Frequently Asked Aviation Weather Questions (FAQ)
© Peter Lester
Frequently-asked-questions
(FAQs) and appropriate answers are found below. They are organized
according to chapter of Aviation Weather, 3rd Edition, unless otherwise
stated. In cases of overlapping material, some questions and answers
may appear in two or more FAQ locations.
The Table
of Contents for Aviation Weather is given below to help you sort
through the broad topics of each chapter. Click
on the Part or Chapter Number and you will go to the page with
the appropriate list of questions for that part of the text.
Can’t
find relevant FAQ? Email
your query to me.
Table
of Contents
Part I Aviation Weather Basics
Chapter 1 The Atmosphere
Chapter 2 Atmospheric Energy and Temperature
Chapter 3 Pressure, Altitude, And Density
Chapter 4 Wind
Chapter 5 Vertical Motion and Stability
Chapter 6 Atmospheric Moisture
Part
II Atmospheric Circulation Systems
Chapter 7 Scales of Atmospheric Circulations
Chapter 8 Airmasses, Fronts, and Cyclones
Chapter 9 Thunderstorms
Chapter 10 Local Winds
Part
III Aviation Weather Hazards
Chapter 11 Wind Shear
Chapter 12 Turbulence
Chapter 13 Icing
Chapter 14 Instrument Meteorological
Conditions (IMC)
Chapter 15 Additional Weather Hazards
Part
IV Applying Weather Knowledge
Chapter 16 Aviation Weather Resources
Chapter 17 Weather Evaluation for Flight
Appendixes
Appendix A: Conversion Factors
Appendix B: Standard Atmosphere
Appendix C: Dewpoint and Humidity Tables
Appendix
D: Standard Meteorological Codes and Graphics for Aviation
Appendix E: Glossary of Weather Terms
Appendix F: Internet Resources and
Printed References
Appendix G: Review Question Answers
Part
IV Applying Weather Knowledge
Chapter 16 Aviation Weather Resources
- Q.
What criteria do FSS briefers use for “VNR?”
A. For the proposed route, the most recent observation/forecast
information FSS receives from the National Weather Service
(NWS)
Chapter 17 Weather Evaluation for Flight
- Q.
What criteria do FSS briefers use for “VNR?”
A.
(4/24/03) For the proposed route, the most recent observation/forecast
information FSS receives from the National Weather Service (NWS).
-
Q.
What are TAF Amendment Criteria?
A.
(4/24/03) There are many specific amendment criteria based
on ceiling, visibility, non-convective low-level windshear
(LLWS), weather, wind direction and speed. Here are a few
examples: If the forecast ceiling is between 600 and 900 feet
but the actual ceiling will be <600 feet (worse conditions)
or >1000 feet (better conditions), an amendment is warranted.
If the mean wind direction is expected to differ from the
forecast direction by 30 degrees or more, an amendment must
be issued. If a thunderstorm is predicted but will not occur,
an amendment is required. There are many more amendment criteria,
too many to list here. Suffice to say that if the forecast
is significantly different (aviation-wise) from conditions
as they will actually occur then an amended TAF will be issued.
Additionally, there are some practicalities that have to be
considered. For example, if a forecast goes bad near the end
of the forecast period, there may not be adequate time before
the next scheduled TAF to issue an amendment. Also, in changing
conditions, the forecaster has certain discretion to amend
the forecast or not, based on his or her expert assessment
of the situation.
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