FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Exam
Questions And Answers Rated A+ 2024.
How often are METARs issues? - correct answer. Every hour, or whenever the
weather changes and necessitates a change. In that situation, a SPECI (special
METAR) is issued.
What is a SPECI? - correct answer. A special METAR which is created in between the
hourly METARs due to a change in weather necessitating the change.
-Change of winds necessitating a new runway.
-WX changing from IFR to VFR or VFR to IFR.
Do METARs describe actual or forecast conditions? - correct answer. METARs depict
actual field conditions.
Define Radiation fog - correct answer. Shallow fog, ground fog. occurs on clear nights,
little or no wind, and small temp/DP spread (high relative humidity). Occurs at night or
daybreak. Radiation cools the ground. The ground cools the air. When the air is cooled
to the dew-point, fog forms.
Define Advection fog - correct answer. This fog forms when moist air moves over
colder ground or water. Common along the coast.
What is lake effect? Describe one major consequence of lake effect in winter. - correct
answer. Air moving across a sizeable lake absorbs water vapor.
Showers may appear on the leeward side if the air is colder than the water. If the air is
warmer than the water, fog often develops on the leeward side. In the winter, lake effect
snow is a concern because as a cold front passes over the warmer lake water, snow,
instead of showers will occur.
,What happens when the Temperature/dewpoint are very close? - correct answer.
Small Temp/DP spread is essential to the formation of fog.
How often are TAFs issued? - correct answer. Valid for a 24-hour period, TAFs are
issued four times daily at 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, and 18Z, and updated as conditions warrant.
TAFs include information about wind speed and direction, visibility, present weather,
ceilings, and low-level wind shear.
Why is it important to know when the various charts and reports are issued? - correct
answer. Because you always need to use the most up to date information and knowing
when the next forecast is coming up is essential for making critcal flight decisions. For
instance, if it is 05:55Z, the TAF from 00Z is the most up-to-date forecast, however, in
only 5 minutes, the 06Z TAF will be the most up-to-date forecast and could contain
critical information.
What is an Amended TAF? - correct answer. An amended TAF is issued when the
current TAF no longer adequately describes the ongoing weather or the forecaster feels
the TAF is not representative of the current or expected weather.
Which sky conditions are considered a ceiling? - correct answer. Broken, Overcast,
VV (vertical visibility[indefinite ceiling])
How often is a surface analysis chart issued? - correct answer. starting at 00Z at 3
hour intervals. (8 times a day)
What are the primary features of a surface analysis chart? - correct answer. They
show pressure patterns, fronts, and information on individual reporting stations. The
pressure patterns are shown by isobars.
Isobars
Pressure Systems
Fronts
Troughs and Ridges
Station Models
How is a surface analysis chart used? - correct answer. It is used to determine sky
cover, the types of clouds. SLP, pressure change, precip, temp/dew point, present wx,
wind. They can be used to locate the jetstream, turbulence, and wind shear.
What is the relationship between isobars and surface winds? - correct answer. The
closer the isobars are together, the stronger the winds will be.
How often is a Weather depiction chart issued? - correct answer. Every 3 hours
starting at 01Z
What is a weather depiction chart? - correct answer. A weather chart to be used for
flight planning by giving an overall picture of the WX across the US.
, What is a Radar summary chart? - correct answer. A radar summary chart is a
graphically depicted collection of radar weather reports.
Does the Radar summary chart depict forecast conditions, or observed conditions? How
often? - correct answer. Observed, hourly.
What is the difference between visible and infrared Satellite imagery? - correct answer.
The visible images display cloud cover. The infrared images display the earth in a
manner that correlates with temperature. Generally speaking, the warmer an object, the
more infrared energy it emits.
What does water vapor imagery show on the Satellite imagery? - correct answer. The
water vapor images display the earth in a manner that correlates to quantity of water
vapor in the upper portions of the atmosphere (25,000 feet and higher in general). The
most useful information to be gained from the water vapor images is the locations of
storm systems and the jet stream.
What do the Valid Times indicate?
(on a prog chart) - correct answer. 12 and 24 hours. They indicate that the prog chart
is valid for 12 hours from the time issued, or 24 hours from the time issued.
How many times are Prog charts issued? - correct answer. 4 times a day. 00Z, 06Z,
12Z, 18Z.
Is a prog chart a forecast or a depiction of actual conditions? - correct answer.
Forecast.
Remember "to prognosticate" means "to forecast"
What kinds of weather/hazards are shown on the low level prog chart? - correct
answer. Precip, icing, turbulence, thunderstorms, tropical storms, hurricanes
IFR/MVFR conditions, areas of high/low pressure, different types of fronts.
What is a cold front? - correct answer. The leading edge of an advancing cold air
mass
What clouds are associated with a cold front? - correct answer. Cumulus and
cumulonimbus
What weather is associated with a cold front? - correct answer. Thunderstorms, hail,
tornadoes, good visibility.
What discontinuities are associated with a cold front? - correct answer. -Temp: Cold
air advances and overtakes warm air.
-Pressure: Pressure will drop then rises abruptly after the front passes.
- Windshift
