TAF

This page was designed to give you practice decoding TAFs.  When you are ready for the answers...

KTLH 220642Z 220706 14004KT 4SM -SHRA BKN150      TEMPO 0709 1/2SM FG VV001      FM1400 24007KT P6SM SHRA OVC050      TEMPO 1418 3SM TSRA BR BKN015CB      FM1800 26009KT 6SM SHRA OVC020      TEMPO 1822 3SM TSRA BR BKN025CB      FM0000 33008KT P6SM VCSH BKN030      FM0300 33008KT P6SM BKN080         KMSP 220520Z 220606 35008KT P6SM SCT018 OVC030      TEMPO 0609 -SN OVC020      FM1500 34009KT P6SM BKN035      FM2100 31007KT P6SM SCT040      TEMPO 2101 BKN040      FM0300 27004KT P6SM FEW040         KLGA 220520Z 220606 17007KT 4SM BR FEW006 SCT100 SCT250      FM1400 19009KT 6SM HZ SCT010 BKN080      FM1700 20012G19KT P6SM BKN080      FM2100 20012KT P6SM VCSH BKN035 BKN070      FM2300 30018G33KT P6SM BKN060         KLAX 220703Z 220706 00000KT 5SM HZ FEW010 SCT200      FM0800 VRB03KT 5SM BR OVC008      TEMPO 1014 2SM BR      FM1800 26008KT 5SM HZ SKC      FM2100 26010KT P6SM SKC      FM0400 VRB03KT P6SM SKC

Weather Identifiers: B - Began  BC Patches BL Blowing BR Mist DR Low Drifting DS Dust storm DU Dust DZ Drizzle E - Ended FC, +FC Funnel Cloud,    Well-Developed Funnel Cloud     Tornado or Waterspout FG Fog FU Smoke FZ Freezing  GR Hail  GS Small Hail or Snow Pellets (< 1/4) HZ Haze IC Ice Crystals MI Shallow PE Ice Pellets PO Well-Developed Dust/Sand Whirls PR Partial  PY Spray RA Rain  SA Sand SG Snow Grains SH Showers SN Snow SQ Squalls Moderate SS Sandstorm  TS Thunderstorm  UP Unknown Precipitation VA Volcanic Ash  VC In the Vicinity Modifiers:   - Light      + Heavy      P More than     M Less than       B Began     E Ended Sky Conditions: BKN – Broken cloud layer 5/8ths-7/8ths CB – Cumulonimbus  CLR–Sky clear at or below 12,000AGL FEW–Few cloud layer 0/8ths-2/8ths  OVC–Overcast cloud layer 8/8ths  SCT–Scattered cloud layer 3/8ths-4/8ths  SKC – Sky Clear TCU – Towering Cumulus Other: A01 – Automated Observation without precipitation discrimination A02 – Automated Observation with precipitation discrimination A3000 – Altimeter setting 30.00” AMD – Amended forecast AUTO – without human editing BECMG – Becoming…  BECMG 0002 = becoming 00 to 02 Z CAVU – Ceiling and visibility unlimited COR – Correction DSNT – Distant weather phenomenon FM – From…   FM0200 = from 0200 Zulu FROPA – Frontal Passage LDG – Landing M – Minus, below zero, “less than” NO – Not available NSW – No significant weather P6SM – Plus 6 Statute Miles, greater than, “more than” PK WND – Peak Wind PRESFR/PRESRR – Pressure Falling or Rising Rapidly PROB40 – Probability of 40% R04 – Runway 4 RMK – Remarks RWY – Runway  RVRNO–Runway Visual Range not avail SFC VIS – Surface Visibility SLP – Sea Level Pressure, add 10 to numbers given SLPNO – Sea Level Pressure not avail SM – Statute miles SPECI – Special Report TEMPO – Temporarily…  TEMPO 0002 = Temporarily 00 to 02 Z T02560179–Temp 25.6 dew point 17.9 TWR VIS – Tower Visibility V – Varying VRB – Variable VRB VIS – Variable Visibility VV – Vertical Visibility, indefinite ceiling WS – Wind shear WSHFT - Wind shift

Weather Identifiers

Weather Identifiers:
B - Began 
BC Patches
BL Blowing
BR Mist
DR Low Drifting
DS Dust storm
DU Dust
DZ Drizzle
E - Ended
FC, +FC Funnel Cloud,
   Well-Developed Funnel Cloud 
   Tornado or Waterspout
FG Fog
FU Smoke
FZ Freezing 
GR Hail 
GS Small Hail or Snow Pellets (< 1/4)
HZ Haze
IC Ice Crystals
MI Shallow
PE Ice Pellets
PO Well-Developed Dust/Sand Whirls
PR Partial 
PY Spray
RA Rain 
SA Sand
SG Snow Grains
SH Showers
SN Snow
SQ Squalls Moderate
SS Sandstorm 
TS Thunderstorm 
UP Unknown Precipitation
VA Volcanic Ash 
VC In the Vicinity
Modifiers:   
- Light      + Heavy     
P More than     M Less than      
B Began     E Ended
Sky Conditions:
BKN – Broken cloud layer 5/8ths-7/8ths
CB – Cumulonimbus 
CLR–Sky clear at or below 12,000AGL
FEW–Few cloud layer 0/8ths-2/8ths 
OVC–Overcast cloud layer 8/8ths 
SCT–Scattered cloud layer 3/8ths-4/8ths 
SKC – Sky Clear
TCU – Towering Cumulus
Other:
A01 – Automated Observation without precipitation discrimination
A02 – Automated Observation with precipitation discrimination
A3000 – Altimeter setting 30.00”
AMD – Amended forecast
AUTO – without human editing
BECMG – Becoming… 
BECMG 0002 = becoming 00 to 02 Z
CAVU – Ceiling and visibility unlimited
COR – Correction
DSNT – Distant weather phenomenon
FM – From…  
FM0200 = from 0200 Zulu
FROPA – Frontal Passage
LDG – Landing
M – Minus, below zero, “less than”
NO – Not available
NSW – No significant weather
P6SM – Plus 6 Statute Miles, greater than, “more than”
PK WND – Peak Wind
PRESFR/PRESRR – Pressure Falling or Rising Rapidly
PROB40 – Probability of 40%
R04 – Runway 4
RMK – Remarks
RWY – Runway 
RVRNO–Runway Visual Range not avail
SFC VIS – Surface Visibility
SLP – Sea Level Pressure, add 10 to numbers given
SLPNO – Sea Level Pressure not avail
SM – Statute miles
SPECI – Special Report
TEMPO – Temporarily… 
TEMPO 0002 = Temporarily 00 to 02 Z
T02560179–Temp 25.6 dew point 17.9
TWR VIS – Tower Visibility
V – Varying
VRB – Variable
VRB VIS – Variable Visibility
VV – Vertical Visibility, indefinite ceiling
WS – Wind shear
WSHFT - Wind shift 

ATC - Communication

1.  Repeat your clearance exactly as given, particularly headings and altitudes.  "Cleared for takeoff, Runway 5" or "090, two thousand VFR, Cleared ILS 5 approach"

2.  Learn how to check in with the next controller.  Examples:
"Atlanta Approach, Skyhawk 12345, Level Six Thousand" or "Climbing tree(3) thousand for niner(9) thousand" or "Leaving fife(5) thousand for two thousand six hundred."
If you are leaving an airport and need to check in with departure, be sure to provide altitude leaving.  For example, "Miami Approach, Skyhawk 123A, leaving one(1) thousand for tree(3) thousand."
When you check in with your destination approach controller, let them know you have the ATIS/AWOS.  For example, "Tampa Approach, Skyhawk 123A, Level tree(3) thousand with information echo."  If you need to leave the frequency to obtain it, ask before switching.

3.  Use proper pronunciation for letters and numbers.  November not Nancy.  Bravo not Baker.  Q like Quebec (Keb-beck) not Cuba.

4.  When receiving traffic advisories, your response is one of these two options.  Forget the World War II phraseology because you sound stupid saying "Tally ho good chap".International Phonetic Alphabet
"Negative Contact", or
"Traffic in sight"
5.  If you'd like VFR flight following, they want to know where you are, current altitude & position, aircraft type, and where you want to go.

6.  If you'd like to get an IFR clearance in the air, provide your current position & altitude and departure airport on the flight plan.  Contact FSS by radio to air-file.

7.  If ATC calls you, answer.  Don't leave the frequency without letting them know.  Whatever you do, don't turn the volume down, they'd like you to be able to hear them when they are calling you with a traffic alert.  If you are enroute and you haven't heard them in a while, ask for the altimeter setting to be sure you're still in contact.

8.  If you are in trouble, be clear about it.  "We might have a problem" is different than "We are low on fuel and wish to declare an emergency."  Don't worry about the consequences of declaring an emergency, your safety is far too important.

9.  Eliminate extraneous terminology such as beginning every transmission with “And…” and using “With you…” (See #2) Be as brief and clear as possible when communicating your message.  Your friendly air traffic controller appreciates it.
ATC's Top 9 Pet Peeves, Part II

by Darren Smith, CFII/MEI
from Pilot's Radio Communication Guide, February 2005

Thanks to “SD” from Chicago Tracon for assistance in preparing this.

1.  Learn how to report altitudes.  Some think it sounds cute saying “out of two point six for four point oh” but its nauseating and unprofessional  There are only three ways to report altitudes:  climbing, descending, and level.  Level tree(3) thousand.  Two thousand climbing four thousand five hundred.  Six thousand descending two thousand.

2.  Don’t shorten your call sign until ATC calls you by a shortened call sign.

3.  If you call ready to taxi, be ready to taxi.  That means your engine is started and you are ready to move within seconds of being given a taxi clearance.

4.  When a controller tells you to turn, start your turn.  Don’t delay, its your life.

5.  Use some radio discipline.  You’ve been practicing to think before you speak since you were a child.  Don’t press the button until you’ve thought about what you’re going to say.  Be a professional, and you’ll get what you need from ATC.  Otherwise that busy controller isn’t going to make any effort to assist you.

6.  If there is no guidance in the AIM for the transmission you are about to make, be as succinct as possible.   Controllers don’t have time to hear your life story.  Air time has a value, spend it wisely.
 
7.  Get the ATIS before you call a controller.  If you don’t have the ATIS, or you don’t identify the ATIS letter identifier, then, the controller is forced to say, “Verify you have received information alpha.”  Don’t say “with numbers…” because the ATIS letter identifier must be confirmed.  The controller really doesn’t have time to read the ATIS to you.
 
8.  Don’t make controllers guess where you are when they’ve never heard of you.   If you depart the airport VFR and want to pick up an IFR clearance, indicate the departure point on the IFR flight plan if you’re not still in the general area of that airport.  When you are ready to taxi for departure, tell the controller where you are on the airport.  When you are ready for takeoff, tell the controller exactly where you are.  “…at 27B ready for takeoff.”

9.  Don’t switch frequencies until you are supposed to.  Switch to tower frequency when you move up to the hold short line and intend to depart.  If your departure clearance changes, controllers will expect you to be tuned into ground control and listening even during run up.  When arriving, do not switch to ground control until you have been told to and cleared the hold short line.  Sometimes you will be told to monitor ground which means don’t speak just do what you’re told.

Weather

Weather Pattern

https://www.aviationweather.gov/


1. Stable and unstable air
2. Air masses and fronts

Stable and unstable air

Stability of Atmosphere

• Hot air is light that cold air and it rises
• The lifted air continue to rise and is refer to as unstable atmosphere it is measure by the lapse rate
• Standard lapse rate - Decrease 2 Deg C for each 1000 feet in altitude increase
• If it decreases more quickly - Unstable air
• If it decreases less quicker - Stable air

Temperature affect the stability of atmosphere

Add mixture decrease stability
moisture light that air .. the air density

remove moisture increase stability
moisture mremove density - increase stability

stable air resist rising

Stable air - stable air rises up the slope produces stratus clouds, smooth air, steady precipitation

Unstable Air
- Turbulance
- Good surface visibility,
- Moisture unstable airmass result in cumulus clouds and showery precipitation

Keep on rising -
lots of vertical development

2. Air Masses and Fronts

Airmass - huge body of air similar temp and moisture
source region
- cold  polar
- Warm

Continental - dry
Maritime tropical - warm moist

Factor affecting
speed
temperature deference
depth

FRONT
Boundary between air mass is call a front

Types of Fronts:

1. Cold Front Types
 - Fast moving pressure wave or squall line
 - cold moving not as violent

2. Warm Front - warm air behind and cold air ahead

3. Stationary Front - moving less that 5

Occlusion
- cold front - fast moving cold front in front of warm front
- warm front -

Cross a Front is discontinuities
- Temperature change
- Shift of wind direction
- Change in wind speed


Weather Hazards

• Fog
• Thunderstorm
• Wind Shear and microburst
• Turbulence

Windshear and Microburst
Microburst
- precipitation drags the air down
- precipitation cool
- horizontal and vertical airspeed
- down draft - 6000'
convective activity
1 miles in diameter ..
spread out near the ground to 2.5"
45 knots in each direction
- Ring of dust
last about 4 mins not more than 15 mins
if encounter microburst - divert to another airport and wait another 15 mins before landing


Thunderstorm
- light momentary change in altitude and or attitude
- light chops

Moderate Turbulence i
Change in altitude and altitude maintain control of the airplane at all times

Sever Turbulence
large and abrupt change in altitude and or attitude
large variation
momentary loose control of the airplane

Extreme  Turbulence
Tossed about practically impossible to control

convective Turbulence  hot air
Bellow puffy air -- it cool down

Mountain wave - lenticular clouds

Clear air turbulence  - not associated with thunderstorm but associate with jet stream
hot air in cecinityu of jet stream


Thunderstorm
- lightning
- Wind shear

Types of Thunderstorms

1. Isolated air mass
2. Frontal thunderstorm
3. squall line thunderstorms

Basic ingredients for a cumulonimbus cloud to form

- lifting force
- unstable air
- moist air (high humidity)

Stages of Thunderstorm

1. Cumulus stage  
1. Continuous updraft
2. Mature stage 
1. Precipitation begins strong updraft
2. Strong down draft
3. Precipitation start to fall
3. Dissipate stage
1. Predominately downdrafts
2. Air current move down and out

Structure Ice
visible moisture
clouds, snow
ice pellets - warmer air at higher altitude, freezing rain

Frost - temperature of collecting surface is or at freezing and the

VFR/IFR - Equipment Requirements

Day VFR required equipment: GOOSE A CAT
or A FAST MOOSE
or TOMATO FLAMES
or ATOMS x 2

Gas gauge Oil temperature Oil pressure Seat belts ELT Altimeter Compass Airspeed indicator Tachometer

Airspeed indicator Fuel guages Altimeter Seat belt/shoulder harness Tachometer Magnetic compass Oil pressure guage Oil temp.guage Safety gear ELT

Tachometer Oil pressure Manifold pressure Altimeter Temperature sensor (liquid-cooled) Oil temperature (air cooled) Fuel gauge Landing gear position Airspeed indicator Magnetic compass ELT Seat belts

Altimeter Tachometer Oil pressure Magnetic compass Seat belts Airspeed indicator Temperature sensor (liquid-cooled) Oil temperature (air cooled) Manifold pressure Strobe light (if plane certified after 3/96)

Night VFR: FLAPS or APES

Fuses (spares) or circuit breakers Landing light (if for hire) Anticollision lights Position lights Source of electricity

Anticollision lights Position lights Electric source Spare fuses or circuit breakers

IFR required equipment: GRAB CARD
or DECARAT

Generator Radios Attitude indicator Ball Clock Adjustable altimeter Rate of turn indicator Directional gyro

Directional gyro Electric source Clock Attitude indicator Radios Adjustable altimeter Turn and slip coordinator

Preflight information required for flights away: RAW FAT
Runway lengths
Alternates
Weather
Fuel requirements
ATC delays
Takeoff/landing distance data

Engine-out emergency: PL(ease!) START
or ABCDE

Pitch for best glide Landing site Seat belts Troubleshoot Approach Radios Turn off

Airspeed Best place to land Checklist Declare Execute

Partial-panel compass turns: UNOSUndershoot
North
Overshoot
South
Compass dip: ANDSAccelerate
North
Decelerate
South
IFR mandatory reports: FAME PerformanceFixes: arriving or leaving
Altitude changes
Missed approach
Equipment: loss or problems
Performance: poor climb/descend, TAS change
Airport sign types: MIDDLRMandatory instruction
Information
Destination
Direction
Location
Runway distance remaining
Flight Clearance: CRAFTS Clearance
Routing
Altitude
Frequency
Transponder
Special
Weather briefing: SACrED WiNdSynopsis
Adverse conditions
Current weather
Enroute forecast
Destination terminal forecast
Winds aloft
Notams
Weather charts: CoPS WARSConstant pressure
Prognostic
Surface analysis
Weather depiction
Area forecast (FA)
Radar summary (SD)
Severe weather outlook (AC)
Special use airspace: MCPRAWN (the Scottish shrimp!)Military Operations
Controlled Firing
Prohibited
Restricted
Alert
Warning
National Security
Aircraft certification categories: TURN PALETransport
Utility
Restricted
Normal
Provisional
Acrobatic
Limited
Experimental
NTSB Notification: P-FACTIONProperty damage more than $25,000
Fire, in flight
Accident
Collision, in flight
Turbine failure
Illness of crew member
Overdue aircraft
No control: control failure of any sort

Mnemonics
Flight Clearance: CRAFTS
Clearance, Routing, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder, Special
Or, more correctly:
In Clear Deep Rivers And Hot Springs, Fish Swim.
ID, Cleared to, departure, routing, altitudes, hold instructions, special, frequency, squawk
IFR position report: IPTAFNNR
I Play The Accordion For Nothing, No Reason
or
I place time above type: next time, next remark.
ID, Position, Time (minutes past the hour), Altitude, Flight type, Next report's place and time, Next next report, Remarks
Example: "Cessna 7126Q, Manchester VOR, 22, 4000, IFR, Lebanon, 54, Burlington next, In clear between layers."

Maneuvers Steep Turn

Steep turn

C
A
S

Clearing Turn   45 deg left , 45 deg right
Altitude - Safe Altitude  1,500 and above
Safe

IFR Practice Test Checklist

Instrument Rating ASEL 

Practical Test Checklist 

Name _________________ Date ____________________ 

Eligibility Requirements (14 CFR §61.65(a)) 
___ at least a private pilot certificate with an aircraft rating
 ___ able to read, speak, write, and understand English
 ___ receive/log ground training or home study course per §61.65(b)
 ___ receive/log flight training per §61.56(c)
 ___ knowledge test passed within 24 calendar months 
 ___ any class medical passed within 24 or 36 calendar months 


Experience Requirements (14 CFR §61.65(d)) 
___ 50 hours cross-country as PIC, including 10 in airplanes 
 ___ 40 hours actual or simulated instrument time, including 
 ___ 10 hours maximum in PCATD/BasicATC
 ___ 20 hours maximum in a simulator or flight training device 
 ___ 15 hours instrument from an instrument flight instructor 
 ___ 3 hours instrument training within the preceding 60 days 
 ___ 250 nm cross-country along airways or ATC routing  
___ an instrument approach at each airport 
 ___ 3 different kinds of approaches 


Endorsements 
___ logbook endorsement for flight proficiency / practical test §61.65(a)(6) 
___ deficient items on knowledge test resolved 
___ application form 8710-1 

Flight Test Checklist
 ___completed 8710-1 application 
___knowledge test results 
___logbook 
___pilot certificate / medical 
___photo ID 
___aircraft logbooks 
___completed maintenance checklist
___POH/AFM 
___cross-country planning 
___current charts 
___current AF/D or equivalent 
___FAR/AIM 
___E6B (or equivalent) and plotter 
___flight timer
 ___instrument hood 
___examiner’s fee