Meteorological Codes & the Pre-Flight Briefing ServiceRadio Telephony — DGCA CPL practice questions
Question 1 of 16
In a METAR, the wind is given in:
All 16 questions — Meteorological Codes & the Pre-Flight Briefing Service
Radio Telephony · DGCA CPL. The correct option is marked on each.
Q1. In a METAR, the wind is given in:
- A.Degrees magnetic, km/h
- B.Degrees true, knots✓
- C.Degrees magnetic, knots
- D.Degrees true, m/s
Why: egrees true, knots. METAR/TAF winds are degrees TRUE and knots; ATC passes surface wind in degrees magnetic.
Q2. "BKN" means cloud cover of:
- A.1–2 oktas
- B.3–4 oktas
- C.5–7 oktas✓
- D.8 oktas
Why: BKN (broken) = 5–7 oktas. OVC = 8, SCT = 3–4, FEW = 1–2.
Q3. "FEW020" indicates few cloud at:
- A.20 ft
- B.200 ft
- C.2000 ft✓
- D.20,000 ft
Why: Cloud heights are in hundreds of feet above aerodrome — 020 = 2000 ft.
Q4. "Q1008" in a METAR is the:
- A.Temperature
- B.QNH in hectopascals✓
- C.Visibility
- D.Cloud base
Why: Q1008 = QNH 1008 hPa. An "A" prefix gives inches of mercury.
Q5. "R27/0600" in a report means:
- A.Runway 27 closed at 0600
- B.Runway 27 RVR 600 metres✓
- C.Wind 270° 6 kt
- D.QNH 600
Why: It is the Runway Visual Range group: runway 27, RVR 600 m.
Q6. When temperature and dewpoint are close, you should expect an increased risk of:
- A.High pressure
- B.Fog or low cloud (air near saturation)✓
- C.Strong winds
- D.Clear skies
Why: A small temp/dewpoint spread means the air is near saturation, favouring fog/low cloud.
Q7. In a TAF, "TEMPO" indicates:
- A.A permanent change from a time
- B.Temporary fluctuations, each under an hour✓
- C.A 40% probability
- D.The validity period
Why: TEMPO = temporary fluctuations each lasting under an hour; FM = permanent change; BECMG = gradual change.
Q8. A SIGMET warns of weather significant to:
- A.Only light aircraft
- B.All aircraft (e.g. thunderstorms, severe turbulence, volcanic ash)✓
- C.Ground vehicles
- D.Only IFR traffic at night
Why: ll aircraft (e.g. thunderstorms, severe turbulence, volcanic ash). SIGMET = significant to all aircraft; AIRMET is for low-level/lighter aircraft.
Q9. A report of conditions actually encountered in flight is a:
- A.TAF
- B.SIGMET
- C.PIREP✓
- D.ATIS
Why: A PIREP is a pilot report of actual conditions met in flight.
Q10. ATIS broadcasts information for:
- A.Several aerodromes en route
- B.One aerodrome (its weather and operational info)✓
- C.Only military fields
- D.The whole FIR
Why: ATIS = one aerodrome; VOLMET = several aerodromes for aircraft in flight.
Q11. CAVOK requires a visibility of at least:
- A.5 km
- B.8 km
- C.10 km✓
- D.1500 m
Why: CAVOK needs visibility ≥10 km, no cloud below 5000 ft / no CB·TCU, and no significant weather.
Q12. A single CB present with 15 km visibility:
- A.Still allows CAVOK
- B.Disqualifies CAVOK✓
- C.Requires a SPECI only
- D.Has no effect
Why: isqualifies CAVOK. Any CB or TCU disqualifies CAVOK, regardless of visibility.
Q13. "-RA" in a METAR means:
- A.Recent rain
- B.Light rain✓
- C.Heavy rain
- D.Radar
Why: "−" = light, "+" = heavy; so −RA is light rain.
Q14. "NOSIG" appended to a METAR means:
- A.No signal
- B.No significant change expected (trend)✓
- C.Aerodrome closed
- D.Nil cloud
Why: NOSIG is the trend forecast: no significant change in the next two hours.
Q15. The correct order of the first groups in a METAR is:
- A.Wind, station, time, visibility
- B.Station, time, wind, visibility✓
- C.Time, wind, station, cloud
- D.Pressure, temp, wind, station
Why: Station → Time(Z) → Wind → Visibility → Weather → Cloud → Temp/Dewpoint → QNH → Trend.
Q16. The final step of the pre-flight information sequence is to:
- A.File the flight plan
- B.Read the ATIS
- C.Make the go/no-go decision against minima and fuel✓
- D.Request start-up
Why: After weather, PIB, charts and filing the flight plan, the pilot makes the go/no-go decision.