FAA AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are the characteristics of unstable air in terms of cloud type, precipitation type,
turbulence, and visibility? - ✔✔Cloud type: cumuliform
Precipitation type: showery
Turbulence: rough air
Visibility: good
✔✔55. What is a "front"? - ✔✔A front is a division line between air masses with different
attributes. Cold fronts occur when cold air is pushing against warmer air. Warm fronts
occur when warm air is pushing against cooler air.
✔✔Which type of front influences weather over a large geographical area - cold or
warm? - ✔✔warm fronts tend to spread clouds and rain over large areas than cold
fronts.
✔✔What things are expected to change as a front passes? - ✔✔Wind is said to always
change during frontal passage, but other common changes are temperature (which gets
colder following a cold front passage or warmer after a warm front passes) and pressure
(which decreases until front passes, then rises)
✔✔What is depicted on Weather Depiction Chart? - ✔✔The chart shows the actual sky
cover, visibility restrictions, and type of precipitation at the reporting stations. In addition,
the chart groups stations that are reporting VFR, Marginal VFR or IFR weather
conditions.
✔✔Which stations are classified as IFR stations on the Weather Depiction Chart and
how is it identified? - ✔✔Stations that report a ceiling of less than 1,000 feet or a
visibility of less than 3 miles are classified as IFR and included in a hatched area
surrounded by a smooth line.
✔✔Which stations are classified as Marginal VFR (MVFR) stations on the Weather
Depiction Chart and how is it identified? - ✔✔Stations that report ceiling of 1,000 to
3,000 feet or visibilities of 3 to 5 miles are MVFR and are included in a non - hatched
area surrounded by a smooth line.
✔✔Describe the Low Level Significant Prognostic Chart? - ✔✔a. Low-Level Significant
Prog chart: forecasts weather conditions from the the surface to the 400 millibar level
(about 24,000 feet). The upper two panels of the Low-Level significant wx prognostic
chart are the 12-hour and the 24-hour significant wx prog charts. These two charts
, forecasts areas of MVFR and IFR wx as well as areas of moderate or greater
turbulence.
The lower two panels are the 12-hour and the 24-hour surface prog charts. These
forecast frontal positions and areas of precipitation.
✔✔What is a Constant Pressure chat? - ✔✔This is a chart created from information
collected mostly from radiosondes (weather balloons). These are chats that indicate the
height of pressure contour in meters.
✔✔What does closely spaced isotachs means on a Constant Pressure analysis charts?
- ✔✔when there is a large change in wind speed over a short distance.
✔✔What is an "isotach"? - ✔✔An isotach is a line connecting areas of equal wind speed
aloft.
✔✔What is an "isotherm"? - ✔✔An isotherm is a line connecting areas of equal
temperature aloft.
✔✔What is a Radar Summary Chart? - ✔✔It shows the types of precipitation echoes
and it indicates their intensity, trend, tops and bases
✔✔What is a TAF? - ✔✔Terminal Aerodrome Forecast - a concise statement of the
expected meteorological conditions significant to aviation for a specified time period
within five status miles (sm) of the the center of the airport's runway complex (terminal).
✔✔What is a "METAR"? - ✔✔An aviation routine weather report. These are the staple
regular surface weather reports used by aviation operations. Observations are made by
computer systems or human observers at National weather service facilities, in control
towers, or at flight service stations.
✔✔What is a "SPECI"? - ✔✔Aviation Selected Special Weather Report - an
unscheduled report taken when any specific criteria are observed during the interim
period between the hourly reports. Contains all data element found in a METAR plus
additional plain language information
✔✔Decode the following METAR:
KDFW 291453Z 35004KT 10SM SCT110 19/12 A3003 RMK AO1 SLP118 VIRGA
DSNT S-SW MOV N - ✔✔METAR for Dallas Ft. Worth
Observation made at 29th at 1453 zulu. Winds from 350 degrees at 4 knots and visibility
at 10 sm. Scattered clouds at 11,000 feet with a temperature of 19°C and dew point of
12° C. Altimeter setting of 30.03"Hg
Remarks: no precipitation discriminator, sea level pressure was 1011.8 mb and there
was virga beyond 10 sm in the sky to the south clockwise southwest moving north.
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are the characteristics of unstable air in terms of cloud type, precipitation type,
turbulence, and visibility? - ✔✔Cloud type: cumuliform
Precipitation type: showery
Turbulence: rough air
Visibility: good
✔✔55. What is a "front"? - ✔✔A front is a division line between air masses with different
attributes. Cold fronts occur when cold air is pushing against warmer air. Warm fronts
occur when warm air is pushing against cooler air.
✔✔Which type of front influences weather over a large geographical area - cold or
warm? - ✔✔warm fronts tend to spread clouds and rain over large areas than cold
fronts.
✔✔What things are expected to change as a front passes? - ✔✔Wind is said to always
change during frontal passage, but other common changes are temperature (which gets
colder following a cold front passage or warmer after a warm front passes) and pressure
(which decreases until front passes, then rises)
✔✔What is depicted on Weather Depiction Chart? - ✔✔The chart shows the actual sky
cover, visibility restrictions, and type of precipitation at the reporting stations. In addition,
the chart groups stations that are reporting VFR, Marginal VFR or IFR weather
conditions.
✔✔Which stations are classified as IFR stations on the Weather Depiction Chart and
how is it identified? - ✔✔Stations that report a ceiling of less than 1,000 feet or a
visibility of less than 3 miles are classified as IFR and included in a hatched area
surrounded by a smooth line.
✔✔Which stations are classified as Marginal VFR (MVFR) stations on the Weather
Depiction Chart and how is it identified? - ✔✔Stations that report ceiling of 1,000 to
3,000 feet or visibilities of 3 to 5 miles are MVFR and are included in a non - hatched
area surrounded by a smooth line.
✔✔Describe the Low Level Significant Prognostic Chart? - ✔✔a. Low-Level Significant
Prog chart: forecasts weather conditions from the the surface to the 400 millibar level
(about 24,000 feet). The upper two panels of the Low-Level significant wx prognostic
chart are the 12-hour and the 24-hour significant wx prog charts. These two charts
, forecasts areas of MVFR and IFR wx as well as areas of moderate or greater
turbulence.
The lower two panels are the 12-hour and the 24-hour surface prog charts. These
forecast frontal positions and areas of precipitation.
✔✔What is a Constant Pressure chat? - ✔✔This is a chart created from information
collected mostly from radiosondes (weather balloons). These are chats that indicate the
height of pressure contour in meters.
✔✔What does closely spaced isotachs means on a Constant Pressure analysis charts?
- ✔✔when there is a large change in wind speed over a short distance.
✔✔What is an "isotach"? - ✔✔An isotach is a line connecting areas of equal wind speed
aloft.
✔✔What is an "isotherm"? - ✔✔An isotherm is a line connecting areas of equal
temperature aloft.
✔✔What is a Radar Summary Chart? - ✔✔It shows the types of precipitation echoes
and it indicates their intensity, trend, tops and bases
✔✔What is a TAF? - ✔✔Terminal Aerodrome Forecast - a concise statement of the
expected meteorological conditions significant to aviation for a specified time period
within five status miles (sm) of the the center of the airport's runway complex (terminal).
✔✔What is a "METAR"? - ✔✔An aviation routine weather report. These are the staple
regular surface weather reports used by aviation operations. Observations are made by
computer systems or human observers at National weather service facilities, in control
towers, or at flight service stations.
✔✔What is a "SPECI"? - ✔✔Aviation Selected Special Weather Report - an
unscheduled report taken when any specific criteria are observed during the interim
period between the hourly reports. Contains all data element found in a METAR plus
additional plain language information
✔✔Decode the following METAR:
KDFW 291453Z 35004KT 10SM SCT110 19/12 A3003 RMK AO1 SLP118 VIRGA
DSNT S-SW MOV N - ✔✔METAR for Dallas Ft. Worth
Observation made at 29th at 1453 zulu. Winds from 350 degrees at 4 knots and visibility
at 10 sm. Scattered clouds at 11,000 feet with a temperature of 19°C and dew point of
12° C. Altimeter setting of 30.03"Hg
Remarks: no precipitation discriminator, sea level pressure was 1011.8 mb and there
was virga beyond 10 sm in the sky to the south clockwise southwest moving north.
