Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 15-111 Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Under Observing Operation, which item describes when augmented observations are available?
• Elements such as pressure, temperature, dew point, and wind; automated and augmented observations use a fixed location and time-averaging technique.
• For LOCALs taken in support of aircraft operations, the code form will be what?
• Which statement is true about automated weather observations when a weather technician augments or backs up an observation?
• These are unfocused lights of moderate intensity (about 25 candelas). Red or green runway lights may be used, but avoid focused lights like airway beacons; however, their brilliance can help estimate distance to the light source. What are they?
• Which statement about wind data during outages is correct?
• What will change by several minutes of arc each year at most locations?
• Weather technicians will be fully trained, task certified, and position qualified according to requirements outlined in what?
• What is the procedure called that EUs use to review each new edition of DoD FLIPs after publication?
• During wind equipment outage, which action should be taken to determine wind data for the runway in use?
• Who must monitor FLIPS or revised charts for changes in local magnetic direction?
• Which statement about SPECI timing is true?
• What term describes periods when the airfield is being controlled by an air traffic control tower and designated as Class B, C, or D airspace?
• When portions of the horizon are obstructed by buildings or aircraft, which value should be used as a guide to determine surface visibility?
• Latitude and longitude are specified to the nearest minute in station information. Which of the following best describes this precision?
• In the local altimeter setting observation, what triggers the 35-minute observation interval?
• From true direction to magnetic direction, which steps are applied?
• When using an object located in front of a terrestrial background, you should exercise caution if the object is located closer to the observer than to the terrestrial background. This describes which category?
• Which statement is true about RVR data when RVR equipment is inoperative and visibility is at or below 1 mile?
• Responsible for preparing surface weather observations, regardless of the mode of operation, will ensure their station information is current and maintained on permanent file at the 14th Weather Squadron (14WS) and in the observing location's historical file?
• Which standard addresses siting meteorological sensors at airports?
• What does FLIP stand for?
• ATC regulations require control towers to maintain a visibility checkpoint chart or list of visibility markers posted in the tower. Upon request, which entity will provide assistance to help prepare a chart or markers for determining tower visibility?
• The METAR observations taken at 0300, 0900, 1500, and 2100 UTC are known as and also contain additional information?
• What is the approximate luminous intensity of unfocused lights used as visibility aids?
• Altimeter settings provided for international aviation purposes and reported in whole hectopascals are rounded down when disposing of tenths of hPa (e.g., 1009.9 hPa and 1009.1 hPa are both rounded down to 1009 hPa).
• Which system uses time averaging of sensor data?
• Which term is used for elements such as sky condition, visibility, and present weather when augmented observations use fixed time and spatial averaging?
• Where should the permanent file of station information be maintained?
• What is encoded in METAR format and includes all basic weather parameters found in the body of the METAR plus specific automated remarks? Also accepts augmented elements and remarks.
• How many minutes are weather technicians allotted to complete and transmit an augmented observation after arrival at the AOL?
• Which description best captures a SPECI report?
• Which system will always be considered automated, even when a weather technician augments or backs up an observation?
• Which watch is associated with notifying airfield leadership that the RVR system requires the runway lights to be left on during airfield closure hours?
• According to rounding rules for negative numbers, if the fractional part to be dropped is greater than one-half, the preceding digit will be decreased by one.
• What requirement directs task certified control tower personnel to make tower prevailing visibility observations when the prevailing visibility at the usual observation point or at the tower level is less than 4 statute miles?
• Which observation schedule describes taking observations at an interval not to exceed 35 minutes when there has been a change of 0.01 inch Hg or more since the last ALSTG value?
• Elements such as sky condition, visibility, and present weather; augmented observations use a fixed time, spatial averaging technique to describe the visual elements, while an AMOS will use a fixed location, time-linear technique.
• What is the meaning of the WND DATA ESTMD remark?
• An unscheduled observation completed and transmitted when any of the special criteria are observed, and will include all data elements in a METAR plus additional remarks, is called what?
• Who designates a single timepiece as the standard clock and establishes daily time check procedures?
• Which system mode continually senses and measures the atmosphere for wind, visibility, precipitation, cloud height, sky cover, temperature, dew point, altimeter, and lightning, and formats automated remarks?
• Which elements are included in the body of a METAR report?
• In the Order of Observing, which environment's elements are evaluated last?
• Collect and save data related to an aircraft mishap according to instructions in AFMAN 15-129, Volume 2, Air Force Weather Operations - Exploitation. Technicians will retrieve the archived surface observation data as required by the requesting agency. This describes which category?
• OS-21 Commissioning Plan is used to certify AMOSs at which sites?
• What information can be encoded and transmitted as a remark in column 13 of METAR/SPECI observations?
• Which elements are pressure, temperature, dew point, and wind?
• Who will re-evaluate surface prevailing visibility upon initial receipt of a differing control tower value and upon subsequent reportable changes at the control tower level?
• The actual time of the observation will be H+55 to H+59 minutes past the hour (standard time of a METAR observation). This describes which type of report?
• All other elements evaluated are based on sensor data that is within 10 minutes or less of the actual time of the observation.
• Which documents are cited as ATC directives for reporting changes in tower prevailing visibility?
• If there is no sensing capability available on the runway complex, weather technicians may obtain data using backup methods at what location?
• From the DoD FLIPs or the Tactical Plotting Chart for your area, you can obtain which information?
• Who should accompany maintenance personnel on this inspection and log any new equipment limitations into the Flight Information Handbook or report equipment issues to higher level(s) (e.g., AFWA, MAJCOM)?
• If instrumentation is moved or a site survey shows the reported information to be in error, what information should be provided to the supporting OWS and forwarded to AFWA?
• If AMOS sensors are not operating or there is no interface to augment AMOS, what should EUs plan to use to prepare the observation?
• What may be appended in the remarks of the observation and sent out at the technician's discretion?
• According to rounding rules, for a positive number, if the fractional part to be dropped is equal to or greater than one-half, the preceding digit will be increased by one.
• Which organization is responsible for establishing METAR file times between H+55 and H+59 past the hour?
• When two runways have weather sensors and one runway is experiencing an outage, what is the recommended method for determining wind data?
• Supplement elements are evaluated instrumentally with visual observations to ensure what quality?
• What is the primary purpose of establishing an Alternate Operating Location (AOL)?
• May replace the criteria values with values from Combatant Commander instructions, manuals or supplements relating to command minima for landing, VFR, IFR and alternates.
• Which item is explicitly listed as part of Sensor Data for AMOS?
• Which unit will function as the 'eyes forward' for the servicing operational weather squadron and often serve as the primary point of contact for collaborative forecast efforts including resource protection for the installation?
• What term describes observations made as close to the scheduled time as possible to meet filing deadlines, but in no case started more than 15 minutes before the scheduled time?
• Time ascribed reflects the time, to the nearest minute, that the criteria is first met or observed?
• What is the name of the observing sequence where elements with the greatest rate of change are evaluated last?
• What is the difference between the One-Minute Observation (OMO) and the METAR/SPECI?
• What does AMOS stand for in this context?
• What does OMO stand for?
• At a minimum, an initial observation must contain which elements?
• What is defined as a report of weather elements from an individual who is not task certified to take official weather observations?
• According to the Federal Standard for Siting Meteorological Sensors at Airports (FCM-S4-1994), AMOS sensor groups must be sited for which aspect?
• Airfield services functions, weather flights, operating locations, and detachments are referred to as which term?
• What is the maximum interval allowed for rechecking weather conditions since the last observation to determine the need for a SPECI observation?
• What term describes a location with adequate communications and a view of the airfield complex?
• Which unit is responsible for coordinating annual inspections and ensuring equipment condition and unobstructed siting exposure on airfields?
• From magnetic to true: which statement correctly describes the conversion steps?
• Which group is responsible for re-evaluating surface prevailing visibility after a change at the control tower?
• The responsibilities of Exploitation units are described in which Air Force documents?
• The observing location may be coincident with the weather observing location; or it may be the touchdown area of the primary runway. The selected location must provide what?
• Monitoring changes in local magnetic direction is essential to keep what oriented?
• Which unit type may augment the AMOS at the Alternate Operating Location if the sensors are functioning?
• To update FLIP references for AMOS-equipped airfields, which AFI governs the publication process?
• Who coordinates with the host/supporting airfield systems maintenance to perform an annual inspection of all meteorological equipment and verify no obstructions affecting siting and exposure?
• Some are capable of generating an observation every minute?
• What does AMOS stand for in meteorological observing?
• What weather watch is conducted when the airfield is open and any augmentation of AMOS is required?
• Where can you find additional guidance on operating at an AOL?
• During wind equipment outage, which method should be used to determine wind data for the runway in use, and what remark should be included?
• The standard clock will be zeroed with which time source?
• AMO uses which technique to describe visual elements?
• If a synchronized computer network clock is used as the standard, daily synchronization must be verified with which clock?
• Which phenomena will be reported if observed within 10 minutes of the actual time of the observation?
• Which group is advised to develop map-type visibility charts to augment photographic visibility markers?
• When evaluating supplement elements, which quality is ensured by instrumental and visual observations?
• SPECI criteria will be based on what published guidance?
• What function begins as soon as practical after the augmented observation is transmitted?
• Augmented Observations are used for which elements?
• What will be an evaluation of sensor data gathered during the 30-minute period ending at the actual time of the observation?
• This document identifies the process EUs will use to certify AMOSs at Air Force and Army sites?
• Which weather watch is described as monitoring weather conditions continuously and disseminating SPECI observations, while performing no other significant duties?
• An unscheduled observation, reported to the nearest minute, not meeting SPECI criteria. Also will only be taken when local leadership determines there is a requirement in support of local operations or OPSEC considerations.
• In this context, which unit is described as the primary point of contact for the collaborative forecast effort and resource protection?
• The procedure designation for managing instrument outages in instrument procedures is known as?
• At automated locations, AMOS performs what type of weather watch?
• When weather sensors on the active approach end are operational and reliable, which data source is used for meteorological information?
• Who will notify the tower as soon as possible when the prevailing visibility at the official weather observation point decreases to less than 4 statute miles?
• METAR observations taken at 0000, 0600, 1200, and 1800 UTC include additional data and are known as what?
• Range criteria may take the place of the criteria.
• METAR is the acronym for which type of weather report?
• Sensor Data includes which of the following items?
• If cloud height equipment for the active runway is inoperative and the measurements from the inactive runway are representative, which data source may be used?
• These are prominent dark or nearly dark colored objects observed against a light-colored background, preferably the horizon sky. What are they called?
• Which location is used for touchdown runway visual range (RVR) and winds?
• Which entity establishes METAR file times between H+55 and H+59 past the hour?
• Where should you log ATC task certification?
• High-quality color/digital photos taken on a predominantly cloud-free day should be representative of the current state of the airfield/site, and observing locations should develop map-type visibility charts to augment these photographic visibility markers. What are these photos and charts called?
• What must be determined at each observing location to convert wind direction from magnetic to true?
• Under what condition may mandatory elements be omitted from the initial observation?
• What term identifies the requirement to post charts or lists near the weather technician's position to identify observing aids?
• Exploitation units responsible for preparing surface weather observations will establish what when the primary location is evacuated?
• When cloud height and visibility values are halfway or less between two reportable values, which value should be reported?
• What activity should be performed upon installation, at least annually thereafter, and after any major maintenance on an instrument or sensor?
• Which group should use tools such as military grid reference system maps, laser range finder equipment, and GPS devices to determine distances to visibility markers and create visibility aids/charts?
• Which type of observation requires elements to reflect conditions existing at the actual time of observation and to have been observed within 15 minutes of that time?
• If the sensor is not installed at touchdown areas, what location serves as the center of the runway complex for temperature, dew point, pressure, lightning and winds?
• Where should a time check be annotated on the form?
• If cloud height equipment for the active runway is inoperative, under which condition may data from the inactive runway be used?
• Which DoD airfield category is specified as operating with an AMOS?
• The standalone standard clock is zeroed with time from which source?
• Which statement distinguishes a SPECI from a METAR?
• From magnetic to true, which steps are applied?
• What is the name of the weather report that may be disseminated to agencies other than ATC and may be established locally?
• Weather technicians will also ensure ATC personnel can operate the applicable weather equipment in where?
• Observation elements are normally evaluated within how many statute miles of the runway complex?
• Organizations will update Flight Information Publication (FLIP) references to specify those DoD controlled airfields operating with an AMOS. This is done in accordance with which publication?
• What is the term used for a weather organization when all measurements are taken at approximately the same point?
• Who should research the availability of detailed host installation maps and, as required, submit a work order to survey the markers to create visibility aids/charts?
• Encoded and/or plain language information that elaborates on data in the body of the report may be appended to which report?
• Where can you find additional guidance on operating at an AOL?
• When augmenting an AMOS, what is the last observed element?
• In the Order of Observing, which environment's elements are evaluated first?
• Which source is considered most reliable for wind data when wind equipment is inoperative?
• Operations at the AOL and any reciprocal support from other agencies will be coordinated and formally documented in what?
• These reports are from credible sources within 15 statute miles and will be appended in the remarks of the observation during AMOS augmentation. What are they?
• Which report is used for LOCAL operations?
• Which factor is included under Physical Description of Observation Site to affect weather or climatology?
• Under Cooperative Weather Watch, what condition triggers reporting changes in tower prevailing visibility to the local EU?
• What is not required at automated locations if AMOS is working properly and no mandatory supplementary criteria are occurring?
• Who will perform required user/operator maintenance in accordance with equipment TOs and ensure meteorological and communications systems maintenance, including calibration and standardization?
• Who can manually disseminate the One-Minute Observation (OMO) if it is required?
• What is the location of the primary sensor group and the discontinuity sensor group?
• Who collaborates with the local command to establish an AOL and outline what is needed from various agencies on the installation?
• From true direction to magnetic direction: which statement correctly describes the conversion steps?
• Which time interval defines 3-hourly METAR observations?
• When RVR equipment is inoperative and visibility is equal to or less than 1 mile, how should the RVR be reported?
• When computations of pressure values require rounding to standards on reportable values, the number will be rounded down to the next reportable value.
• Observing aids for visibility must be clearly identified as daytime or nighttime aids and updated at least how many times?
• Where should EUs post charts, lists or other positive means identifying observing aids so they can be accessed quickly?
• At all EUs, the local ceiling, prevailing visibility, and runway visual range minima for landing and circling minima will be SPECI observations generated by which systems?
• Which weather watch requires weather technicians to monitor conditions continuously and perform no other significant duties?
• There are many locations that provide stand-alone weather information, including ranges, training areas, drop zones, MOAs, and uncontrolled airfields. Which system provides this stand-alone weather information?
• EUs may report in the remarks section significant or unusual variations in the sky condition (e.g., CLD LYR AT 400 FT ON APCH RWY 23 RPRTD BY PIREPS) that could affect flying operations. This belongs to which remark category?
• Under Basic Weather Watch, what additional duty do weather technicians perform besides taking METARs and disseminating SPECI observations?
• In airports with weather sensors on the approach ends of two or more runways, when the equipment is operational and reliable, which end's data is used?
• Under what condition is the RVRNO reported when RVR equipment is inoperative?
• High-quality photographs should be taken on what type of day to reflect the current state of the airfield/site?
• Weather technicians will task-certify ATC personnel to evaluate prevailing visibility values from whom?
• What form should be used to log ATC task certifications?
• In a situation where cloud height data is available from the inactive runway and is representative when the active runway's cloud height equipment is inoperative, what should be used?
• What is the term for locations where various elements of the observation are evaluated, normally within 5 statute miles of the runway complex, drop zone, or landing zone?
• Which term refers to any certified AF-owned observing system capable of automatically collecting and disseminating observations?
• Which sources can be used to obtain local magnetic variation?
• What is the purpose of Control Tower Visibility Aids in ATC operations?
• What will affect the orientation of the wind equipment, requiring maintenance personnel to be informed of changes?
• When cloud height and visibility values are greater than halfway between two reportable values, which value should be reported?