Anyone have an easy way to memorize WX charts
12-04-2017, 01:01 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Dec 2015
Posts: 120
Anyone have an easy way to memorize WX charts
Hello,
I have a weakness when it comes to remembering all the weather charts available and what each one of them does.
I have a general idea of winds aloft vs. radar summary, etc. but there are so many charts, I tend to get confused.
Also, I don't know too much detail. For example, where are the radar sites on a radar summary chart?
Any help?
I have a weakness when it comes to remembering all the weather charts available and what each one of them does.
I have a general idea of winds aloft vs. radar summary, etc. but there are so many charts, I tend to get confused.
Also, I don't know too much detail. For example, where are the radar sites on a radar summary chart?
Any help?
12-04-2017, 01:44 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Volleyball Player
Posts: 3,982
well, study the charts and information and try to memorize the important things. Try to be able to read the information and generate a good "picture" of what the weather conditions are and what can be expected. Working backwards in weather-related accidents, I've not found one where the specific weather conditions could not be foreseen, but that's the hindsight picture obviously and a lot easier to make after the fact. It's just that today, the weather products are quite good for the most part for most aviators flying in most of the US.
FAR MORE important is to know where the information comes from. There's a weather Advisory Circular that has all sorts of information. As an examiner, I don't expect people on checkrides to remember every single weather contraction and time period, but I expect them to know where to find the information and if necessary, to look it up. There are other helpful ways to do it, like calling up FSS (at any time) and asking them some questions on the weather if there's something that you can't interpret or understand on a product. You'd definitely want to do this for your checkride.
The biggest errors I run into on these (during checks) is people throwing out massively wrong information without verifying it (much of the time, if an answer for a different question is given, the examiner will ask that difference question to see if it "clues" the applicant into realizing their mistake, so they can correct it). When this gets to be egregious though and it's clear the guy doesn't know any of the valid times, time-date groups, conditions, then it's not ok obviously. Other errors include not being familiar with the applicable weather products (in the test standards). Even if there wasn't a PIREP for the flight, it may still be tested and you may be asked to interpret some of them. Sometimes, there is specific information for specific regions that is also tested, this again is in the Advisory Circular, but sometimes the "general" stuff in the Jeppeson books or other commercial syllabus doesn't cover it. Much in the same way the flight briefer explains the weather to you, you are expected to explain the weather to the examiner, but a little more specific with why and when you can expect the weather. Again, the biggest issue is usually related to people not "helping themselves" in terms of interpreting the weather.
There's lots of symbols on surface and significant weather charts, do your best to memorize the basics, but when asked about something very specific that's not a "basic", I'd go to the book to be sure. At this point, you shouldn't be expected to be handed a package of weather and be able to interpret all of it instantly.
FAR MORE important is to know where the information comes from. There's a weather Advisory Circular that has all sorts of information. As an examiner, I don't expect people on checkrides to remember every single weather contraction and time period, but I expect them to know where to find the information and if necessary, to look it up. There are other helpful ways to do it, like calling up FSS (at any time) and asking them some questions on the weather if there's something that you can't interpret or understand on a product. You'd definitely want to do this for your checkride.
The biggest errors I run into on these (during checks) is people throwing out massively wrong information without verifying it (much of the time, if an answer for a different question is given, the examiner will ask that difference question to see if it "clues" the applicant into realizing their mistake, so they can correct it). When this gets to be egregious though and it's clear the guy doesn't know any of the valid times, time-date groups, conditions, then it's not ok obviously. Other errors include not being familiar with the applicable weather products (in the test standards). Even if there wasn't a PIREP for the flight, it may still be tested and you may be asked to interpret some of them. Sometimes, there is specific information for specific regions that is also tested, this again is in the Advisory Circular, but sometimes the "general" stuff in the Jeppeson books or other commercial syllabus doesn't cover it. Much in the same way the flight briefer explains the weather to you, you are expected to explain the weather to the examiner, but a little more specific with why and when you can expect the weather. Again, the biggest issue is usually related to people not "helping themselves" in terms of interpreting the weather.
There's lots of symbols on surface and significant weather charts, do your best to memorize the basics, but when asked about something very specific that's not a "basic", I'd go to the book to be sure. At this point, you shouldn't be expected to be handed a package of weather and be able to interpret all of it instantly.
12-04-2017, 05:48 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Posts: 117
Re: WX charts
Gleim has an aviation weather book that is excellent. The book does an excellent job of explaining the charts and advisory circulars.
12-12-2017, 04:24 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Sep 2013
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Posts: 636
Walk before you run, or fly. Start with studying METARS and TAFS, reading the times and common abbreviations. You can look at a radar image, right?
As posted, one of the weather tutorial books will guide you along.
As posted, one of the weather tutorial books will guide you along.
12-12-2017, 10:49 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 115
I spent daaaays learning them leading up to my instrument checkride years ago. Now as an instructor i go over them extensively with my students.
The first thing i always have my student learn is whether the product is a forecast or observation. If a forecast, when is it valid? Prog charts are valid beginning 12/24 hours out, TAFs are valid out to 24 to 30 hours. If an observation, when was the data valid? A radar summary chart comes out hourly, but that weather depiction chart may be up to 3 hours old. Observations always publish a valid time....when the data was observed. Important to know how old that data is. As was stated previously, memorize the most common symbols and abbreviations but know where to look up the lesser known ones you may come across.
Also, try to understand why the different charts exist in the first place. I used to be frustrated there wasnt just one chart with everything. But now i understand weather depiction charts tell you where vfr/mvfr/ifr conditions exist, but dont tell you if actual precip exists. You can be ifr with no precip, likewise you can be vfr but be flying near a thunderstorm. Radar summary charts give areas of precip. Lack of a radar return on a radar summary chart doesnt necessarily mean its vfr though. Surface analysis charts give very general information....fronts, pressure systems, isobars. Not as helpful as other charts IMO, but usually a good place to start getting the big picture before digging into the more specific charts.
The first thing i always have my student learn is whether the product is a forecast or observation. If a forecast, when is it valid? Prog charts are valid beginning 12/24 hours out, TAFs are valid out to 24 to 30 hours. If an observation, when was the data valid? A radar summary chart comes out hourly, but that weather depiction chart may be up to 3 hours old. Observations always publish a valid time....when the data was observed. Important to know how old that data is. As was stated previously, memorize the most common symbols and abbreviations but know where to look up the lesser known ones you may come across.
Also, try to understand why the different charts exist in the first place. I used to be frustrated there wasnt just one chart with everything. But now i understand weather depiction charts tell you where vfr/mvfr/ifr conditions exist, but dont tell you if actual precip exists. You can be ifr with no precip, likewise you can be vfr but be flying near a thunderstorm. Radar summary charts give areas of precip. Lack of a radar return on a radar summary chart doesnt necessarily mean its vfr though. Surface analysis charts give very general information....fronts, pressure systems, isobars. Not as helpful as other charts IMO, but usually a good place to start getting the big picture before digging into the more specific charts.
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