Cessna 172S Steam Weather — PPL Oral Exam Questions

DPE oral questions · weather

9 questions a DPE may ask in this section

1. Question 1 · PA.I.C.K1

   What weather reports and forecasts would you review before a cross-country flight?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • METAR — current conditions at reporting stations
   • TAF — terminal aerodrome forecast for airports (24-30 hour period)
   • Area Forecast (FA) or Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA) — general area weather
   • Winds and Temperatures Aloft (FB/FD) — winds at altitude for flight planning
   • PIREPs — pilot reports of actual conditions
   • SIGMETs and AIRMETs — significant meteorological information
   • Prog Charts — weather depiction and significant weather

   SourcePHAK FAA-H-8083-25C Chapter 13; FAR/AIM 7-1

2. Question 2 · PA.I.C.K2

   What are the conditions required for VFR flight in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet AGL during the day?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • 1 statute mile visibility
   • Clear of clouds (no specific cloud clearance requirement — just clear of clouds)

   Common wrong answers

   • Confusing with Class E or Class B requirements
   • Adding a cloud clearance requirement that doesn't exist for Class G below 1,200 day

   Source14 CFR 91.155; PHAK Chapter 15

3. Question 3 · PA.I.C.K2

   What are the VFR cloud clearance and visibility requirements in Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • 3 statute miles visibility
   • 500 feet below clouds
   • 1,000 feet above clouds
   • 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds

   Source14 CFR 91.155; PHAK Chapter 15

4. Question 4 · PA.I.C.K3

   What causes a sea breeze and how might it affect your flight operations?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • Sea breeze caused by differential heating: land heats faster than water during the day
   • Cool air flows inland from the water to replace rising warm air over land
   • Effect: onshore wind flow during the day, typically in the afternoon
   • May cause convective activity inland
   • Landing direction at coastal airports may shift during the day

   SourcePHAK FAA-H-8083-25C Chapter 12

5. Question 5 · PA.I.C.K3

   What are the characteristics of a stable atmosphere? An unstable atmosphere?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • Stable: resists vertical displacement, smooth air, stratiform clouds, poor visibility (haze/fog), steady precipitation
   • Unstable: promotes vertical movement, turbulent/rough air, cumuliform clouds, good visibility (except in precipitation), showery precipitation

   SourcePHAK FAA-H-8083-25C Chapter 12

6. Question 6 · PA.I.C.K3

   What conditions are required for thunderstorm formation?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • Sufficient moisture — high humidity
   • Lifting action — cold front, orographic lifting, surface heating
   • Unstable lapse rate — atmosphere that promotes vertical development

   SourcePHAK FAA-H-8083-25C Chapter 12

7. Question 7 · PA.I.C.K3

   What is a SIGMET and when is it issued?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • SIGMET = Significant Meteorological Information
   • Issued for weather hazardous to ALL aircraft
   • Convective SIGMET: severe or extreme turbulence, severe icing, tornadoes, embedded thunderstorms, hail ≥3/4 inch, squall lines
   • Non-convective SIGMET: severe icing not related to thunderstorms, severe turbulence, dust storms, volcanic ash, tropical cyclones
   • AIRMETs are for lighter aircraft or less severe conditions

   SourceFAR/AIM 7-1-6; PHAK Chapter 13

8. Question 8 · PA.I.C

   The dewpoint spread is only 2 degrees. Name three types of fog we might encounter today.

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • Radiation fog
   • Advection fog
   • Upslope fog
   • Steam fog
   • Precipitation-induced fog
   • Any 3 acceptable

   SourcePHAK Chapter 12; ACS Task I.C

9. Question 9 · PA.I.C

   You call 1-800-WX-BRIEF. What are the major sections of a standard briefing?

   What a DPE expects to hear

   • Adverse conditions
   • VFR Not Recommended advisory
   • Synopsis
   • Current conditions
   • Enroute forecast
   • Destination forecast
   • Winds aloft
   • NOTAMs

   SourceAviation Weather Handbook Chapter 3; ACS Task I.C