1
Q
What is an ARFORS?
A
Area weather forecast
2
Q
What height do ARFORS go up to?
A
FL200
3
Q
Where are ARFORS available from?
A
ATC, FS, and Met office
4
Q
The conditions in ARFORS have a probability of what?
A
50% or greater
5
Q
Format of ARFORS
A
- Issue time in UTC
- Period of validity (DDHHMM in UTC) and the ARFOR area number
- Wind velocity in standard heights (Wind in True)
- Temperature at standard heights at and above 10,000ft is given with the wind velocity
- Cloud (AMSL)
- Weather situation
- Visibility
- Freezing level
- Airframe ice details
- Turbulence
- Special location weather forecasts
6
Q
How much is Australia ahead of UTC?
A
8- 10 hours depending on the region
7
Q
Australian Eastern Time?
A
UTC +10
8
Q
Period of validity of ARFOR?
A
Usually, 12 hours but can vary
9
Q
How is validity expressed?
A
Two six-figure date/ time groups
10
Q
Explain six figure date/time group…
A
DDHHMM
D= DAY
H= HOUR
M= MINUTES
11
Q
What does this mean?
262300 TO 271100 AREA 21
A
Area 21
Valid from: 2300Z 26th Day of month
Valid till: 1100Z on the 27th Day of the month
12
Q
What is wind direction rounded to?
A
Nearest 10 degrees
13
Q
Are forecasts in True or Magnetic?
A
True
14
Q
What is wind speed rounded to?
A
Nearest 5 knots
15
Q
What are the standard heights?
A
- 2,000ft
- 5,000ft
- 7,000ft
- 10,000ft
- FL140
- FL185
16
Q
For winds not at standard heights?
A
Interpolate or read the nearest height
17
Q
What heights are temperatures forecasted at?
A
- 10,000ft
- FL140
- FL185
18
Q
How are temperatures written?
A
PSXX- Positive
MSXX- Minus
ZERO- 0 degrees
19
Q
What is the cloud height above?
A
AMSL
20
Q
Cloud types abbreviated….
A
- CI: CIRRUS
- CS: CIRROSTRATUS
- CC: CIRROCUMULUS
- AS: ALTOSTRATUS
- AC: ALTOCUMULUS
- NS: NIMBOSTRATUS
- CB: CUMLINONIMNUS
- CU: CUMULUS
- SC: STRATOCUMULUS
- ST: STRATUS
21
Q
Eights of cloud are referred to as..
A
Oktas
22
Q
Cloud amount abbreviations…
A
- SKC: SKY CLEAR 0
- FEW: FEW 1-2 OKTAS
- SCT: SCATTERED 3- 4 OKTAS
- BKN: BROKEN 5- 7 OKTAS
- OVC: OVERCAST 8 OKTAS
23
Q
Cumulonimbus cloud amount abbreviations…
A
- ISOL: ISOLATED (INDIVIDUAL CB)
- OCNL: OCCASIONAL ( WELL SEPARATED)
- FRQ: FREQUENT (LITTLE OR NO SEPARATION)
- EMBD: EMBEDDED IN OTHER CLOUD
24
Q
What is BC?
A
Patches
25
What is BL?
Blowing
26
What is DR?
Drifting
27
What is FZ?
Freezing
28
What is MI?
Shallow
29
What is SH?
Showers
30
What is TS?
Thunderstorms
31
What is PR?
Aerodrome partially covered by fog
32
What is BR?
Mist
33
What is DU?
Dust
34
What is DS?
Dust Storm
35
What is DZ?
Drizzle
36
What is FC?
Funnel Clouds
37
What is FG?
Fog
38
What is IC?
Ice crystals
39
What is FU?
Smoke
40
What is GR?
Hail
41
What is GS?
Small Hail Pellets
42
What is HZ?
Haze
43
What is PL?
Ice Pellets
44
What is PO?
Dust Devils
45
What is RA?
Rain
46
What is SA?
Sand
47
What is SG?
Snow Grains
48
What is SN?
Snow
49
What is SQ?
Squall
50
What is SS?
Sand Storm
51
What is UP?
Unknown Precipitation
52
What is VA?
Volcanic Ash
53
What does ( - ) mean?
Light
54
```
What does ( + ) mean?
In forecasts
```
Heavy
55
What units is forecast visibility in?
Kilometres or metres
56
What does GOOD mean in the forecast?
Visibility greater than 10km
57
What does VIS 40KM DTRT 3000M TS
Visibility 40km then deteriorating to 3000m in precipitation associated with thunderstorms
58
What does XW ISOL TS NE AREA TIL 11Z mean?
Isolated Thunderstorms in the northeast of forecast area until 1100Z
59
What does WX ISOL DZ MAR/ COT ADJ MON mean?
Isolated drizzle at sea, at the coast, and above the adjacent mountains
60
What does 12000, LOWERING TO 1100 SE/ 13000 NW BY 05Z mean?
Freezing level initially 12,000ft AMSL, lowering to 11,00ft AMSL in the South East of the forecast area and rising to 13,000ft in the North West area of the forecast by 0500Z
61
What is FBL?
Light Icing
62
What is MOD?
Moderate Icing
63
What is SEV?
Severe Icing
64
What does ICE SEV CLEAR IN CB MOD INC ABV FZL mean?
Sever clear ice in CB and moderate unspecified icing in the cloud above the freezing level
65
What details will be given with Turbulence?
Location and severity
66
What does TURB MOD/ OCNL SEV BLW 10,000FT/MON/COT/60NM SEAWARDS mean?
Moderate turbulence, occasionally severe below 10,000ft AMSL, above the mountains, coastal and out to 60nm seaward
67
What does MAR mean?
At sea
68
What does COT mean?
At the coast or coastal
69
What does MON mean?
Above Mountains
70
What does LAN mean?
Inland
71
What is an AIREP?
When pilots experience or observe operationally significant weather phenomena which did not appear in the forecast they can transmit an AIREP to alert authorities
72
What is an AIRMET or SIGMET?
An updated forecast from AIREP information transmitted over radio or in an updated forecast
73
When is AIRMET advice used?
Significant but moderate weather below 12,000ft
74
When is a SIGMET used?
For severe and/ or widespread conditions
75
What is an INTER?
Intermittent phenomena, expected to occur frequently for periods less than 30 minutes. Fluctuating conditions
76
How is an INTER start and end date and time written?
DDHH/DDHH
77
What is a TEMPO?
Temporary phenomena lasting longer than 30 minutes but only up to an hour
78
What does FM mean?
Indicates significant weather and rapid change at a specified time and they are expected to persist until the end of the validity period or until new conditions are forecast to commence
79
What does TILL mean?
Whether that will continue until this time that it ceases
80
What is BECMG?
A significant change that will occur at a regular or irregular rate over a specified period rather than rapidly like an FM
81
Are TAF's in local time or Zulu?
Z
82
What is the TAF format?
DDHHMM
83
What is the TAF validity period?
Usually, 12 hours but can be shorter or longer
84
What validity period do major capital cities have?
30 Hours for the long haul flights
85
What is PROV?
The provisional forecast is likely deficient in accuracy and it will be confirmed or amended ASAP
86
What is wind direction rounded to?
Nearest 10 degrees
87
What is VRB?
If wind direction cannot be forecast due to light winds or thunderstorm and cyclone activity; Variable forecast will be used
88
How many knots are gusting conditions?
10kts
89
Cloud height above aerodrome ground level is reported in...
Hundreds of feet
90
What does SKC mean?
The sky is clear of cloud
91
What is CAVOK?
- 10km or greater visibility
| - Nil significant wether (No cloud below 5,000ft and no CB or TCU)
92
What is PROB?
Probability of significant weather between 30% and 40%
93
What is RMK?
Remark
| - Gives information of significant weather that the pilot needs to be aware of
94
What does M refer to in regards to forecast temperatures?
Negative temperatures
95
Should you round up or down temperatures?
Up
96
Should you round up or down QNH?
Down
97
What vicinity do METAR and SPECI cover?
8- 16km of aerodrome reference point
98
Who makes METARS or SPECIS?
Approved observers or automated weather stations
99
What is a METAR used for?
Inform pilots of routine observations, usually each hour or half-hour when weather conditions are above specified minima
100
What is a SPECI used for?
Informs pilots of special observations when conditions fall below specified minima or when there have been significant changes since the last report.
101
Is there a validity period of METAR or SPECI's?
No
102
Format of METAR or SPECI?
Location- Date/Time- AUTO (if Auto)- Wind- Vis WX CLD- Temp/ Dew Point- QNH
103
What is a TTF?
When conditions are expected to continue with no significant change for the next 3 hours.
