What you will learn
- Decode METARs and TAFs accurately and quickly.
- Identify and avoid hazardous weather including thunderstorms, icing, and turbulence.
- Understand how frontal systems create predictable weather patterns.
- Make informed go/no-go decisions using available weather products.
- Recognize fog-forming conditions and predict visibility changes.
- Brief weather for cross-country flights using all available resources.
Topics covered
Atmosphere & Pressure
Atmospheric layers, standard atmosphere (ISA), pressure systems, isobars, altimeter settings, and pressure altitude.
Frontal Systems
Cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, occluded fronts, and the weather associated with each type.
Clouds & Precipitation
Cloud classification (cumulus, stratus, cirrus families), formation processes, precipitation types, and virga.
Icing
Structural icing (clear, rime, mixed), induction icing, carburetor icing, icing intensities, and avoidance strategies.
Thunderstorms & Convective Weather
Lifecycle stages, microbursts, wind shear, hail, lightning, squall lines, and convective SIGMETs.
Fog & Visibility
Radiation fog, advection fog, upslope fog, precipitation fog, dew point spread, and visibility reporting.
Turbulence & Wind
Mechanical turbulence, convective turbulence, clear air turbulence (CAT), mountain waves, wind shear, and reporting intensity.
Weather Products & Briefings
METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, prog charts, winds aloft, and how to obtain a standard weather briefing.
Weather Decision Making
Go/no-go decisions, personal minimums, in-flight weather evaluation, and diversion planning.
Prerequisites
- •Basic understanding of atmospheric science is helpful but not required.
- •Familiarity with aviation terminology recommended.