Aviation Meteorology Flashcards
7 cards from real CPL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aviation Meteorology flashcards as text
What weather condition is MOST likely to produce 'St. Elmo's Fire' observed on aircraft windshields and propellers?
Answer: Flight in areas of high static electricity near thunderstorms or in precipitation
St. Elmo's Fire is a corona discharge phenomenon caused by high static electricity buildup on aircraft surfaces during flight through precipitation, near thunderstorms, or in charged cloud regions.
Which type of icing is described as rough, irregular, opaque, and typically encountered at colder temperatures with smaller droplets?
Answer: Rime ice
Rime ice forms when small supercooled droplets freeze instantly on contact, trapping air pockets and producing a rough, opaque, brittle ice deposit, typically at temperatures between -10°C and -20°C.
An AIRMET Sierra (AIRMET S) is issued to warn of which specific weather hazard?
Answer: IFR conditions and mountain obscurement
AIRMET Sierra warns of IFR conditions (ceilings below 1,000 feet and/or visibility below 3 miles) and mountain obscurement affecting a wide area.
A pilot receives a forecast for 'moderate or greater turbulence' associated with a jet stream. Where is the most intense turbulence typically found relative to the jet stream core?
Answer: On the polar (cold air) side and below the jet stream core
The most intense CAT associated with jet streams is typically found on the cold (polar) side and below the core, where the strongest wind shear and cyclonic curvature exist.
In a tropical cyclone (hurricane), the most dangerous quadrant for an aircraft at low altitude is typically which one?
Answer: Right-front quadrant relative to storm motion
The right-front quadrant of a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere has the highest winds because storm motion adds to the rotational wind speed, making it the most dangerous quadrant.
What does a 'temperature inversion' near the surface indicate about atmospheric stability and pilot weather concerns?
Answer: A stable layer that traps pollutants, restricts visibility, and may produce fog or stratus
A surface temperature inversion creates a very stable layer that inhibits vertical mixing, trapping pollutants and moisture, which can lead to reduced visibility, fog, and stratus cloud formation.
A convective outlook product issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) uses the term 'MODERATE' risk. For a CPL pilot, this should prompt what action?
Answer: Careful review of all convective products and serious consideration of delaying or rerouting the flight
A 'Moderate' SPC risk category indicates organized severe thunderstorms are likely, and CPL pilots must thoroughly review all convective weather products and seriously consider delaying or rerouting to avoid the risk area.