued.
What is a SPECI? - ANSWER-A special METAR which is created in between the
hourly METARs due to a change in weather necessitating the change.
-Change of winds necessitating a new runway.
-WX changing from IFR to VFR or VFR to IFR.
Do METARs describe actual or forecast conditions? - ANSWER-METARs depict
actual field conditions.
Define Radiation fog - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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. -
ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Small
Temp/DP spread is essential to the formation of fog.
How often are TAFs issued? - ANSWER-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? -
ANSWER-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 up-to-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? - ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Broken, Overcast, VV
(vertical visibility[indefinite ceiling])
How often is a surface analysis chart issued? - ANSWER-starting at 00Z at 3 hour
intervals. (8 times a day)
, What are the primary features of a surface analysis chart? - ANSWER-They show
pressure patterns, fronts, and information on individual reporting stations. The
pressure patterns are shown by isobars.
Isobars
Pressure Systems
Fronts
Troughs and Ridges
Station Models
How is a surface analysis chart used? - ANSWER-It is used to determine sky cover,
the types of clouds. SLP, pressure change, precip, temp/dew point, present wx,
wind. They can be used to locate the jetstream, turbulence, and wind shear.
What is the relationship between isobars and surface winds? - ANSWER-The
closer the isobars are together, the stronger the winds will be.
How often is a Weather depiction chart issued? - ANSWER-Every 3 hours starting
at 01Z
What is a weather depiction chart? - ANSWER-A weather chart to be used for
flight planning by giving an overall picture of the WX across the US.
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2025
How often are METARs issues? - ANSWER-Every hour, or whenever the weather
changes and necessitates a change. In that situation, a SPECI (special METAR) is
issued.
What is a SPECI? - ANSWER-A special METAR which is created in between the
hourly METARs due to a change in weather necessitating the change.
-Change of winds necessitating a new runway.
-WX changing from IFR to VFR or VFR to IFR.
Do METARs describe actual or forecast conditions? - ANSWER-METARs depict
actual field conditions.
Define Radiation fog - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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. -
ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Small
Temp/DP spread is essential to the formation of fog.
How often are TAFs issued? - ANSWER-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? -
ANSWER-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 up-to-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? - ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Broken, Overcast, VV
(vertical visibility[indefinite ceiling])
How often is a surface analysis chart issued? - ANSWER-starting at 00Z at 3 hour
intervals. (8 times a day)
, What are the primary features of a surface analysis chart? - ANSWER-They show
pressure patterns, fronts, and information on individual reporting stations. The
pressure patterns are shown by isobars.
Isobars
Pressure Systems
Fronts
Troughs and Ridges
Station Models
How is a surface analysis chart used? - ANSWER-It is used to determine sky cover,
the types of clouds. SLP, pressure change, precip, temp/dew point, present wx,
wind. They can be used to locate the jetstream, turbulence, and wind shear.
What is the relationship between isobars and surface winds? - ANSWER-The
closer the isobars are together, the stronger the winds will be.
How often is a Weather depiction chart issued? - ANSWER-Every 3 hours starting
at 01Z
What is a weather depiction chart? - ANSWER-A weather chart to be used for
flight planning by giving an overall picture of the WX across the US.
