DGCA ATPL Aviation Meteorology study plan

Describe the vertical layers of the atmosphere and state the approximate height and temperature characteristics of each

State the composition of dry air by percentage of the major gases and explain the role of water vapour and ozone

Define ISA and calculate ISA temperature and pressure at a given flight level using the standard lapse rate and tropopause assumptions

Apply the gas laws to explain the relationship between temperature, pressure and density and derive the consequences for density altitude

Convert between QNH, QFE and QNE and explain which altimeter subscale setting produces which reading

Calculate true altitude from indicated altitude given temperature error and explain the 'high to low, look out below' hazard

Identify the pressure pattern from isobar spacing and describe the resulting surface wind and altimeter error

Explain how pressure systems (high, low, ridge, trough, col) form and migrate and state the associated weather

Distinguish absolute, relative and specific humidity and define dewpoint and dewpoint depression

Explain the processes of condensation and the formation of dew, frost, fog and cloud nuclei

Classify stability as absolutely stable, conditionally unstable and absolutely unstable from given lapse rates

Predict the effect of heating, cooling, lifting and mixing on stability and cloud development

Classify the ten cloud genera by height band and describe the weather associated with each

Distinguish the formation mechanisms of radiation, advection, frontal, orographic and upslope fog

Explain the formation of the main precipitation types (rain, drizzle, snow, hail, freezing rain) and the icing hazard each implies

Identify the cloud and fog types most likely given a temperature, dewpoint and wind scenario

Describe the life cycle of a frontal system and the weather sequence at a warm front, cold front and occluded front

Distinguish the air mass source regions and the stability and visibility characteristics each brings

Interpret a synoptic chart: identify fronts, isobars, pressure centres and the associated wind and weather

Explain the mechanism of the Indian monsoon, the onset and withdrawal, and the associated flying hazards

Explain the stages of thunderstorm development and the conditions required for each

Distinguish the hazards of microburst, downburst, wind shear, hail, lightning and tornado and state the avoidance action for each

Classify icing types (rime, clear, mixed) and state the temperature range and cloud type in which each occurs

Describe the causes and recognition of CAT and the conditions favouring mountain wave and low-level turbulence

Decode a full METAR and a TAF, including trend groups, CAVOK, colour codes and RVR

Interpret SPECI, SIGMET, AIRMET and AIREP and state when each is issued

Read significant weather charts and wind and temperature aloft charts and extract the relevant data

Explain the difference between observed, forecast and trend information and the validity periods of each

Summarise the climate zones and the seasonal weather patterns relevant to the operating region

List the aviation weather services available and the sources of pre-flight and in-flight information

Revise the highest-weight domains (altimetry, synoptic, reports) with timed practice

Complete a full-length timed mock examination and review every error