Weather

5 free sample questions of the 60 in this topic. The full set is in the app.

1. Question 1

   Three ingredients are required for thunderstorm cell formation. Which is NOT one of them?

   • A.Sufficient water vapor
   • B.Unstable air (or conditionally unstable)
   • C.A lifting mechanism (front, convergence, upslope flow, etc.)
   • D.Sub-freezing temperatures at the surface
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: D. Sub-freezing temperatures at the surface

   Per the Aviation Weather Handbook, all thunderstorms need three ingredients: sufficient water vapor, unstable (or conditionally unstable) air, and a lifting mechanism. Cold surface temperature is NOT required — most thunderstorms form in warm, moist air masses.

   Source: FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B, April 2026) — Ch 22 §22.2 Necessary Ingredients for Thunderstorm Cell Formation

2. Question 2

   A thunderstorm cell transitions from the towering cumulus stage to the mature stage when:

   • A.Lightning is first observed
   • B.Precipitation reaches the surface, dragging cool air down and creating a downdraft alongside the updraft
   • C.The cloud top exceeds 25,000 ft
   • D.The cell becomes electrified
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Precipitation reaches the surface, dragging cool air down and creating a downdraft alongside the updraft

   Per the AWH, the cell transitions to mature when 'precipitation reaches the surface' and drags air down to form a strong downdraft alongside the updraft. Weather hazards reach peak intensity toward the end of the mature stage.

   Source: FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B, April 2026) — Ch 22 §22.3 Thunderstorm Cell Life Cycle

3. Question 3

   Approximately how long is a typical single-cell thunderstorm's total life cycle?

   • A.About 5 minutes
   • B.About 15 minutes
   • C.About 30 minutes
   • D.About 2 hours
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: C. About 30 minutes

   Per the AWH, a single thunderstorm cell's total life cycle (towering cumulus → mature → dissipating) is typically about 30 minutes. Multicell clusters and supercells persist much longer because new cells continually form to replace dying ones.

   Source: FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B, April 2026) — Ch 22 §22.3 Thunderstorm Cell Life Cycle

4. Question 4

   A microburst typically has what horizontal extent and lifespan?

   • A.Less than 2.5 mi in diameter, 5–15 min lifespan
   • B.5–10 mi in diameter, 30 min lifespan
   • C.10–20 mi in diameter, 1–2 hour lifespan
   • D.Region-wide (50+ mi), all-day duration
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: A. Less than 2.5 mi in diameter, 5–15 min lifespan

   Per the AWH, a typical microburst has a horizontal diameter of less than 2.5 mi and a depth of about 1,000 ft, with a lifespan of 5–15 minutes. It can produce downdrafts up to 6,000 fpm and headwind-to-tailwind shifts of 30–90 kt.

   Source: FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B, April 2026) — Ch 22 §22.7.3 Downburst and Microburst

5. Question 5

   On approach in a microburst, the pilot first encounters increasing headwind. The correct recovery posture if a shear is suspected is:

   • A.Reduce power and lower the nose to maintain the approach speed
   • B.Maintain or increase pitch attitude and accept reduced airspeed; full power and missed approach if shear is confirmed
   • C.Continue the approach unchanged — the shear will pass
   • D.Disconnect the autopilot and aim for the threshold
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Maintain or increase pitch attitude and accept reduced airspeed; full power and missed approach if shear is confirmed

   Per the AWH, the correct response in a microburst encounter is to MAINTAIN or INCREASE pitch attitude and accept lower-than-normal airspeed; reducing pitch to chase airspeed converts the shear into altitude loss. If shear is suspected before landing, initiate a missed approach at the first indication.

   Source: FAA Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B, April 2026) — Ch 22 §22.7.3 / 22.7.3.1 Wind Shear Response

55 more Weather questions are in the app, along with explanations and flashcards for every one.

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