Exam questions for obtaining aircraft licenses and ratings

PPL(A) -

1. Below the tropopause, the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA) assumes?

2. Where is most of the water vapour in the atmosphere contained?

3. What are the proportions of gases in the atmosphere?

4. The layer closest to the earth's surface where the majority of weather is found is called?

5. The temperature at 2000ft above mean sea level is forecast to be 5°C; compared to the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA) this is:

6. What is the name of the instrument which gives a continuous printed reading and record of the atmospheric pressure?

7. The pressure of the atmosphere:

8. What is the significance of tightly spaced isobars?

9. A line drawn on a chart joining places having the same barometric pressure at the same level and at the same time is?

10. Compared to ISA, what does warm air do to the distance represented by a 1 hpa change in pressure?

11. What is the density at sea level in the International Standard Atmosphere?

12. Density at the surface will be low when:

13. Generally as altitude increases:

14. What is density defined as?

15. Under what conditions would density be the least at any given place?

16. Consider the following statements about air density and select the one which is correct?

17. The diurnal variation of temperature is:

18. If temperature remains constant with an increase in altitude there is:

19. A trough of low pressure at the surface is generally associated with:

20. During the winter months, which of the following weather conditions would most likely be produced by an anticyclone?

21. Diurnal variation of the surface temperature will:

22. Cloud cover will reduce surface diurnal variation of temperature because:

23. An area of indeterminate pressure between two lows and two highs is called:

24. The method by which energy is transferred from one body to another with which it is in contact is called:

25. The sun gives out_____amounts of energy with_____wavelengths.The earth gives out relatively_____amounts of energy with relatively_____wavelengths:

26. An inversion is when:

27. Which of the statements below best describes a COL?

28. A ridge of high pressure is generally associated with:

29. When flying towards a depression at a constant indicated altitude, the true altitude will be:

30. When an altimeter sub scale is set to the aerodrome OFE, the altimeter reads:

31. The altimeter will always read:

32. An aircraft flies at a constant indicated altitude from airfield A (QNH 1009mb) to airfield B (QNH 1019mb). If the subscale is not reset from 1009, what would be expected when over airfield B:

33. The name given to the lowest forecast mean sea level pressure in an area is:

34. An aircraft flies from aerodrome 'A', where QNH is given as 1020mb, to aerodrome 'B', where the QNH is given as 999mb. Aerodrome 'A' is 800ft above mean sea level and aerodrome 'B' is 500ft above mean sea level. If the altimeter sub scale is not changed from 1020, what is the altimeter indication on landing? (ASSUME 1mb : 30ft)

35. You experience a constant drift to the right when flying over Europe at a constant indicated altitude. If the altimeter subscale is not updated, this will result in?

36. You are flying at a constant indicated altitude with the QNH of 1015 set within the subscale and you notice the outside air temperature has been falling constantly. What can you expect to have happened to your true altitude?

37. The instrument used for measuring the humidity of air is a:

38. When condensation takes place, the higher the temperature the_____the amount of latent heat_____:

39. Wet bulb temperature would normally be lower than dry bulb temperature because:

40. The process of change of state from a gas to a liquid is known as:

41. A change of state directly from a solid to a vapour or vice versa is:

42. During a night with a clear sky, surface temperature will_____Relative Humidity will_____and Dewpoint will_____.

43. Which of the processes listed below can cause air to become saturated?

44. When receiving circuit joining information prior to an approach at a destination airfield, the pilot of alight aircraft is warned of the presence of low level windshear. The pilot should?

45. iven an atmospheric situation where the relative humidity is 60% and the ELR is less than the DALR, if air is forced to rise it will be:

46. The pilot of an aircraft which is approaching a mountain from the downwind or leeward side, a few hundred feet above ridge level, observes venticular clouds. Which of the following conditions would the pilot expect to encounter as the flight continues?

47. The actual change of temperature with height is known as...

48. Which of the following is true about the lowest level windshear?

49. An aircraft is flying in the vicinity of a range of hills, lying north-south, across which a wind is blowing from the west to east. Which of the following situations might cause the aircraft to encounter dangerous downdraughts?

50. Which of the following is true about the lowest level windshear?

51. In a mountain wave situation, the worst of the turbulence is most likely to be found when flying:

52. Which of the following characterises unstable air?

53. A light aircraft flying at low level near a mountain range across which a strong wind is blowing may expect: 1. Severe turbulence below or within any rotor zone. 2. Down-draughts which may exceed the climb rate of the aircraft. 3. A greater than normal risk of icing in the cloud over the crest mountain. 4. Lenticular cloud

54. One or more coloured rings around the sun or moon may indicate the presence of which type of cloud?

55. Given a surface temperature of+21°C and a dew point of +7°C, at approximately what height will the cloud base of a cumulus cloud be?

56. Hail is most likely to fall from which type of cloud?

57. From the list below, select the Low, Medium and High clouds in ascending order.

58. The use of the suffix 'nimbus' or the prefix 'nimbo' means?

59. Precipitation produced by stratus is normally?

60. Unstable air is forced to rise up the side of a mountain. What weather might you expect to see on the windward slopes?

61. The conditions which must exist to allow thunderstorms to develop are:

62. Which of the following combinations of weather-producing variables would be most likely to result in cumuliform clouds, good visibility, showery rain, and possible clear type icing in clouds?

63. Turbulence, windshear, icing, lightning and heavy precipitation are associated with cumulonimbus clouds. Which of the following statements is true?

64. During the_____stage of a thunderstorm ceil, the cloud contains_____. Complete the above statement choosing one of the following combinations of words:

65. What stage of a thunderstorm is characterised predominantly by downdraughts?

66. For cumulonimbus clouds to develop, there needs to exist?

67. What stage of a thunderstorm is characterised by updraughts only?

68. Which of the following conditions are most likely to produce thunderstorms?

69. Hazards to aircraft caused by the presence of cumulonimbus or thunderstorm cloud may be experienced:

70. Hazards of the mature stage of a thunderstorm cell include lightning, turbulence and:

71. The wind at 2000ft over an aerodrome was reported at 330/15kt. Using the rule of thumb, what might you expect the surface wind to be?

72. Corilolis force in the Northern Hemisphere will cause moving air to be apparently deflected to:

73. Winds that blow around an anticyclone (high pressure system) at lower levels in the Northern Hemisphere are represented on a low level chart as blowing in:

74. Low level winds in the northern hemisphere that blow around a depression are drawn on surface weather charts in?

75. The formation of advection fog is often caused by?

76. A low level mist layer significantly reduces forward visibility when flying at about 2000ft. To improve your forward visiility you should?

77. Which of the following conditions is most favourable to the formation of radiation fog?

78. Over an inland airfield radiation fog is reported in the morning. As the wind speed increases to 10 kt what would you expect:

79. What are the characteristics of the passage of a cold front?

80. What is the general speed of the warm front?

81. If a cloudy, granular type of ice is seen to collect and protrude forward from the leading edge of the aerofoil, what type of ice would it most likely be?

82. What will normally happen to the surface wind direction following the passage of a warm front?

83. The extent of rainfall ahead of a typical warm front may be up to a distance of:

84. Ice accretion in a piston engine induction system is produced by:

85. Which of the following frontal systems is more likely to produce thunderstorm activity?

86. Clear ice forms as a result of:

87. What would be the change in weather following the passage of a typical warm front:

88. What is the main reason water can exist in a liquid state even though the temperature is sub zero?

89. You are flying above the freezing level in the cold air just ahead of a warm front. If rain were to fall in this area, what kind of icing might you expect?

90. Which of the following correctly decodes the METAR shown below? METAR EGKL 130350Z 32005KT 0400N DZ BCFG VV002

91. When a TREND is included at the end of an aviation METAR, the trend is a forecast valid for:

92. The visibility group R20/0050 in a METAR means:

93. The code: 'BECMG FM 1100 -RASH' in a METAR means:

94. A temperature group of 28/24 in a METAR means that:

95. In the METAR shown below, the cloud base has been omitted. At what height might you expect the cloud base to be if cumulus cloud was present? 28005KT9999 SCT??? 12/05 Q1020 NOSIG

96. Providing the minimum sector altitude is not a determining factor, CAVOK in a TAF or METAR:

97. Which of the following correctly decodes a TAF that reads: LYBE 161100Z 1612/1712 VRB08KT9999 SCT025?

98. BECMG 1621/1701 BKN030 in a TAF means:

99. Referring to the diagram, determine the 2000ft wind velocity and temperature at position 50°N 0° E/W. (See Fig. PPL Meteo-1)

100. Referring to the diagram, what is the forecast wind velocity at 5000ft at position 50°N 0°EM: (See Fig. PPL Meteo-2)

101. What does this symbol represent on a forecast chart? (See Fig. PPL Meteo-4)

102. What does this symbol represent on a forecast chart? (See Fig. PPL Meteo-6)

103. Referring to the diagram, which zone would the following TAF best fit? (See Fig. PPL Meteo-5) 1322 35020KT9999 SCT030 SCT090 TEMPO 1322 8000 SHRA BKN015 PROB30TEMPO 1522 5000 +RASH SCT008 BKN009CB=

104. Referring to the diagram, what is the feature identified by the letter J at position 60°N 12°W? (See Fig. PPL Meteo-10)

105. Referring to the low-level significant weather chart in the diagram, we see a pressure system at 50 degrees North, 1 degree East, indicated by an 'L', accompanied by an arrow and the figures '20' and '988'. What does this denote? (See Fig. PPL Meteo-14)

106. What is the validity time for a WAFC significant weather chart?

107. On WAFC significant weather charts what do the letters 'CB' imply?

108. EGTT SIGMET SST 01 VALID 310730/311130 EGRR LONDON FIR ISOL CB FCST TOPS FL370 SST ROUTES W OF W00400 STNR NC = In the SIGMET message shown above what does the code 'SST' stand for?

109. A regional is a forecast of the weather up to?

110. LFFF SIGMET SST 1 VALID 310600/311100 LFPW- UIR FRANCE MOD TURB FCST BLW FL420 W of 04W MOV E 30KT NC = In the SIGMET message shown above, what hazard is being forecast?

111. In an AIRMET when are strong wind warnings forecast?

112. A regional AIRMET is issued______ and is valid for______ with an outlook period o_________.;

113. VOLMETS are updated?

114. A volmetis defined as:

115. VOLMETS are?

116. When areatis broadcasts updated?

117. To minimise VHF frequency use, theatis can be broadcast on the voice frequency of what navigational

118. What is theatis?

119. In theatis broadcast, what is used to identify the current report?

120. On what frequency range is the ATIS usually broadcast?

121. What air temperature may we expect at 7,000 ft if the air temperature at 1,500 ft is 15°C?

122. What wind represents depicted symbol from meteorological charts? (See Fig. PPL Meteo-15)

123. Every physical process of weather is accompanied by, or is the result of, a

124. What weather phenomena is associated with a temperature inversion?

125. The most frequent type of ground or surface-based temperature inversion is that which is produced by

126. The amount of water vapor which air can hold depends on the

127. What is the approximate airfield dewpoint if the surface air temperature is 20 °C and the reported base of the cumulus clouds is 1,100m above the airfield level?

128. What are the characteristics of an unstable air mass?

129. What types clouds usually accompany the passage of a warm front?

130. Which weather conditions should be expected beneath a low-level temperature inversion layer when the relative humidity is high?

131. What value is being calculated by following formula? Temperature minus dewpoint times 123 =. ?

132. What is the approximate base of cumulus clouds if the surface air temperature is 27°C and the dewpoint is 15°C?

133. What approximate base of cumulus clouds should be expected if the surface air dewpoint is 5°C and the forcasted daily maximum temperature is 25°C?

134. With what type of clouds are shower precipitations associated?

135. Thunderstorms reach their greatest intensity during the

136. When may hazardous windshear be expected?

137. A pilot can expect a windshear zone in a temperature inversion whenever the windspeed at 2,000 to 4,000 feet above the surface is at least

138. There is thunderstorm activity in the vicinity of an airport at which you plan to land, which hazardous atmospheric phenomenon might be expected on the landing approach?

139. Where does windshear occur?

140. Why is frost considered hazardous to flight?

141. In which environment is aircraft structural ice most likely to have the highest accumulation rate?

142. What percent coverage of the lowest cloud layer was observed accordingly to the following METAR report? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

143. What was the observed temperature accordingly to the following METAR report? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

144. What was the observed air pressure accordingly to the following METAR report? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

145. At what time was following METAR report issued? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

146. What type of precipitations was observed accordingly to the following METAR report? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

147. What was the ceiling of the lowest cloud layer accordingly to the following METAR report? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

148. Accordingly to the code which of the following METAR reports cold be partially abbreviated by CAVOK (minimum sector altitude 4.000 ft)?

149. Accordingly to the following METAR report, when may we expect vanishing of the fog an weather improvement for VFR flight? METAR LSZH 131630Z 24008KT 0600 R16/1000U FG DZ FEW003 SCT010 OVC020 17/16 Q1018 BECMG TL1700 0800 FG BECMG AT1800 9999 NSW=

150. What kind of weather is forecast for the period after 12:00 UTC? TAF LYBE 160500Z 1606/1706 13010KT 9000 BKN020 BECMG 1606/1608 SCT015CB BKN020 TEMPO 1608/1612 17012G22KT 1000 TSRA SCT010CB BKN020 FM12 15006KT 9999 BKN020 BKN100=

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