Aviation Weather

Hiram College
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Aviation Weather
Hiram College PO Box 1808 Hiram, Ohio 44234-1808 330-569-3211

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Hiram Weekend College
Aviation Weather - a non-lab science (physics)
PHYSICS 210-51

Summer School , 2009

Dates and Times; Wednesday, May 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 1 & 8
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Credit Hours: 4
Text: Aviation Weather - AC06

Roger F. Cram
Office: 330-569-5104 Cell: 330-569-4912 Home: 330-569-7962
FAA Flight Instructor

Syllabus

Session One:
Text: Chapter One - The Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapter Two - Temperature
Chapter Three - Atmospheric Pressure and Altimetry
Lecture: Introduction to course
What is Air Pressure?
Air Speed Vs. Ground Speed
Film: Flight

Session Two:
Text: Chapter Four - Wind
Chapter Five - Moisture, Cloud Formation, and Precipitation
Lecture: Altimeters and Airspeed Indicators
Film: To be Announced

Session Three:
Text: Chapter Six - Stable and Unstable Air
Chapter Seven – Clouds
Lecture: Cloud Formations and Types
Test: One hour exam on Session One and Two
Film: Coriolis Effect & Satellite Views
Activity: Pizza Party

Session Four:
Text: Chapter Eight - Air Masses and Fronts
Chapter Nine – Turbulence
Lecture: Aircraft Performance Factors
Film: Tornado, Hurricane, and Flood

Session Five:
Text: Chapter Ten - Icing
Chapter Eleven - Thunderstorms
Chapter Twelve - Common IFR Producers
Lecture: Thunderstorms
Test: One-hour exam on Session Three and Four
Take home test issued on Session Five - to be turned in next class
Film: Aircraft Accidents
Activity: Appetizers Party

Session Six:
Film: Global Warming
Take-home final exam issued - to be turned in next class
Lecture: Forecasting the Weather
Weather Charts

Session Seven:
Final exams
Field Trip - To Be Announced

PowerPoint Aviation Weather Presentations
(allow time to load)

Aircraft Performance

Air Temperature and Pressure

Aviation Weather

Hiram Weekend College
SELECT & HIGHLIGHT THIS TEST, THEN SELECT PRINT, CLICK ON "SELECTION" IN YOUR PRINTER OPTION, AND THE TEST PORTION OF THIS PAGE SHOULD PRINT FOR YOU. - QUESTIONS: 330-569-4912

Summer 2009 – Take-Home Test Two

Name (PRINT)____________________________________________Possible 100 points

SECTION ONE: 3 points each = 15 possible points.

Place the letter of the term with the correct corresponding definition.

A. Radiation Fog B. Steam Fog C. Advection Fog D. Upslope Fog E. Rain Fog

____ Moist air advancing from a body of water over colder land.
____ A clear night with no clouds.
____ Moist air being cooled as it increases in altitude.
____ Moisture evaporating from a wet forest floor saturating the air
____ Water evaporating from a lake saturating the air forming fog.

SECTION TWO: 2 points each = 18 possible points. Circle the correct answer.

When an aircraft is flying slowly, its angle of attack is HIGH or LOW
When an aircraft is on final approach, its angle of attack is HIGH or LOW?
When an aircraft is climbing after take off, its angle of attack is HIGH or LOW?
When an aircraft is at the correct speed while on final approach and too low, the pilot should (a) raise the nose (b) add power (c) let the hot air rising from the runway increase the plane's altitude (d) reduce power?
When an aircraft is at the correct speed while on final approach and too high, the pilot should (a) raise the nose (b) add power (c) lower the nose (d) reduce power?
If a pilot wants to slow down an aircraft's speed but maintain its altitude, the pilot has no choice but to (a) reduce power and increase the angle of attack (b) reduce power and keep the same angle of attack (c) reduce power and reduce the angle of attack (d) keep the power setting the same and increase the angle of attack (e) none of the above.
As the angle of attack gradually increases, lift (a) increases (b) decreases (c) stays the same (d) none of the above
As the angle of attack increases, airspeed (a) increases (b) decreases (c) stays the same (d) none of the above
A pilot flying at 300 MPH at 3000 feet climbs to 20,000 feet, levels off, at maintains 300 MPH. At the 20,000 foot altitude, the aircraft's angle of attack is (a) larger than it was at 3,000 feet (b) smaller than it was at 3,000 feet (c) unchanged from 3,000 feet (d)

SECTION THREE: 16 Possible Points

15. Place a checkmark next to EACH phenomenon that would reduce an aircraft’s performance and require a longer runway for take off.

____Strong headwind
____No headwind
____Cold outside air temperatures

____Warm outside air temperatures
____ High barometric pressure

____ Low barometric pressure
____ Hard surface runway
____ Grass or gravel runway

____ Runway clean

____ Runway with snow or puddles of rain water

____ Aircraft heavily loaded

____ Aircraft light in weight

____ High altitude airport

____ Sea level airport

____ Upslope runway

____ Level runway

SECTION FOUR: Multiple Choice 3 Points each = 15 Possible Points

16. Why does all weather move across the United States from the west toward the east? (a) Because of the earth’s tilt on its axis (b) Because of the prevailing winds (c) Because of the coriolis effect (d) Because of the hot air at the equator (e) Because mean ol’ Roger makes it do that!

17. When will an airplane stall? (a) Anytime the pilot is careless (b) Anytime the pilot’s ground speed is to too slow (c) Anytime the aircraft exceeds the critical angle of attack (e) Anytime the pilot turns into a tail wind too quickly (e) Anytime a bird get sucked into a jet engine.

18. What are the dangerous, spiraling, horizontal, tornado-like phenomena training each aircraft’s wing tips? (a) vortices (b) pressure gradients (c) spiraling slipstream (d) asymmetrical thrust generators (e) evil little flying ghosts

19. The problems with aircraft taking on ice while they are flying is: (a) Ice adds to the weight of the airplane (b) Ice changes the shape of the wind making it less efficient (c) Ice reduces the smooth airflow over the top of the wing endangering lift (d) All of the above (e) None of the above

20. Water in the air will not freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit unless it has something to freeze onto. Such items are dirt, dust, birds, and airplanes. The technical name for anything in the air that water vapor can freeze upon or cling to is: (condensation nuclei (b) receptor residue (c) freeze-point particles (e) low-temperature collectors (f) funny little cute freezie things

SECTION FIVE: Performance Charts: 7 points each = 21 possible points

21. From the Cross-Wind / Head Wind Component Chart and the pictured Airport Diagram: An aircraft is landing on the runway pictured. The wind is blowing 310 degrees at 30 knots. What is the headwind component? ______ knots.

22. From the Take-Off Chart: The pressure altitude is 4,000 feet, the outside air temperature is 20 degrees C., the aircraft weight is 2500 pounds, the headwind component is 10 knots. What is the needed takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle? ______ feet.

23. As an aircraft is landing on runway 09, its airspeed is 100 MPH. The wind is 40 degrees at 20 knots. What is the aircraft’s ground speed? _______________ MPH

SECTION SIX: Fill in the Blank: 2 Point each; 8 possible points

24. What are the three standard atmospheric conditions for aircraft performance?

1. __________________ 2. _________________ 3. ___________________

25. What does unstable air do? ___________________________________________

Essay: 7 Points

26. A landing aircraft has a stall speed of 80 MPH. It is currently on final approach at a speed of 100 mph and ready to touch down onto the runway. A microburst reaches the aircraft head-on coming toward it at 50 MPH. What will happen to the aircraft? What action might the pilot take? What factors will affect the pilot's decision?

Airport Diagram for Question 21

SECTION SEVEN: ESSAY QUESTION: 20 points

Considering the coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere and the wind deflection angles for various latitudes as given: (30 degree parallel 40 degrees to the right, 60 degree parallel at 80 degrees to the right) discuss in at least 100 words what the wind deflections angles would be at the 53 degree parallel based on uniform lateral interpretation of the information given. This is not an actual test question; in fact, I don’t know what it even means, so relax, the test is over. It is worth zero points. Take a break; go get a cookie.