PPL Meteorology

[172sMatt]

At the risk of being flamed I post this question: I am having trouble with the met section of the ppl writen test. I have been through the ground school twice for these classes, read from the ground up and now I have bought the air command weather manual. Is there anything else I can read (or watch) that will help me to understand this stuff? I seem to learn better by watching than reading.

Thanks in advance

[Deltawidget]

YouTube videos!!! There are tonnes of vids from und and king schools that may be helpful

Also , for more practical learning you can Print off the gfa's, upper winds and call flight services in off peak hours (after 9 or 10 pm)

Tell them you're planning a vfr flight early the next morning and that ur a student. Have them go through a full wx brief. It's helpful to hear what they are seeing on what can be Intimidating new charts/info for ppl students.

Goodluck

[FlyGy]

Where exactly are your weaknesses? Interpreting METARS? GFAs?

[172sMatt]

YouTube! Why didn't I think of that? Also I like the idea of calling after peak hours to fss. Interpretation isn't a problem it seems to more of a memorization thing, cloud types and air masses. Also seem to struggle with fronts and pressure regions that sort of thing. I have been trying to watch the weather channel every chance i get. Sports? Nah weather channel....I'm hooked!

[JungianJugular]

Hey Matt,

Try "Weather For Dummies". I have it, picked it up from an aviation store and everything is explained in crystal clear language for dummies like me.


JJ

[trampbike]

I have bought the air command weather manual.

Now you need to read it.


Seriously, it's a very good book, and since interpreting GFAs and METARS isn't what causes you trouble, you'll find everything you need in it.

[moocow]

I personally found FTGU and Air Command Weather Manual to be lacking and found ASA PM2 Ground School to a better book.

[careerpilot?]

One of the things that helped me was to check the METARS, TAFs and GFAs every day, then based on the theory learned in my study (which didn't make alot of sense at the time!) I would look outside and see how it applies real-world, then try to predict what is coming or what is causing the current weather. I would even go so far as to decide whether that day would be a go or no-go day based on those conditions and the forecast. (I still do this often...)

This helped me in several ways: first, it helps with decision making, as each day I evaluate whether I made a good call or not without having to experience the consequences if I'm wrong.

More to the point of your question, it helps you learn weather patterns - when you see a front, or a low/high, or a trough on the GFA, you can see the effect it has on the weather around you and how systems develop. You will eventually get to the point where, on a hot humid day when you see a line of thunderstorms approaching from the west, you'll know there's likely a cold front approaching without even needing to check the GFA.

Finally, as you've mentioned cloud types are part of the difficulty, when a GFA or METAR tells you what kind of cloud is out there (Cb, ACC, etc...) then look outside and see what it looks like! Or better yet, look up first and decide what kind you think it is, then verify with the METAR / GFA. I found the pictures and descriptions in FGU to be less than stellar, so seeing how it all works in the real world was very valuable, to me at least.

[trampbike]

Very good advices careerpilot?.

I would also suggest studying the model maps at different levels of the atmosphere on wunderground.com. It's highly detailed and very instructive.
PM me if you want to know what's important to look for at each level (ex: jet streaks at 300mb/200mb, vorticity advection at 500mb etc)

I personally found FTGU and Air Command Weather Manual to be lacking and found ASA PM2 Ground School to a better book.

Besides METARS and GFAs, what did you think was lacking in Air Command Weather?

[old_man]

Besides METARS and GFAs, what did you think was lacking in Air Command Weather?

Covered in the Air Command Weather Manual Update.

[172sMatt]

Thanks again guys! It is starting to make sence to me now. I print out all relevent material from navcanada and look outside and compare what I am seeing to what is on paper. I have also called fss and got a briefing for the next day. That coupled with the Air Weather Command and youtube has me ready to write i do believe. Pratice exam tomorrow and I will see how that goes. With any luck tc exam on friday!

Thanks!

[olorin]

looking for any suggestions for courses ( In Saskatchewan,Alberta or Manitoba) to prepare for the Canadian CPL exam/exams.....maybe someone is doing what Mr.Shearing did years ago....
Thanyou in advance for any help.

[Gear Jerker]

YouTube! Why didn't I think of that? Also I like the idea of calling after peak hours to fss. Interpretation isn't a problem it seems to more of a memorization thing, cloud types and air masses. Also seem to struggle with fronts and pressure regions that sort of thing. I have been trying to watch the weather channel every chance i get. Sports? Nah weather channel....I'm hooked!

Don't have time to do a long post atm, but I'll give you some pointers with remembering cloud types.

Think of the origin of the words involved, and their meaning. Once broken down it's quite simple.

First, basics:

Cirrus, meaning high cloud. Alto, meaning mid level cloud. Low cloud will be stratus, meaning layer cloud, or cumulus, meaning heap cloud (think cumulative), or a derivation thereof.

Top to bottom, now:

Cirrus, meaning high cloud, generally around FL180 and up. Cirrostratus, meaning high layer cloud. Cirrocumulus, meaning high heap type cloud (but you should be thinking of weather causing processes, so some minor high level convection).

Alto, meaning mid cloud. You will see: Altostratus, mid level layer cloud, Altocumulus, mid level heap cloud, or Altocumulus Castellanus, mid level heap type cloud which has started to build vertically. One of the clouds of vertical development.

Stratus, meaning low level layer cloud, cumulus, meaning low level heap cloud, stratocumulus, meaning low level cumulus layers, often caused by mechanical turbulence. Have a look at some pictures/videos to know what I'm talking about here. Nimbostratus, meaning low level layer cloud which is giving off precipitation. Stratus fractus, meaning fractured stratus clouds, again have a look in google images/youtube. Cumulus fractus, fractured cumulus clouds. Sf and Cf indicate some type/severity of turbulence, as there has been visible moisture sheared off a cloud.

Cumulonimbus, meaning cumulus cloud which is giving off precipitation. A thunderstorm is always a cumulonimbus. A cumulonimbus is not necessarily always a thunderstorm, but it usually is, and it is always a cloud to show some respect. A CB occurs when a Towering Cumulus (Cumulus cloud which has started to build vertically) keeps building vertically until it encounters a sufficiently strong inversion, usually at the tropopause, and the top starts to flare out sideways, giving it the "anvil" shape.

The big thing when studying met is not to just read stuff, but to actually work your way through it and develop an understanding. When I say work your way through it, I don't mean just writing notes, but in your mind, working through the various weather causing processes and mechanisms and asking yourself questions and coming up with answers. Memorizing shit might get you through a TC exam, but learning it will keep you safe, and help make you a proficient pilot.

[swixtt]

good post 32... i'm hitting the books again to refresh what i have forgotten:)

[Taiser]

There is a GREAT free app on the iPhone/pad/pod called "AeroWeather" it puts out both METAR and TAF weather in raw format then you can hit the "Decode" button and read it in plain english!

[townville]

When was the Air Command Weather Manual last updated (edited) ?
One shop sells it at 37$, 2008 edition. Is there a newer version ?
tks !

[JungianJugular]

There is a GREAT free app on the iPhone/pad/pod called "AeroWeather" it puts out both METAR and TAF weather in raw format then you can hit the "Decode" button and read it in plain english!

On the NavCanada website too!

[MissKonception]

Another thing that you can do if you're struggling with the met portion is go through the From the Ground Up and make your own set of study notes complete with pictures and analogies that make sense to you. You can be as ridiculous or as sensible as you want, they're your personal notes. When I did this to study for my CPL I found it helped tons and now I have a good set of notes to pass on to friends, students etc. Then again I am a self-confessed weather geek...
A document worth taking a peek at is the Nav Canada Weather Services Guide, They do a really good job of breaking it down into usable terms and you know that all of the information there is written the same that it will be on your exam.
http://www.navcanada.ca/ContentDefiniti ... ide_EN.pdf

[aircommandwm]

here is a link to the most recent weather manual.

Air Command Weather Manual

https://mega.co.nz/#!F4VjyYKJ!WtkyBEitO ... zXVab4B7Ag