Aviation Meteorology

Composition of the atmosphere, extent, vertical divisions (troposphere, tropopause, stratosphere, mesosphere), variation of temperature with height, ISA, heat transfer processes.

Pressure and its measurement, isobars, variation of pressure with height, QFE/QNH/QFF, high and low pressure systems, diurnal and semi-diurnal pressure variation.

Solar and terrestrial radiation, conduction, convection, advection, lapse rates (DALR, SALR, ELR), temperature inversions, diurnal and seasonal variation of temperature.

Relationship between pressure, temperature and density, effect of humidity on density, density altitude and its effect on aircraft performance.

Water vapour in the atmosphere, evaporation and condensation, dew point, relative humidity, mixing ratio, latent heat, saturation.

Pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, geostrophic and gradient wind, surface friction, backing and veering, local winds (land/sea breeze, anabatic, katabatic, foehn), Buys Ballot's law.

Factors affecting visibility, RVR, mist, haze, smoke, dust; fog types — radiation, advection, frontal, steaming and hill fog — their formation and dispersal.

Causes of vertical motion, adiabatic processes, cloud formation, classification of clouds (low, medium, high, CB, NS), cloud recognition and associated weather.

Stable, unstable and neutral conditions, environmental vs adiabatic lapse rates, conditional and convective instability, effect of stability on cloud and turbulence.

Refraction, mirage, halo, corona, rainbow, glory, St Elmo's fire and other optical phenomena relevant to aviation.

Formation of precipitation (coalescence and Bergeron process), types — rain, drizzle, snow, hail, sleet — and their association with cloud types.

Airframe icing (rime, clear/glaze, mixed), conditions favourable for icing, hoar frost, carburettor and engine icing, effects on performance and avoidance.

Conditions and stages of thunderstorm development, air-mass and frontal storms, squall lines, microbursts and downbursts, lightning, hazards and avoidance.

Source regions and classification of air masses; warm, cold, occluded and stationary fronts; frontal weather; depressions; Western Disturbances affecting India.

Formation and location of jet streams, polar-front and subtropical jets, associated clear air turbulence, seasonal variation and significance for flight planning.

Definition and causes of CAT, association with jet streams and wind shear, detection, reporting and avoidance.

Formation of mountain and standing waves, rotor and lenticular clouds, associated turbulence and icing, effect on aircraft and avoidance.

ITCZ, trade winds, tropical revolving storms (cyclones), monsoon depressions, characteristics and hazards of tropical weather.

Seasons of India, SW and NE monsoon, pre-monsoon weather (Nor'westers, Kalbaisakhi), monsoon onset and withdrawal, local seasonal weather.

Global pressure belts, three-cell circulation model, planetary winds, effect of land and sea distribution, semi-permanent pressure systems.

Organisation of met services, functions of a met office, observations and briefing, IMD and ICAO Annex 3 requirements for aviation.

Principles of weather radar, interpretation of returns, geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, satellite imagery (visible and IR) and its use in weather analysis.

Thermometers, barometers (mercury and aneroid), barograph, hygrometer, anemometer, wind vane, rain gauge and sunshine recorder and their exposure.

Plotting and decoding the synoptic station model — symbols for cloud, weather, wind, pressure and pressure tendency.

Decoding and encoding METAR, SPECI and TREND forecasts — groups for wind, visibility, RVR, weather, cloud, temperature, QNH and significant changes.

Decoding TAF, area forecasts (ARFOR) and route forecasts (ROFOR), validity periods, change groups and probability groups.

SIGMET and AIRMET messages, radar weather reports, satellite bulletins and their use in flight planning.

Pre-flight meteorological documentation, flight forecast charts, significant weather and wind/temperature charts, self-briefing and met briefing.

Tabular flight forecast, cross-section forecast of route conditions and their interpretation for flight planning and in-flight decisions.