Meteorology
Meteorology tests pressure systems, fronts, wind, clouds, icing, turbulence and METAR/TAF interpretation, with Norwegian mountain and coastal effects.
Pressure and wind
QNH is pressure reduced to sea level; QFE is station pressure. Wind flows from high to low pressure, modified by Coriolis and friction. A cold front brings squalls, cumulonimbus, turbulence and icing; a warm front brings stratiform cloud and freezing rain aloft. METAR wind 24015G28 means 240° at 15 kt gusting 28 kt.
Icing and mountains
Structural icing requires visible moisture and temperatures near 0 °C; freezing rain is especially hazardous. Mountain waves produce severe turbulence, lenticular cloud and Foehn; avoid the lee side.
Worked example
QNH 1005 hPa, airfield elevation 500 ft. QFE ≈ 1005 − (500/30) ≈ 988 hPa. With QNH set, the altimeter reads 500 ft on the ground; with QFE set, it reads zero.
Traps
Using QFE for en-route separation; misreading TAF validity; ignoring mountain-wave turbulence; assuming icing only in cloud.