FAA Aircraft Dispatcher ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
How often are METARs issues? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- METARs
depict actual field conditions.
Define Radiation fog - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT
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? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Small Temp/DP spread is essential to the formation of fog.
,How often are TAFs issued? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT
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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- Broken, Overcast,
VV (vertical visibility[indefinite ceiling])
How often is a surface analysis chart issued? - CORRECT ANSWER- starting at 00Z at 3
hour intervals. (8 times a day)
What are the primary features of a surface analysis chart? - CORRECT ANSWER- They
show pressure patterns, fronts, and information on individual reporting stations. The pressure
patterns are shown by isobars.
How is a surface analysis chart used? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- The
closer the isobars are together, the stronger the winds will be.
How often is a Weather depiction chart issued? - CORRECT ANSWER- Every 3 hours
, What is a weather depiction chart? - CORRECT ANSWER- A weather chart to be used for
flight planning by giving an overall picture of the WX across the US.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
How often are METARs issues? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- METARs
depict actual field conditions.
Define Radiation fog - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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. - CORRECT
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? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Small Temp/DP spread is essential to the formation of fog.
,How often are TAFs issued? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT
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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- Broken, Overcast,
VV (vertical visibility[indefinite ceiling])
How often is a surface analysis chart issued? - CORRECT ANSWER- starting at 00Z at 3
hour intervals. (8 times a day)
What are the primary features of a surface analysis chart? - CORRECT ANSWER- They
show pressure patterns, fronts, and information on individual reporting stations. The pressure
patterns are shown by isobars.
How is a surface analysis chart used? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- The
closer the isobars are together, the stronger the winds will be.
How often is a Weather depiction chart issued? - CORRECT ANSWER- Every 3 hours
, What is a weather depiction chart? - CORRECT ANSWER- A weather chart to be used for
flight planning by giving an overall picture of the WX across the US.
