Weather and Environmental Factors Flashcards
7 cards from real ADX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Weather and Environmental Factors flashcards as text
A dispatcher planning a high-altitude route notices a Convective SIGMET valid for an area directly on the route. What action is REQUIRED?
Answer: Reroute around the Convective SIGMET area or delay until it expires
A Convective SIGMET indicates severe or extreme convective hazards; the dispatcher must coordinate with the crew to reroute or delay departure to avoid the area, as it poses an unacceptable safety risk.
What is 'density altitude,' and why is it critical to aircraft performance calculations?
Answer: Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature, representing the altitude at which aircraft performance actually occurs
Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for temperature deviation from standard; high density altitude (hot/high/humid conditions) means the air is less dense, significantly degrading aircraft engine and aerodynamic performance.
When evaluating volcanic ash advisories (VAA) for a Pacific route, which characteristic of volcanic ash is most operationally dangerous to jet engines?
Answer: Ash particles melting inside the engine and re-solidifying on turbine components, causing flame-out
Volcanic ash melts at temperatures below jet engine operating temperatures, re-solidifies on turbine blades and nozzles, causing power loss or complete engine flame-out — multiple cases have caused near-accidents.
A dispatcher reviews a prog chart showing a deepening extratropical cyclone over the North Atlantic. Which quadrant of this system typically produces the most hazardous icing conditions for a westbound aircraft?
Answer: The northeast quadrant with warm, moist air overrunning cold air at lower levels
The northeast (warm) sector of an extratropical cyclone features warm moist air overrunning a cold surface, creating widespread stratiform clouds with supercooled water droplets and significant structural icing hazard.
An Airport Weather Warning (AWW) is issued for a departure airport. What condition triggers an AWW?
Answer: Conditions including thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds, extreme cold, or other hazardous weather at or near the airport
An Airport Weather Warning (AWW) is issued by the NWS for existing or anticipated hazardous meteorological conditions at or near an airport, including severe thunderstorms, hail, extreme winds, or other dangerous weather.
Which METAR remark 'PRESFR' indicates, and why must a dispatcher take note of it?
Answer: Pressure falling rapidly — indicating an approaching storm or deepening low that may quickly worsen airport conditions
PRESFR (Pressure Falling Rapidly) in a METAR remark indicates a drop of 0.06 inHg or more in less than an hour, signaling an intensifying storm system with rapidly deteriorating weather likely.
A dispatcher is evaluating cold weather performance data for a flight departing at -30°C OAT. Which aircraft system limitation is of PRIMARY concern in extreme cold temperatures?
Answer: Fuel viscosity changes, cold-soaked fuel system operation limits, and structural cold temperature limits
Extreme cold temperatures can cause fuel to reach its freeze point or wax point, affect hydraulic fluid viscosity, and approach airframe structural cold temperature limits, all of which must be checked against the AFM/POH.