Weather quiz (helicopter)

Your safety is in your hands.

1. You must study the weather forecast or obtain and review an update within what time period before commencing your flight?

30 minutes

60 minutes

2 hours

24 hours

Correct.

See Part 91 Plain English Guide: Forecasts for flight planning, page 76, and VFRG page 77.

Incorrect.

2. The power required to conduct a downwind approach compared to an into-wind approach will be:

the same

less

Correct.

Explanation: this is because you will transition through an area of zero relative wind and lose effective translational lift, therefore requiring more power. See AC 91-29 V1.3 Guidelines for helicopters: Suitable places to take-off and land, page 15.

Incorrect.

3. Landing into wind will:

require less power

reduce the tail rotor thrust required

increase directional stability

all of the above

Correct.

See Part 91 Plain English Guide: Operating on manoeuvring area, or in the vicinity, of a non-controlled aerodrome – landing and taking off into the wind (91.380), page 113, AC 91-29 V1.3 Guidelines for helicopters: Suitable places to take-off and land, page 15 and VFRG page 242.

Incorrect.

4. You are flying on a summer afternoon and see a large bushfire with a tall, thunderstorm-like cloud forming above it. What is the safest action?

stay well clear due to turbulence and downdrafts

continue, as the rain will reduce the fire

fly closer, smoke only affects visibility

use the rising hot air for extra lift

Correct.

See Beware of bushfire clouds | Flight Safety Australia: Pyrocumulonimbus clouds from bushfires can create violent turbulence, downdrafts and unpredictable winds that make flying near them unsafe.

Incorrect

5. You are flying your helicopter night VFR in the early hours of a winter morning. It has been a clear night with little wind. The METAR for your destination aerodrome indicates that the temperature and dew point are the same. What weather phenomena could you expect on arrival?

radiation fog

thunderstorms

steaming fog

dust devils

Correct.

See BOM Knowledge Centre.

Incorrect.

6. You are cruising at 2,000 ft above your planned landing site in the southern hemisphere. You assess the wind is from the east at 15 kt at your cruise height. How would you expect the wind to change on your approach to landing?

the wind will veer (turn clockwise) and increase

the wind will veer (turn clockwise) and decrease

the wind will back (turn anticlockwise) and increase

the wind will back (turn anticlockwise) and decrease

Correct.

See Winds – EASA ATPL Exam Guide: Surface friction makes winds veer and weaken in the southern hemisphere.

Incorrect.

7. You are flying your helicopter in the late afternoon of a hot summer’s day in a deep valley. One side of the valley is in sunlight, and the other is shaded. Which side of the valley would likely require less power to fly level?

the sunny side

the shady side

it doesn’t make a difference

the middle

Correct.

Explanation: on the sunny side of the valley, the ground is heated, creating rising air currents (updrafts) that lift the helicopter, likely reducing the power required to maintain level flight. On the shady side, the air is cooler, and there are fewer updrafts, likely requiring more power to maintain altitude. See Tips on Mountain Flying: Enroute Considerations, page 11 and Mountain flying: unconsidered factors.

Incorrect.

8. You are landing on a pinnacle and there is a strong breeze blowing. Your approach should be:

level

shallow

steep or oblique

climbing

Correct.

Explanation: this is in order to remain above/in front of the turbulence demarcation line, to avoid the mechanical turbulence and potential downdrafts. See Mountain flying: unconsidered factors.

Incorrect.

9. You are landing into a confined area which is surrounded by high trees. There is wind blowing, and you have just enough power to hover above the tree line. As you descend below the height of the trees, what will happen to your power requirements?

power required will increase as the trees block the wind and reduce the effective translational lift effect before the power required decreases as you enter ground effect

power required will decrease as the trees block the wind and reduce the effective translational lift, before the power required decreases as you enter ground effect

power required will increase as the trees block the wind and reduce the effective translational lift, before the power required increases as you enter ground effect

power required will decrease as the trees block the wind and reduce the effective translational lift, before the power required increases as you enter ground effect

Correct.

See AC 91-29 V1.3 Guidelines for helicopters: Suitable places to take-off and land, paragraph 8.1.3, page 31.

Incorrect.

10. An authorised weather forecast must cover what time period for an estimated time of arrival?

30 minutes before to 30 minutes after

30 minutes before to 60 minutes after

60 minutes before to 30 minutes after

60 minutes before to 60 minutes after

Correct.

See Part 91 Plain English Guide: Forecasts for flight planning, page 76, and VFRG page 78.

Incorrect.

Non-controlled operations

Weather and forecasting

Flight planning

Controlled aerodromes and operations

Weather quiz (helicopter)

Non-controlled operations

Weather and forecasting

Flight planning

Controlled aerodromes and operations

Weather quiz (helicopter)

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