Helicopter Study Guide

Practical Review for the Checkride

Weather Factors

What is a METAR?
August 16, 2018 by ETL

A METAR is an observation of current surface weather reported in a standard format.

METARs are issued on a regularly scheduled basis unless significant weather changes
have occurred. A special METAR (SPECI) can be issued at any time between routine
METAR reports. A typical METAR report contains the following information in sequential
order: type of report, station identifier, date and time of report, modifier, wind, visibility,
weather, sky condition, temperature and dew point, altimeter setting, Zulu time, remarks.

Example: METAR KGGG 161753Z AUTO 14021G26KT 3/4SM +TSRA BR BKN008

OVC012CB 18/17 A2970 RMK PRESFR

Explanation: Routine METAR for Gregg County Airport for the 16th day of the month at
1753Z automated source. Winds are 140 at 21 knots gusting to 26. Visibility is ³⁄ statute
mile. Thunderstorms with heavy rain and mist. Ceiling is broken at 800 feet, overcast at
1,200 feet with cumulonimbus clouds. Temperature 18 °C and dew point 17 °C.
Barometric pressure is 29.70Hg and the pressure is falling rapidly.

Reference(s):

FAA AC 00-45H Aviation Weather Services pg. 3-1

FAA-H-8083-25B Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge pg. 13-7

Other Aviation Weather Services

 Weather Factors, Weather Services

What is an Aviation Forecast Discussion?

August 16, 2018 by ETL

The Aviation Forecast Discussion is a text interruption from a meteorologist of the local
weather conditions.

Aviation Forecast Discussions (AFD) are issued by each weather service forecast office
(WFO) to describe the weather conditions within their region as it relates to the creation of
the TAF. These are useful for additional aviation related issues that cannot be encoded
into the TAF. The discussion also gives some reasoning behind the forecast. These are
generated roughly every 6 hours and corresponds to the release of the latest TAFs for that
office. The aviation forecast discussion explains the aviation forecast in greater detail
than a traditional TAF. It highlights possible hazards in the forecast that may not be
specifically mentioned in the TAF, possibly due to a low level of confidence that the event
will occur. The frequency of aviation discussion issuances varies between WFOs.

Reference(s):

https://aviationweather.gov/fcstdisc

Other Aviation Weather Services

Weather Factors, Weather Services

What is a PIREP?
August 16, 2018 by ETL

Pilot weather reports (PIREPS) are weather observations provided by pilots.

PIREPs provide valuable information regarding the conditions as they actually exist in the
air, which cannot be gathered from any other source. Pilots can confirm the height of
bases and tops of clouds, locations of wind shear and turbulence, and the location of
inflight icing. PIREPs are filed in a stand format: station identifier, type of report (routine or
urgent), time, altitude/flight level, aircraft type, sky cover/cloud layers, weather, air
temperature, wind, turbulence, icing and remarks. Below is an example.

KCMH UA /OV APE 230010/TM 1516/FL085/TP BE20/SK BKN065/WX FV03SM HZ FU/TA

20/TB LGT

Explanation: This a routine PIREP. The pilot is reporting from one zero miles southwest of
Appleton VOR; the time of the report is 1516 UTC; the altitude is eight thousand five
hundred; the aircraft type is a King Aire 200; the bases of a broken cloud layer is at six
thousand five hundred; flight visibility 3 miles with haze and smoke; the air temperature is
20 degrees Celsius and there is light turbulence.

Reference(s):

AIM 2018 7−1−20. Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs)

FAA AC 00-45H Aviation Weather Services pg. 3-6
FAA-H-8083-25B Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge pg. 13-8

Other Aviation Weather Services

Weather Factors, Weather Services

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About the Author

Bradley J. Fenster loves aviation and has a passion for teaching. Brad is the owner and the
primary helicopter instructor for ETL Aviation. Prior to learning to fly, Brad spent several
years in the military. Brad was a Special Warfare Combat Craft Crewman in the U.S. Navy
and he was also a Ranger-qualified infantry officer in the Army. Brad is a father and lives in
Lexington, Kentucky with his beautiful wife and two cats.

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