Maricopa Community Colleges  AET115   19946-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 04/26/94
AET115 19946-99999 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Aviation Meteorology
Meteorology for professional pilots. Includes atmosphere, air mass circulation, cloud type identification, weather hazards, and high altitude, Arctic, and tropical weather systems. Basic forecasting, use of Direct User Access Terminal (DUAT) systems and reading and interpreting weather charts. Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
AET115   19946-99999 Aviation Meteorology
1. Measure temperature and explain its effect upon weather. (I)
2. Determine barometric pressure. (I)
3. Describe high- and low-pressure areas. (I)
4. Describe atmospheric circulation created by fronts and wind systems. (II)
5. Identify types of fronts. (II)
6. Identify cloud types and altitudes. (II)
7. Explain the thunderstorm development cycle. (III)
8. Predict wind shear and explain its effect on an airplane. (III)
9. Differentiate between types of obstructions to visibility. (III)
10. Compare Artic weather systems to tropical weather systems. (IV)
11. Compare and contrast types of weather service providers. (V)
12. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of DUAT. (V)
13. Define common aviation weather report abbreviations. (VI)
14. Identify weather symbols. (VII)
15. Differentiate between area, terminal, and winds-aloft forecasts. (VIII)
16. Interpret weather reports, charts, and forecasts. (VI, VII, VIII)
17. Forecast weather using personal observation and published charts. (IX)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
AET115   19946-99999 Aviation Meteorology
    I. Weather Elements
        A. Vertical structure
        B. Moisture
        C. Temperature
        D. Dewpoint
        E. Pressure
        F. Precipitation
      II. Air Masses
          A. Stability
          B. Frontal weather
            1. Seasonal effects
            2. Cold
            3. Warm
            4. Occluded
            5. Upper
            6. Stationary
          C. Wind systems
            1. Coriolis
            2. Centrifugal
            3. Terrain
            4. Mountain
            5. Valley
            6. Land and sea breezes
          D. Cloud types
            1. Cumuliform
            2. Nimbus
            3. Stratiform
            4. Lenticularis
            5. Fractus
            6. Castellanus
            7. Cirriform
        III. Weather Hazards
            A. Thunderstorms
              1. Squall lines
              2. Tornadoes
              3. Saint Elmo's Fire
              4. Lightning
              5. Development cycle
            B. Turbulence
              1. Wake turbulence
              2. Wind shear
              3. Mountain waves
              4. Jet stream
            C. Fog
              1. Radiation
              2. Advection
              3. Upslope
              4. Frontal
              5. Steam
            D. Low stratus
            E. Visibility obstructions
              1. Haze
              2. Smoke
              3. Blowing dust
              4. Blowing snow
            F. Icing
              1. Frost
              2. Rime
              3. Mixed
              4. Clear
            G. Snow, sleet, and hail
            H. Mountain effects
          IV. Special Weather Situations
              A. High altitude
              B. Artic
              C. Tropical
            V. Aviation Weather Services
                A. Weather observers
                B. Forecasting offices
                C. Transcribed Weather Enroute Briefing (TWEB)
                D. Airport Terminal Information System (ATIS)
                E. Automated Weather observing System (AWOS)
                F. Enroute Flight Advisory System (EFAS)
                G. Pilot Automated Telephone Answering Service (PATAS)
                H. Direct User Access Terminal (DUAT)
                  1. Equipment needed
                  2. Reports
                  3. Additional services
              VI. Weather Reports
                  A. Hourly sequence
                  B. SIGMETS, AIRMETS, PIREPS, NOTAMS
                  C. Abbreviations
                VII. Charts
                    A. Surface analysis
                    B. Depiction
                    C. Low-level prognostic
                    D. Radar
                    E. Construct pressure analysis
                    F. tropopause data
                    G. Symbols
                    H. Abbreviations
                  VIII. Forecasts
                      A. Terminal
                      B. Area
                      C. Winds aloft
                      D. Low-level significant weather
                      E. Severe weather outlook
                      F. Convective outlook
                    IX. Decision Report
                        A. Forecasting weather
                          1. From visible clouds
                          2. Pressure trends
                          3. Winds
                          4. Satellite photos
                        B. Flight decisions
                          1. Weather forecasts
                          2. Available charts
                          3. Safety regulations
                          4. In-flight weather advisories
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