FAA AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER PRACTICAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS UPDATE WITH
EXPERT FEEDBACK |NEW!!
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.
, What is a Radar summary chart? - (ANSWER)A radar summary chart is a
graphically depicted collection of radar weather reports.
Does the Radar summary chart depict forecast conditions, or observed
conditions? How often? - (ANSWER)Observed, hourly.
What is the difference between visible and infrared Satellite imagery? -
(ANSWER)The visible images display cloud cover. The infrared images display the
earth in a manner that correlates with temperature. Generally speaking, the
warmer an object, the more infrared energy it emits.
What does water vapor imagery show on the Satellite imagery? - (ANSWER)The
water vapor images display the earth in a manner that correlates to quantity of
water vapor in the upper portions of the atmosphere (25,000 feet and higher in
general). The most useful information to be gained from the water vapor images
is the locations of storm systems and the jet stream.
What do the Valid Times indicate?
(on a prog chart) - (ANSWER)12 and 24 hours. They indicate that the prog chart is
valid for 12 hours from the time issued, or 24 hours from the time issued.
How many times are Prog charts issued? - (ANSWER)4 times a day. 00Z, 06Z, 12Z,
18Z.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS UPDATE WITH
EXPERT FEEDBACK |NEW!!
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.
, What is a Radar summary chart? - (ANSWER)A radar summary chart is a
graphically depicted collection of radar weather reports.
Does the Radar summary chart depict forecast conditions, or observed
conditions? How often? - (ANSWER)Observed, hourly.
What is the difference between visible and infrared Satellite imagery? -
(ANSWER)The visible images display cloud cover. The infrared images display the
earth in a manner that correlates with temperature. Generally speaking, the
warmer an object, the more infrared energy it emits.
What does water vapor imagery show on the Satellite imagery? - (ANSWER)The
water vapor images display the earth in a manner that correlates to quantity of
water vapor in the upper portions of the atmosphere (25,000 feet and higher in
general). The most useful information to be gained from the water vapor images
is the locations of storm systems and the jet stream.
What do the Valid Times indicate?
(on a prog chart) - (ANSWER)12 and 24 hours. They indicate that the prog chart is
valid for 12 hours from the time issued, or 24 hours from the time issued.
How many times are Prog charts issued? - (ANSWER)4 times a day. 00Z, 06Z, 12Z,
18Z.
