DGCA CPL Aviation Meteorology study plan

Describe the composition of the atmosphere and the significance of each major constituent to flight

Sketch the vertical structure of the atmosphere and label the troposphere, tropopause, stratosphere and their temperature trends

Explain how temperature and pressure vary with height and latitude and state typical values at mean sea level

Define ISA and list the standard sea-level values of temperature, pressure and density

Convert between QNH, QFE and QNE and explain what each setting references

Compute pressure altitude and density altitude from given temperature and pressure data

Solve altimetry problems involving high-to-low and hot-to-cold temperature errors

Explain the effect of pressure and temperature errors on true altitude and terrain clearance

Define lapse rates and distinguish environmental, dry adiabatic and saturated adiabatic lapse rates

Determine stability from a given temperature profile and lapse rate comparison

Explain how heating, cooling, advection and mixing change stability

Relate humidity, dew point and dew point depression to condensation and cloud base

Classify the ten cloud genera by height and appearance and link each to its formation process

Describe precipitation types and the conditions that produce each

Explain the processes that produce showers, continuous rain and drizzle

Identify cloud types associated with instability and with stable layers

Describe global pressure belts and prevailing winds and how they shift seasonally

Explain the formation of local winds including sea/land breezes, mountain/valley winds and anabatic/katabatic flows

Interpret upper-air winds, geostrophic and gradient wind balance, and the effect of friction near the surface

Apply the buy's-ballot rule and coriolis deflection to determine wind direction around pressure systems

Characterize the four main air mass types by source region and the weather they bring

Describe the structure and passage sequence of warm, cold, occluded and stationary fronts

Predict weather changes before, during and after a frontal passage

Interpret a simple synoptic chart to locate fronts and pressure centres

Explain thunderstorm life cycle stages and the hazards of each including microbursts, hail and lightning

Identify icing types, the conditions that cause them and the temperature bands where risk is highest

Recognize turbulence types and the meteorological situations that generate them

List causes of reduced visibility including fog types, haze and precipitation

Decode METAR and TAF reports including trend groups and remarks fields

Interpret significant weather charts, wind and temperature aloft charts and SIGMET/AIRMET products

Integrate report and forecast data into a go/no-go weather decision for a sample flight

Complete a full timed mock examination and review every missed item to root cause