Weather Operations and In-flight Icing
Core concepts
Weather operations cover METAR and TAF interpretation, trend forecasts, significant weather charts, wind shear and microburst awareness, thunderstorm avoidance, and icing. Know the conditions for airframe icing: visible moisture and temperatures near or below freezing, with supercooled water most likely in stratiform cloud. Understand icing types - rime, clear and mixed - and their severity.
Traps in questions
Questions test whether you know that a TAF is a forecast, not an observation, and that a TEMPO or BECMG group has specific temporal meaning. Another trap is the freezing level versus the icing risk band - icing can occur above the freezing level in some conditions. Also watch for questions about wind shear on final approach: the correct response to a significant airspeed loss or gain near the ground is a go-around.
Worked example
TAF: "BECMG 1200/1400 4000 -RA BKN012." This means a gradual change expected between 1200 and 1400, becoming visibility 4000 m in light rain with broken cloud at 1200 ft. Plan the arrival with an approach that allows for lower cloud and wet runway performance.
Rule of thumb
If icing is encountered and the aircraft is not adequately equipped, change level or route promptly and advise ATC - do not wait for accumulation.
Practical avoidance
Use forecasts, pilot reports and onboard awareness; avoid embedded convection and treat any thunderstorm as hazardous.