CAA NZ PPL Meteorology study plan

Define the standard atmosphere and state the ISA values of sea-level pressure, sea-level temperature, and lapse rate from memory

Explain how pressure, density, and temperature change with altitude and how each affects aircraft performance and altimeter readings

Distinguish QNH, QFE, QNE, and regional pressure settings, and state which is used for takeoff, en route, and landing in New Zealand

Convert between hectopascals and inches of mercury and interpret a simple pressure-gradient calculation for wind strength

Describe the composition and vertical structure of the atmosphere, naming the troposphere, tropopause, and stratosphere and their significance to light aircraft

Explain diurnal and seasonal temperature variation, insolation, terrestrial radiation, and lapse rates including the difference between environmental and standard lapse rates

Define stability, instability, and conditional instability, and predict the resulting cloud type and turbulence for a given lapse-rate profile

Interpret a simple upper-air temperature profile and state whether it favours cumuliform or stratiform cloud

Explain the formation of high and low pressure systems and the forces acting on air: pressure gradient, Coriolis, and friction

Describe the general circulation, the trade winds, the roaring forties, and how New Zealand's latitude places it in the westerlies

Distinguish sea breeze, land breeze, anabatic, and katabatic flows, and state the time of day and conditions under which each is strongest

Interpret isobar spacing to estimate wind speed and apply the Buys Ballot principle to determine wind direction around a low in the Southern Hemisphere

Identify the four main air masses affecting New Zealand (tropical maritime, polar maritime, tropical continental, polar continental) and describe their typical weather

Explain frontal systems: cold fronts, warm fronts, occluded fronts, and the sequence of weather changes before, during, and after passage

Describe the life cycle of a mid-latitude depression and the weather associated with each stage

Interpret a New Zealand Metservice surface analysis chart, identifying fronts, isobars, and pressure centres

Classify clouds by family and height, and state the weather and hazard associated with each genus

Explain the formation of fog types relevant to New Zealand: radiation fog, advection fog, and orographic cloud, including the conditions that dissipate each

Describe the conditions for thunderstorm formation (instability, moisture, lifting mechanism) and the hazards to light aircraft including microburst, hail, and lightning

Explain icing types, the conditions that produce airframe icing, and the actions available to a light aircraft pilot

Describe mountain wave formation, lee turbulence, and the rotor zone, and state the signs a pilot uses to detect them

Explain the effect of terrain on wind, including funnelling, Venturi effect in valleys, and mechanical turbulence near ridges

Interpret a New Zealand severe weather outlook and identify the hazards relevant to a planned VFR cross-country

State the criteria for issuing a SIGMET and the meaning of AIRMET and TAF amendments in the New Zealand context

Decode a TAF and METAR line by line, including validity periods, change groups, and the meaning of TEMPO and BECMG

Interpret a GAF (graphical area forecast) or area forecast, identifying the forecast cloud, wind, and visibility for a chosen region

Read and use a wind and temperature aloft forecast to plan cruise altitude and estimate headwind or tailwind component

Explain how to obtain and interpret a pre-flight briefing, including NOTAM weather items and the role of the Metservice aviation briefing service

Consolidate all domain 1 topics by completing a timed practice examination under exam conditions

Identify the three weakest sub-topics from practice results and re-study each with targeted notes

Explain the interaction between pressure, temperature, density altitude, and aircraft performance in a written worked example

State the personal minimums and weather decision-making framework you will apply in flight