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Question 1. What does the “SPECI” report type indicate? A) Routine scheduled observation B) Automated observation only C) Unscheduled special observation for significant weather changes D) A correction to a previous METAR Answer: C Explanation: “SPECI” is issued when weather conditions change significantly between routine METARs, providing timely updates.
Question 2. In the ICAO identifier “KJFK”, what does the prefix “K” denote? A) A Canadian station B) A station in the contiguous United States C) A Pacific island station D) A military installation Answer: B Explanation: ICAO codes beginning with “K” are assigned to airports in the contiguous United States.
Question 3. How is the time “231530Z” interpreted in a METAR? A) 23 UTC, 15 minutes past the hour on the 30th day of the month B) 23 UTC, 15 minutes past the hour on the 30th day of the month C) 23 UTC, 15 minutes past the hour on the 31st day of the month D) 23 UTC, 15 minutes past the hour on the 13th day of the month
Answer: B Explanation: “DDHHMMZ” means day‑of‑month (23), hour (15), minute (30) in Zulu (UTC) time.
Question 4. What does the modifier “AUTO” mean when it appears in a METAR? A) The report has been corrected after transmission B) The observation was generated by an automated system without human intervention C) The station is temporarily closed D) The wind data are estimated Answer: B Explanation: “AUTO” indicates a fully automated observation with no human input.
Question 5. A METAR contains the group “COR”. What does this signify? A) The report is a corrected version of a previously transmitted METAR B) The wind direction is variable C) Visibility is below 1 SM D) The station is reporting a special event Answer: A Explanation: “COR” denotes that the METAR corrects errors in an earlier report.
Question 6. Standard routine METARs in the United States are issued at which intervals? A) Every 5 minutes
Explanation: “G” followed by a number gives the maximum gust speed in knots.
Question 9. When a METAR shows “VRB05KT”, what condition is being reported? A) Variable wind direction with a speed of 5 knots B) Very rapid breezes of 5 knots C) A wind from 5° at 5 knots D) A gusting wind up to 5 knots Answer: A Explanation: “VRB” denotes wind direction is variable, usually because the wind is light (≤ 5 kt).
Question 10. What does the wind group “00000KT” convey? A) Calm conditions with no measurable wind B) A data transmission error C) Wind speed of zero knots from a variable direction D) Winds are below reporting threshold Answer: A Explanation: “00000KT” is the standard code for a calm wind (no measurable direction or speed).
Question 11. A remark reads “PK WND 1420/18”. What information is provided? A) Peak wind from 140° at 18 kt occurring at 20 minutes past the hour B) Peak wind from 142° at 18 kt occurring at 20 minutes past the hour
C) Peak wind from 140° at 18 kt occurring at 12 minutes past the hour D) Peak wind from 142° at 18 kt occurring at 12 minutes past the hour Answer: B Explanation: “PK WND” gives direction (142°), speed (18 kt), and time of occurrence (20 minutes past the hour).
Question 12. A METAR reports “1/2SM” for visibility. What does this mean? A) Visibility of one half statute mile (0.5 SM) B) Visibility of two half‑statute miles (1 SM) C) Visibility of one‑quarter mile D) Visibility of five‑eighths of a mile Answer: A Explanation: “1/2SM” is a fractional visibility indicating 0.5 statute miles.
Question 13. What does the prefix “M” before a visibility value (e.g., “M1/4SM”) signify? A) Visibility is missing B) Visibility is less than the stated amount C) Visibility is more than the stated amount D) Visibility is measured in meters Answer: B Explanation: “M” stands for “minus”, indicating visibility is less than the reported value.
Answer: A Explanation: “U” indicates the RVR is increasing (upward trend).
Question 17. A METAR contains “R22R/0300D”. What does the “D” indicate? A) The runway visual range is decreasing B) The runway is closed C) The visibility is dubious D) The runway is designated for departures only Answer: A Explanation: “D” denotes a downward trend in RVR.
Question 18. When a METAR includes “TWR VIS 2 1/2SM”, what is being reported? A) Surface visibility is 2.5 SM, tower visibility is not available B) Tower (ATC) reported visibility of 2½ SM, which may differ from surface visibility C) The runway visual range is 2.5 SM D) Visibility is 2 SM for the tower and ½ SM for the surface Answer: B Explanation: “TWR VIS” provides the visibility observed by the control tower, which can differ from the surface observation.
Question 19. What does the intensity qualifier “+” before a weather code (e.g., “+RA”) represent? A) Light intensity B) Moderate intensity C) Heavy intensity D) Very light intensity Answer: C Explanation: “+” indicates heavy (or greater) intensity of the associated weather phenomenon.
Question 20. The proximity code “VC” in a weather group (e.g., “VCFG”) means: A) Weather occurring directly overhead B) Weather occurring in the vicinity, within 5‑ 10 SM of the station C) Weather observed only at the runway D) Weather that is expected later in the forecast period Answer: B Explanation: “VC” stands for “in the vicinity”, meaning the phenomenon is within roughly 5‑ 10 SM but not directly over the station.
Question 21. Which descriptor indicates a thunderstorm with rain? A) SH B) TS C) FZ D) BL
A) Few clouds covering 1‑ 2 oktas at 2,000 ft AGL B) Few clouds covering 1‑ 2 oktas at 20,000 ft AGL C) Few clouds covering 1‑ 2 oktas at 200 ft AGL D) A broken layer at 2,000 ft Answer: A Explanation: “FEW” = 1‑ 2 oktas, “ 020 ” = 2,000 ft above ground level.
Question 25. What does “OVC080” indicate? A) Overcast cloud layer at 8,000 ft AGL covering the entire sky B) Overcast cloud layer at 800 ft AGL covering the entire sky C) Broken clouds at 8,000 ft AGL D) Few clouds at 8,000 ft AGL Answer: A Explanation: “OVC” means 8/8 coverage (overcast), and “080” denotes 8,000 ft.
Question 26. If a METAR reports “VV001”, what is being described? A) Vertical visibility of 100 ft, indicating an indefinite ceiling B) A broken layer at 1,000 ft C) Visibility of 1 SM vertically D) A ceiling of 1,000 ft with scattered clouds Answer: A Explanation: “VV” indicates vertical visibility; “001” = 100 ft, used when the ceiling is obscured.
Question 27. The cloud group “SCT045CB” conveys which of the following? A) Scattered cumulus clouds at 4,500 ft B) Scattered cumulonimbus clouds at 4,500 ft C) Scattered clouds with a ceiling of 4,500 ft and a CB base D) A broken layer of CB clouds at 45,000 ft Answer: B Explanation: “SCT” = scattered, “045” = 4,500 ft, “CB” = cumulonimbus.
Question 28. A temperature group reads “08/M04”. What are the temperature and dew point? A) Temperature +8 °C, Dew point – 4 °C B) Temperature – 8 °C, Dew point +4 °C C) Temperature +8 °C, Dew point +4 °C D) Temperature – 8 °C, Dew point – 4 °C Answer: A Explanation: The first value is temperature; a leading “M” before the second value indicates a negative dew point.
Question 29. In a METAR, “A3012” corresponds to which altimeter setting? A) 30.12 inHg B) 3.012 inHg
Question 32. What does the automated station type “AO2” signify? A) The station has a precipitation discriminator and can report rain/snow intensity B) The station lacks a precipitation discriminator C) The station reports only manual observations D) The station is a military-only site Answer: A Explanation: “AO2” stations are equipped with a precipitation discriminator, allowing them to differentiate rain, snow, etc.
Question 33. A remark reads “SLP982”. What sea‑level pressure does this encode? A) 998.2 mb B) 998.2 hPa C) 9982 mb D) 98.2 mb Answer: A Explanation: “SLP” uses the last three digits, adding a leading “9” if the first digit is ≤ 9; thus 982 → 998.2 mb.
Question 34. The precipitation group “P0015” indicates what amount of liquid precipitation? A) 0.015 inch in the past hour
B) 1.5 mm in the past hour C) 0.015 mm in the past hour D) 15 mm in the past hour Answer: A Explanation: “P” reports liquid precipitation in hundredths of an inch; “0015” = 0.015 inch.
Question 35. In a METAR, “4/002” appears in the remarks. What does it represent? A) Snow depth of 4 cm and a 2 cm increase in the last 24 hours B) Snow depth of 4 inches and a 2 inch increase C) Snow depth of 4 mm and a 2 mm increase D) Snow depth of 4 cm and a total of 2 cm of snow in the past 24 hours Answer: D Explanation: The first number is total snow depth in centimeters; the second is the amount that fell in the last 24 hours.
Question 36. The temperature/dew‑point precision group “T02560123” decodes to which temperature and dew point? A) Temperature +25.6 °C, Dew point +12.3 °C B) Temperature – 25.6 °C, Dew point – 12.3 °C C) Temperature +2.56 °C, Dew point +1.23 °C D) Temperature +25.6 °C, Dew point – 12.3 °C Answer: A
Question 39. A pressure tendency group reads “51112”. How should this be interpreted? A) Pressure rose 1.12 mb in the past 3 hours B) Pressure fell 1.12 mb in the past 3 hours C) Pressure remained steady; 1.12 mb change expected in next 3 hours D) Pressure rose 11.2 mb in the past 3 hours Answer: A Explanation: The first digit “5” indicates a rise of 1 mb to 2 mb; the following four digits “1112” give the change in tenths of a millibar, so 1.12 mb increase.
Question 40. When a METAR shows “M” in place of temperature (e.g., “M /M02”), what does the “M” indicate? A) Missing data for that element B) Negative temperature value C) Means “moderate” intensity D) Manual observation Answer: A Explanation: A solitary “M” (or “/”) is used when the data are missing or not reported.
Question 41. Which of the following would be considered an impossible METAR? A) “METAR KXYZ 121200Z 18010KT 5SM - RA SCT020 BKN050 12/10 A3000 RMK AO2” B) “METAR KXYZ 121200Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/M02 A2992 RMK AO1” C) “METAR KXYZ 121200Z 27012KT 1/2SM +RA OVC010 02/01 A2985 RMK AO2” D) “METAR KXYZ 121200Z 09008KT 3SM FG SKC 05/04 A3010 RMK AO1”
Answer: C Explanation: Heavy rain (“+RA”) cannot occur with a ceiling of “OVC010” (10 ft) because the sky would be a solid low ceiling, making heavy rain unlikely and contradictory; also a ceiling of 10 ft would be reported as “VV” rather than “OVC”.
Question 42. According to ICAO flight‑category definitions, a METAR with a ceiling of 1,500 ft and visibility of 4 SM falls into which category? A) VFR B) MVFR C) IFR D) LIFR Answer: B Explanation: MVFR is defined as ceiling between 1,000‑3,000 ft and/or visibility between 3‑ 5 SM.
Question 43. A runway is designated “09R”. The wind is reported as “15012KT”. What is the cross‑wind component? A) 6.5 kt B) 10.4 kt C) 12 kt D) 7.0 kt Answer: B Explanation: Runway heading = 090°. Wind direction = 150°. Relative angle = 60°. Cross‑wind = 12 kt × sin 60 ° ≈ 10.4 kt.
D) Runway visual range of 2,000 ft for runway “AB” (runway identifier “AB”) Answer: D Explanation: “RA” indicates runway visual range, followed by the runway identifier (“B20” indicates runway “AB” with a value of 2,000 ft). The standard format is “Rxx/xxxx”.
Question 47. In a METAR, the group “VCSH” would be decoded as: A) Light showers in the vicinity B) Heavy showers directly overhead C) Small hail in the vicinity D) Snow showers in the vicinity Answer: A Explanation: “VC” = vicinity; “SH” = showers; the absence of an intensity qualifier implies light.
Question 48. A METAR reports “+TSRA”. Which weather condition is being described? A) Heavy thunderstorm rain B) Light thunderstorm rain C) Moderate thunderstorm rain D) Heavy rain without thunder Answer: A Explanation: “+” indicates heavy intensity; “TSRA” combines thunderstorm and rain.
Question 49. The sky condition “SKC” is equivalent to which of the following? A) No cloud cover, clear skies B) Few clouds at 1,000 ft C) Scattered clouds at 2,000 ft D) Broken clouds at 3,000 ft Answer: A Explanation: “SKC” (or “CLR”) denotes a sky clear of clouds.
Question 50. If a METAR contains “BKN015///”, what does the “///” represent? A) Unknown cloud type for the layer at 1,500 ft B) No cloud type, indicating clear sky above the layer C) Missing cloud height data D) The layer is a cumulonimbus cloud Answer: A Explanation: “///” is used when the cloud type (e.g., CB, TCU) is not reported or unknown.
Question 51. A METAR includes “R03/0200D”. What is the runway identifier and the meaning of “D”? A) Runway 03, RVR decreasing to 2,000 ft B) Runway 03, RVR decreasing to 200 ft C) Runway 03, RVR decreasing to 2,000 ft, “D” indicates a down‑trend D) Runway 03, RVR decreasing to 200 ft, “D” indicates a down‑trend
