Keep the useful bits.
Three focused study sheets. Read them here, or use your browser’s print dialog to print or save a PDF. No email address required.
Weather: read the groups
- METAR vs TAF
- A METAR reports observed conditions; a TAF forecasts conditions during its stated validity.
- Wind / 27015KT
- From 270° true, at 15 knots. “From” matters when drawing the wind vector.
- Visibility / 9999
- 10 km or more. US reports use SM for statute miles; 1 SM ≈ 1.609 km.
- Cloud / BKN020
- Broken layer with base at 2,000 ft above aerodrome level.
- Temperature / 12/08
- Temperature 12°C, dew point 8°C. M before a number means minus.
- Pressure / Q1013
- Altimeter setting 1013 hPa. A2992 instead expresses 29.92 inches of mercury.
- FM vs TEMPO
- FM starts a new prevailing forecast. TEMPO describes temporary fluctuations during a window.
Explain it back
Why does good visibility alone not tell you whether the weather is suitable?
Check: Cloud, wind, hazards, route, aircraft and applicable requirements still need assessment.
Navigation: separate the directions
- Heading
- Direction the aircraft nose points.
- Track
- Direction of movement over the ground.
- True airspeed
- Aircraft speed through the surrounding air.
- Groundspeed
- Speed over the ground; use it with ground distance to estimate elapsed time.
- Time
- Hours = distance in nautical miles ÷ groundspeed in knots.
- Fuel arithmetic
- Fuel = time in hours × burn per hour. Use consistent units; required reserves and other allowances are additional.
- Worked example
- 120 nm at 100 kt takes 1.2 h = 1 h 12 min. At 30 L/h, that segment uses 36 L.
Explain it back
If the wind pushes you south while you want to travel east, which way do you correct?
Check: Point north of east (left correction) so the air-relative motion cancels the southward drift.
Radio: check the instruction
- Listen
- Identify who is being called and what is being instructed. Ask for clarification when uncertain.
- Heading example
- Instruction: turn right heading 090. Readback content: right heading 090, followed by callsign.
- SSR example
- Instruction: squawk 4621. Readback content: squawk 4621, followed by callsign.
- Runway example
- Instruction: hold short of runway 27. Repeat hold short, runway 27 and callsign.
- Do not substitute
- “Roger” acknowledges receipt; it does not repeat the detail of an instruction requiring readback.
- Scope
- These are selected UK examples. Study the full CAA requirements and local procedures with an instructor. Digits here are written shorthand, not pronunciation guidance.
Explain it back
Does “hold short of runway 27” authorise crossing it?
Check: No. Read back and comply with the hold-short instruction; it is not a runway-crossing clearance.