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Weather Reports - QT

Updated: Apr 20, 2021

Lesson Quicktakes cover the items that should be memorized from each of the wifiCFI Lessons. They do not cover all of the lesson details in-depth.


WEATHER BRIEFINGS:

Can be obtained by calling 1-800-WX-BRIEF.


Standard Briefing Contents:

  • Adverse Conditions.

  • VFR Flight Recommendation.

  • Synopsis.

  • Current Conditions.

  • En-Route Forecast.

  • Destination Forecast.

  • Forecast Winds and Temperatures Aloft.

  • NOTAMs.

  • A standard briefing should always be obtained prior to a cross country flight.


Abbreviated Briefing:

  • Shortened version of the Standard Briefing.

  • Should be requested when original departure time has been delayed.


Outlook Briefing:

  • This is a forecast briefing.

  • Should be obtained when planned departure time is 6 hours or more in the future.


HIWAS

  • Hazardous In-Flight Weather Advisory Service

  • Can be listened to over navaids with the appropriate symbol.


METAR

  • Aviation Routine Weather Report

  • Current surface weather observations.


  • KOGD = Station Identifier.

  • 091753Z = Time and Date of Report.

  • VRB05KT = Wind Direction and Velocity.

  • 10SM = Reported Visibility.

  • CLR = Sky Condition.

  • Broken, Overcast, and Vertical Visibility Count as “Ceilings.”

  • 09/M02 = Temperature/Dewpoint in Celsius.

  • RMK = Remarks.

  • A02 = Automated Station Type 2.

  • SLP257 = Sea Level Pressure in Millibars.

  • T00941022 = Temperature and Dewpoint to the 10th of a Degree.


PIREPs

Pilot Reports. Weather conditions reported by pilots in flight.

  • UA = Routine Report.

  • UUA = Urgent Report.

  • TM = Time.

  • FL = Flight Level.

  • TP = Type of Aircraft.

  • SK = Cloud Coverage (Sky Condition).

  • WX = Weather.

  • TA = Air Temperature in Celsius.

  • WV = Wind direction and velocity.

  • TB = Turbulence

  • IC = Icing.

  • RM = Remarks.


TAF

  • Terminal Aerodrome Forecast.

  • Forecasted weather for a 5 mile radius around an airport.

  • Each TAF is valid for 24 or 30 hours.

  • Issued 4 times per day at: 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z.


AIRMETS

  • Significant weather reports pertinent to smaller aircraft.


Types of Airmets:

  • Sierra = IFR Conditions and Mountain Obscuration.

  • Tango = Turbulence.

  • Zulu = Icing.


SIGMETS

Significant weather reports pertinent to all aircraft.


CONVECTIVE SIGMETS

SIGMETS in correlation with a thunderstorm.


WIND SYMBOLS:


WIND AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT:


SURFACE ANALYSIS CHARTS:


LOW LEVEL PROGNOSTIC CHARTS:

  • Forecasted weather covering the 48 states from the surface to 24,000 feet.

  • Issued 4 times daily at: 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, 1800Z.


RADAR SUMMARY CHARTS:

Show precipitation. NOT cloud coverage.


SATELLITE IMAGERY CHARTS:

Show cloud coverage. NOT precipitation.

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