Category: Flight Training

The sky is a constantly evolving space, with environmental conditions having a significant impact on aviation and pilot decision-making. Pilots are trained to be able to make informed decisions about their flights, avoiding dangerous weather conditions. To effectively do this, pilots need to have a clear understanding of the basics of meteorology, how to read weather maps, and how to utilise weather charts. Here, we’ll cover weather forecasting for pilots: understanding weather patterns and avoiding dangerous situations.

What Should I Be Able to Understand On A Weather Map?

You need to be able to understand the main features of a weather map, and what they mean. This includes:

Isobars

Isobars are the plain lines curving across the map. They connect points with the same mean sea level air pressure (weight per square area of air above). Some isobars have numbers on them showing this value in hectopascals (hPa).

High and Low Pressure Systems

The number shown on high and low pressure systems indicate the central mean sea level pressure. Standard pressure at sea level is defined as 1013 hPa, but there’s no specific value that defines high vs low pressure—it’s all relative to the surrounding environment. A typical high is around 1020 hPa or higher, while a shallow low is usually above 1000 hPa, a moderate low 980–1000 hPa, and a deep or intense low below 980 hPa. An intense cyclone could even have a central low pressure of around 960 hPa or lower.

Fronts

A cold front is the boundary between warm air and relatively cooler air. On the weather map it appears as a blue line with small blue triangles (originally chosen because they look like little icicles). On the weather map warm fronts appear as a red line with semi-circles (originally chosen because they look like a sun rising bringing warmth). Warm fronts progressively displace cool air with warmer air. Just like a cold front, the temperature change can be quite large once a warm front moves through, although it tends to happen more gradually than a cold front.

Troughs

A trough appears on the weather map as a dashed blue line on the chart. It is an elongated area where atmospheric pressure is low relative to its immediate surroundings. Like cold fronts, troughs separate two different air masses (usually more moist air on one side and drier air on the other).

You can read about these basics on the Bureau of Meteorology website, here.

How Do I Avoid Dangerous Weather Situations?

Weather can change quickly. This means that you should never fly in weather you’re unfamiliar with, and you should never fly unless you’re sure that it is safe to do so. To achieve this, you should always rely on as much weather information as possible. We have covered the main weather sources below for you.

Above all, however, you should always check your information and plans with a flying instructor if you have any doubts or questions at all. Similarly, in aviation you may fly through a variety of weather patterns and geographic regions in a single flight. This means it’s imperative that you have correct and current weather information, as well as a thorough understanding of the information.

Where To Access Aviation Weather Information

In order to make informed aviation weather decisions, you’ll first need to ensure you have adequate information and resources to rely upon. Here are some common sources of information that you can refer to. However, note that the most informed decisions will be founded upon multiple sources of information, rather than a singular source.

NAIPs and Airservices

The NAIPs system is overseen by Airservices Australia, the official provider of the Aeronautical Information Service in Australia. This includes the delivery of the Bureau’s aviation meteorological products. Therefore, all information for the purpose of flight planning should be obtained from Airservices Australia.

Radar, Satellite and Weather Maps

Radar, satellite imagery and weather maps are an important part of understanding weather patterns. These visualisation tools help you to understand the behaviour of weather patterns. If you use these tools, you can learn about the weather before, during and after your planned flight. By understanding the weather patterns, you are thinking beyond just the weather forecast, which means you’ll have a more informed understanding of the potential weather you’ll cross.

A mean sea-level pressure analysis, for example, will show you the highs, lows, troughs and fronts. This means you don’t just know what weather is forecast, but you’ll understand why.

Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Aviation Weather Service provides aviation users with meteorological information necessary for safe and efficient civil aviation operations. The service includes the provision of observations, forecasts, warnings and advisories, and is provided within the technical and regulatory framework of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Grid Point Wind and Temperature Charts

A grid-point wind and temperature (GPWT) forecast provides a text-based display of forecast wind speed and direction and temperature forecasts at specified heights above mean sea level, presented in a gridded format.

Graphical Area Forecasts (GAFs)

A Graphical Area Forecast is a combination of graphical and textual information. This replaces the ARFOR (area forecast) used previously. The graphic is divided into areas that share common weather characteristics, which are detailed in an associated table.

AWIS Services

AWIS services are available at most major airports in Australia via phone or radio. These services provide live aviation weather information and are on a monitored service. An AWIS service won’t allow you to plan very far ahead as it reports current conditions. However, it will help you confirm the weather ahead of you, particularly to assist with runway selection, visibility, and conditions for landing. You will find AWIS information in the ERSA.

Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Resources

Your EFB, such as OzRunways or AvPlan, integrates into aviation weather data to assist with your flight planning. You should familiarise yourself with your EFB to ensure you know what information is available to you, how the visualisers work, and any limitations of the information (e.g. date and time ranges of validity).

Confirming Weather Forecasts

Any experience pilots will tell you that they always refer to more than one source of weather information. There will be times in your flying career where weather will change beyond the forecast and you may be faced with a decision to make about your planned flight. Beyond the documented weather information we’ve covered, it’s important to understand that you also have additional tools available to you to help inform your choice.

See For Yourself

Regardless of what the weather says, you should always review the live weather yourself – look out the window before flying, and always observe the weather as you fly. You may observe exactly what the weather forecast had told you. If so, that’s great! However, occasionally the weather might appear contrary to the forecast, which is why it’s important to observe yourself.

Aviation Cameras

Many Australian airports have fixed, live weather cameras in place. They are useful as a reference point. However, you should never solely rely on them for flight planning purposes. They should only ever be a secondary or tertiary tool to assist your overall weather and flight planning.

Call Ahead to Confirm

If you’re still unsure of the weather, there is no harm in jumping on the radio or phone to call someone at the destination you’re flying to. There’s not much point calling a day or two before, if you’re looking for live weather information. Again, this shouldn’t be to plan your flight, but it can be useful to confirm the decisions you are making.

Take note, however, that these tools are not official weather forecasting tools. They are merely an additional reference point to help understand the weather you’re flying into. For example, you might ‘see for yourself that your local area appears clear to fly – but if the weather reported an inbound storm, you should definitely reconsider flying.

What Else Should I Know?

We hope this helps you answer some FAQs about aviation medical examinations in Australia!

We’ve also compiled a few useful posts that might help you out. Where ever you are on your aviation journey, the team at Learn To Fly Melbourne are here to help. We want you to pass your exams and have an excellent career, so please reach out if we can help support you through your course and studies!

Chat with one of our flight training specialists to get your pilot training off the ground. Email [email protected] or go to https://drift.me/learntofly/meeting to book a meeting and school tour.

Learning to fly is extremely exciting and rewarding, but there are theory exam checkpoints along the way that are crucial to becoming a great pilot. If exams aren’t your forte, you don’t need to worry! We have summarised everything you need to know here, and we have more helpful content coming your way.

Before we get into our pilot theory exam preparation tips, there’s one key lesson that you should remember before you attempt your pilot theory exams. If you don’t pass an exam, it is not a failure. In fact, it’s an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to improve, to become a better pilot and to master the knowledge that will accelerate you into your recreational or commercial pilot career.

Many pilots will tell you about the errors that they’ve made along the way and the improvements that they caused.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance it means that you genuinely care about your pilot theory exam results. That’s the first sign that you’re on the way to becoming a great pilot. Now, let’s get you ready for your pilot theory exam preparation.

Lesson 1: It can be done!

Many pilots have flown the skies before you. Do you know what this means? It means that the theory exams are passable, and you can do them too. The first step in exam preparation is knowing that the exams aren’t there to trip you up, but to make sure you know your stuff. If others can do it, so can you.

Setup Your Exam Preparation Timetable

Treat exam preparation like it’s your job. You can set up a weekly timetable, with daily tasks to check off. This helps you achieve a few things. Firstly, it creates a structure for your learning so that you’re not cramming everything into a last-minute panic. Secondly, it breaks things up into smaller tasks so that the study and preparation aren’t so overwhelming.

Finally, it also breaks up your study blocks into reasonable amounts of time. One or two hours of study per day will mean you are much more focused during your study, which helps with information retention. If you try to study too much, for too long, you’ll exhaust your mind and struggle to remember details.

Repetition Is Key

One of the best learning techniques is repetition, so use it to your advantage. A great way to do this in your pilot theory exam preparation is by using practice questions and exams to repeat the process of comprehending a question and forming the correct answer.

In addition to this, you should record your results on the questions and practice exams. Each time you attempt them, you’ll note your progress and improvement. You will also notice the areas where you might need more work. Identifying these areas means you can focus your time improve where you need a bit more practice.

Similarly, you should start to time yourself through the exams. You should be aiming to pass successfully within the allocated timeframe.

Know Your Exam Resources

Are you familiar with the tools and resources you can take for your exams? Do you know how to use them and find information quickly? Some exams have different tools and permitted materials. This can also change slightly if you’re undertaking an internal exam with your school, or if you’re undertaking a CASA exam.

Most pilots agree that you should pick your one set of study materials, and stick with them. Whatever the case, find out what you’re allowed to take into the exam and make sure you’re using those resources the entire way through your exam preparation.

When it comes to exam day, you will have mastered your resources and you’ll be well-positioned to find information and answer questions in a timely manner. When you can do this, it makes the exams much less stressful – you’ll know how to use your tools and equipment (such as a flight computer), and you’ll know where to look to answer your questions.

Know When To Ask For Help

If you’re finding some questions or topics difficult to master, don’t break your study streak with frustration! If you need help, you should always be ready to ask. Depending on what support you need, you have a number of options.

There might be classes at your local school that cover the topic you need help with (for example, meteorology). Or you can ask a fellow flight training student to help you out – and you might be able to help them! For lots of simple things, you can join social media groups and pages – there is a constant stream of students, and perhaps one of them has a way of learning or remembering a topic that will help you.

Another option is to arrange a private or joint tutorial with an instructor – they’re always happy to do so!

Know When To Ask For Help

The only thing as important as your pilot theory exam preparation is taking a break… from your pilot theory exam preparation. Even whilst you’re having a day off, your mind will still have flight training concepts and lessons lurking in the background. Switching off from them occasionally can help you switch them on when you need to. A fresh mind is a productive mind.

Similarly, you should be aiming to study in structured pieces of time. This is somewhat dependent on the topic you’re working on and your personal attention span. If you’re finding that after 45 minutes you’re struggling to focus, it’s time to make a cup of tea and walk outside for a moment, before getting back into the books.

How Much Study Is Enough?

There is passing your exams and really passing your exams. The best pilots always aim for the latter.

There is no minimum or maximum amount of study that is required, it’s simply the amount of time that it takes you to achieve the best that you can. Below are some indicative study time commitments that have been reported amongst some of our students. Again, this isn’t a requirement but it can help give you an indication as to what time commitments you should make if you want to become an exceptional pilot. Ultimately you will need to study for the amount of time that it takes you to achieve the level of preparation that you are comfortable with.

RPL exams – Most people pass with 26 to 50 hours of exam preparation and revision.

1. PPL Exam – Think in terms of 50 to 75 hours for class, tuition, home study and general reading for each exam.

CPL Exams – Many students report around 75 to 100 hours of class, tuition, home study and general reading for each exam.

ATPL Exam – 50 – 75 hours per subject.

ATPL Flight Planning exam – 55 – 80 hours.

How Much Study Is Enough?

Everyone can excel or struggle with different exams, strengths and weaknesses. Having said that, the exams that take more time and preparation amongst the majority of students are:

1. CPL Performance

2. IREX

3. CPL Meteorology

4. PPL

5. CPL Aircraft General Knowledge

The first two exams are particularly reported as needing more preparation – but with focus and support, you can pass!

Exam Day

Once exam day arrives, there’s only so much you can do – you’ve already done the hard work. Here’s what you should focus on:

1. 1. Get a good night’s rest.
2. 2. Have your exam materials ready to go the night before, so that all you need to do is show up.
3. 3. Eat well and stay hydrated before the exam.
4. 4. Read each question twice to ensure you understand and look for common traps.
5. 5. Mark any questions that you might stumble on. Finish everything else, then focus on the tough ones.
6. 6. Check all of your questions and answers to watch for basic errors.
7. 7. Don’t be tempted to leave early. Keep checking your work and attempting every question.
8. 8. When the exam time is over, go and do something fun to get your mind off it. It’s done. Now it’s time to wait and see!

What Else Should I Know?

We’ve compiled a few useful posts that might help you out. Where ever you are on your flight training journey, the team at Learn To Fly Melbourne are here to help. We want you to pass your exams and have an excellent career, so please reach out if we can help support you through your course and studies!

Tips On How To Pass Pilot Theory Exams
Here we give you the scoop on what to expect and provide some tips on how to pass pilot theory exams.

1. Aviation Schools in Melbourne: Why Learn to Fly is Your Best Bet
   The aviation school you choose will make a big difference in your flight training journey. Here’s why you should learn with the best!
3. Flight Schools in Australia – How Do I Choose the Right One?
   Here is a breakdown of what kinds of schools are available, and how the different environments can affect what your learning experience will be like. 
   

Learn To Fly: Flight Training Courses For Every Pilot
We have every aviation course you need, including recreational or commercial. This post discusses the pathways and career options for pilots operating in Australia.

Training Beyond The Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
After completing your Private Pilot Licence you might wonder, “what’s next?” As strange as it may sound, many pilots are still keen to do more training after achieving their initial goals. Realistically, if you want to fly regularly or as a job, learning is ongoing. Let’s take a look at training beyond the Private Pilot Licence.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pilot Licence
This post will help you get the most out of your pilot licence in easy steps.

Chat with one of our flight training specialists to get your pilot training off the ground. Email [email protected] or go to https://drift.me/learntofly/meeting to book a meeting and school tour.