Syllabus for Examination for Issue of Commercial Pilot’s Licence - Aviation Meteorology (DGCA)

THE SYLLABUS OF AVIATION METEOROLOGY IS AS FOLLOWS :

1.1 The Atmosphere

a) Composition, extent, vertical division

b) Temperature

- vertical distribution of temperature

- transfer of heat: solar and terrestrial radiation, conduction, convection, advection and turbulence

- lapse rate, stability and instability

- development of inversions, types of inversions

- temperature near the earth’s surface, surface effects, diurnal

- variation, effect of clouds, effect of wind

c) Atmospheric pressure

- barometric pressure, isobars

- pressure variation with height, contours (isohypses)

- reduction of pressure to mean sea level, QFF

- surface low/upper-air low, surface high/upper-air high-precipitation

d) Atmospheric density : interrelationship of pressure, temperature and density

e) International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)

f) Altimetry

- pressure altitude, true altitude

- height, altitude, flight level

- altimeter settings: QNH, QFE, 1013.25 hPa

- effect of accelerated airflow due to topography

1.2 Wind

a) Definition and measurement

b) Primary cause of wind

- primary cause of wind, pressure gradient, coriolis force, gradient wind

- relationship between isobars and wind

c) General circulation

- general circulation around the globe

d) Turbulence

- Turbulence and gustiness, types of turbulence

- origin and location of turbulence

e) Variation of wind with height

- variation of wind in the friction layer

f) Local winds: Anabatic and katabatic winds, land and sea breezes, venturi effects

g) Standing waves

- origin of standing waves

1.3 Thermodynamics

a) Humidity

- water vapour in the atmosphere

- temperature / dew point, mixing ratio, relative humidity

1.4 Clouds and Fog

a) Clouds formation and description

- cloud types, cloud classification

- influence of inversions on cloud development

b) Fog, mist, haze

- radiation fog

- advection fog

- steaming fog

- frontal fog

- orographic fog

  

1.5 Precipitation

a) Development of precipitation

- development of precipitation

- types of precipitation

- type of precipitation, relationship with cloud types

1.6 Airmasses and Fronts

a) Types of airmasses

- description, factors, affecting the properties of an airmass

- classification of airmasses, modifications of airmasses, areas of origin

b) Fronts

- boundaries between airmasses (fronts), general situation, geographic differentiation

- warm front, associated clouds and weather

- cold front, associated clouds and weather

- Warm sector, associated clouds and weather

- weather behind the cold front

- occlusions, associated clouds and weather

- stationary front, associated clouds and weather

- movement of fronts and pressure systems, life cycle

1.7 Pressure Systems

a) Location of the principal pressure areas

b) Anticyclone: Anticyclones, types, general properties, cold and warm anticyclones, ridges and wedges, subsidence

c) Non frontal depressions

- thermal, orographic – and secondary depressions, cold air pools, trough

d) Tropical revolving storms

1.8 Climatology

a) Typical weather situations in mid-latitudes

- westerly waves

- high pressure area

- uniform pressure pattern

b) Local seasonal weather and wind

- SE & NE Monsoon, Pre-Monsoon, Northwesters, Kalbaisakhi

- Western Disturbance

1.9 Flight Hazards

a) Icing

- weather conditions for ice accretion, topographical effects

b) Turbulence

- effects on flight, avoidance

c) Windshear

- definition of windshear

- weather conditions for windshear

- effects on flight

d) Thunderstorms

- structure of thunderstorms, squall lines, life history, storm cells, electricity in the atmosphere, static charges

- conditions for and process of development, forecast, location, type specification

- Thunderstorm avoidance, ground/airborne radar, storm scope

- development and effect of down bursts

- development of lightning discharge and effect of lightning strike on aircraft and flight execution

e) Low and high level inversions: Influence on aircraft performance

f) Hazards in mountainous areas

- influence of terrain on clouds and precipitation, frontal passage

- vertical movements, mountain waves, windshear, turbulence, ice accretion

- development and effect of valley inversions

g) Visibility reducing phenomena

- reduction of visibility caused by mist, smoke, dust, sand and precipitation

- reduction of visibility caused by low drifting and blowing snow

1.10. Meteorological Information

a) Observation

- On the ground – surface wind, visibility and runway visual range, transmissometers; Clouds – type, amount, height of base and tops, movement; Weather – including all types of precipitation, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, atmospheric pressure

- aircraft observations and reporting, data link systems, PIREPS

b) Weather Charts

- significant weather charts

- surface charts

- upper air charts

- symbols and signs on analysed and prognostic charts

c) Information for Flight Planning

- Aeronautical codes: METAR, TAF, SPECI, SIGMET, SNOWTAM, runway report

- Meteorological broadcasts for aviation: VOLMET, ATIS, HFVOLMET, ACARS

- Content and use of pre-flight meteorological documents

- Meteorological briefing and advice

- measuring and warning systems for low level windshear, inversion

- Special meteorological warnings