Weather: Private Pilot topic guide

Weather carries 22% of the Private Pilot blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 6 weighted areas. It spans 12 concepts. The course teaches it in 3 study units: METAR & TAF Decode, Weather Hazards and Density Altitude & Performance.

What Weather covers

• METAR vs TAF — Purpose and Format — AIM 7-1 / AC 00-45
• METAR Field Decode — Wind/Vis/Altimeter/Temp — AIM 7-1-29 / AC 00-45
• Cloud Cover Codes and Ceiling Definition — AIM 7-1 / AC 00-45
• Temperature/Dewpoint Spread — Fog Prediction — AC 00-6 Aviation Weather
• Atmospheric Stability — Stable vs Unstable — AC 00-6 Aviation Weather
• Structural Icing — Two Conditions Required — AC 00-6 / AIM 7-1-21
• Thunderstorm Hazards — Mature Stage / 20 NM — AC 00-6 / AIM 7-1-26
• Fog Types — Radiation/Advection/Upslope/Steam — AC 00-6 Aviation Weather
• Cold Front vs Warm Front Characteristics — AC 00-6 Aviation Weather
• AIRMET / SIGMET / Convective SIGMET Hierarchy — AIM 7-1-6
• Density Altitude — Hot/High/Humid Concept — AC 00-6 / Pilot's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-25) Ch.11
• Standard Lapse Rates and Temperature Inversion — AC 00-6 / FAA-H-8083-25

Common mistakes in Weather

• Reading METAR/ATIS winds as magnetic — they are TRUE; only tower-spoken winds are magnetic
• Thinking SCT (scattered) creates a ceiling — only BKN/OVC do
• Believing icing can form in clear air — needs visible moisture
• Confusing AIRMET (moderate) with SIGMET (severe)
• Thinking a warm front clears quickly — it's the cold front that's fast; warm fronts mean long, widespread low IFR
• Forgetting the +100 speed and +50 direction decode for fast winds aloft

Key terms for Weather

METAR · TAF · AIRMET · SIGMET · PIREP · density altitude · inversion · dewpoint spread · ceiling

How Weather connects to other areas

• Density Altitude — Hot/High/Humid Concept links to Pressure Altitude — Performance & Weight-and-Balance
• Density Altitude — Hot/High/Humid Concept links to Takeoff/Landing Distance — Performance Variables — Performance & Weight-and-Balance
• Density Altitude — Hot/High/Humid Concept links to Density Altitude Rule of Thumb — Performance & Weight-and-Balance
• Density Altitude — Hot/High/Humid Concept links to Service Ceiling and Vx vs Vy Climb Speeds — Performance & Weight-and-Balance
• Structural Icing — Two Conditions Required links to Carburetor Icing — Warm Humid Air at Low Power — Aerodynamics & Systems

Official references for Weather

• AIM 7-1 / AC 00-45
• AIM 7-1-29 / AC 00-45
• AC 00-6 Aviation Weather
• AC 00-6 / AIM 7-1-21
• AC 00-6 / AIM 7-1-26
• AIM 7-1-6
• AC 00-6 / Pilot's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-25) Ch.11
• AC 00-6 / FAA-H-8083-25
• AC 00-45 / AIM 7-1

In the app this area comes with 15 memory cards and 37 module-quiz questions in the full course.