Weather & RI Ground School

Sometime prior to RIs you will have to complete a weather course and RI ground school. Most of the time these classes are taken once you are finished with Aerobatics and Formations flights however some squadrons may send you here earlier depending on how backed up different portions of the syllabus are. Below is a little bit of gouge to help you through. As always, it's a work in progress so add info if you have it.

Weather Class / Exam
Weather class is quite brief (1.5 hrs a day for 2 days). You are expected to have the MET B CAI's complete prior to class (pink sheet if you don't) and it's helpful if you have read the weather pubs over.

The exam is pretty straight forward. (By the way this is one of the 3 exams that counts towards your NSS) There are a few versions of the test but here's what you need to know:


 * **MOST IMPORTANT:** make sure you understand Appendix F of your weather pubs. That's the EXACT weather information you will get on the test.  Read the TAFs/METARs and figure out the abbreviations and decode the station model symbols, charts, and WW/WST/WA.
 * Example questions:
 * 1. On Figure F-5, what does symbol 'w' mean?
 * a) rain
 * b) steady rain
 * c) rain showers
 * d) squall
 * Answer: c) rain showers
 * 2. On the Low-Level Significant Weather Prognostic Chart (Figure F-6) what does the solid outline mean?
 * a) MVFR
 * b) VFR
 * c) IFR
 * d) Freezing level above ground
 * Answer: c) IFR
 * 3. On the Radar Summary Chart (Figure F-8) what is true about the storm in Eastern Texas?
 * a) It has tops at 35,000 ft
 * b) It is moving west at 10KTs
 * c) It is moving south at 35KTs
 * d) It has intensities of 5-6
 * Answer: a) It has tops at 35,000 FT
 * 4. What are the winds and temperature at 34,000 MSL at LRD as listed on Figure F-11?
 * a) Winds 260° True at 13KT gusting 41KT
 * b) Winds 260° Magnetic at 13KT, temperature +41°C
 * c) Winds 260° Magnetic at 13KT, temperature -41°C
 * d) Winds 260° True at 13KT, temperature -41°C
 * Answer: d) Winds 260° True at 13KT, temperature -41°C


 * METARS & TAFS: If you can't read one you'll be lost in the sauce.
 * 40% of questions on the test are something like these:
 * 1. What are the ceiling (or vis, winds, etc..) at KOZR on Figure F-1?
 * a) Overcast at 1,700 MSL
 * b) Overcast at 1,700 AGL
 * c) Overcast at 4,500 MSL
 * d) Overcast at 4,500 AGL
 * Answer: b) Overcast at 1,700 AGL
 * 2. Using Figure F-3, what can the visibility (winds, ceiling, etc) be expected to be at KNBG with an ETA of 0215Z?
 * a) 2 NM
 * b) 2 SM
 * c) 3 SM
 * d) 1/2 SM
 * Answer: d) 1/2 SM (800 meters = 1/2 SM)


 * Weather at ETA means ETA +/- 1 hr. Figure out your window and check the METAR/TAF for worst case


 * Understand the different types of charts and know which are observed conditions (Surface Analysis, Weather Depiction) and which are forecasted conditions (Low-Level, Winds-Aloft).


 * There is nothing on the test about Military Weather Advisories (MWA) as they are not used anymore.


 * There ARE a few (3-5) questions about the DD-175 / DD-175-1.

If your exam focused more on something else, please update page.

RI Ground School
One of the most horribly boring portions of primary if you ask most. A lot to learn and most of it probably won't make sense until the day before the test (or the week after if your unlucky). Ground school is a daily adventure that starts at 0730 and runs until 1500 and takes just about two weeks; classes start on a Friday and are finished on Tuesday of the following week (8 days of class in all). The RI Exam (see below) kicks off at the end of the first full week of classes.

Ground school (up until the test) is all about the FLIP pubs. You learn to find worthless stuff (i.e. what kind of gas can be purchased at Bob's Regional Airport on Thursdays after 3am to groups of 6 or more T34's flying in formation) using the massive stack of books you got issued. In addition to the FLIPs, you should become proficient at creating DD-175's and the all important jet logs.

Keys to success:
 * Get the CAI's done early. Get the I0202A-F and I0202L-O done prior to the first day of class and then knock out the last two once they're released on the following Monday.
 * Stay awake.
 * Do the homework. Is it suggested that you do all 50 of the CR-2 speed/fuel problems? No. That's retarded.  However: The more jet logs you do, the better you get at them.  The more weird stuff you look up, the better you get at finding things.  If it helps, take the pubs and highlight stuff, write in them, tab them, etc.. It should be mentioned that you're not supposed to ink up the books.  That said, mine were written all over by past students and a) it was very helpful for me and b) I just truthfully told the book issue people that it wasn't me :-)

RI Exam
RI Exam is bright and early Friday. There are 5 different versions of the exam and here's the best part: you can ask questions. The instructors are very willing to help you so use them if you're confused. Say you have a question that reads "How many compulsory reporting points are there in your flight?" You have none in your primary route but two in your alternate. You're not sure whether it means the whole route, alternate included, or just the departure point to the first IAF. Ask and the instructor will give you the answer: "yup whole flight." Great, then pick 2 and be on your way with one more correct than you would've had if you guessed. Here's what to expect in terms of questions:
 * 50 questions (100 points)
 * 5 Questions from DD-175 to include the following (some of these fields (TAS, ETE, ALTN AF) are asked to make sure you got it right on the jet log):
 * TAS
 * Departure Time (make sure you convert to Z using the timezone from IFR Supplement)
 * Route of flight (only list necessary NAVAIDS, airways, intersections, and IAF)
 * ETE
 * Remarks (don't forget "request radar departure" if needed)
 * Alternate airfield
 * ETE to Alternate (make sure you add the extra 10 minutes to shoot approach)
 * 5 Questions from the jet log. Depending on the test/route different tolerances are allowed.  The more "self measured" legs the more leeway you'll get on the exam.
 * Time to Climb (TTC) - MUST BE EXACT
 * TAS - +/- 1 KT
 * Distance/Course/Fuel/ETE for a specific leg or total flight
 * Spare fuel (from fuel card) or fuel remaining (either hh+mm or lbs).
 * Compulsory reporting points in no-radar environments
 * At any black triangle
 * At the beginning or end of any direct leg
 * 40 Multiple guess questions. These can be broken down into two sections: stuff you need to memorize and stuff you need to be able to look up.  If it's in bold, take a hint.
 * Need to memorize things:
 * NAVAIDS:
 * 1. VOR
 * Type: VIR-30A
 * Freq: VHF 108.0 - 117.95
 * Some have voice (W means no voice)
 * No DME from VOR
 * MUST KNOW: station passage characteristics - TO/FROM arrow switch
 * 2. TACAN
 * Type: TCN-40
 * 126 X/Y Channels (always X unless specified) uses UHF frequencies.
 * No voice, identifies every 37.5 seconds
 * STBY = bearing; T/R = bearing and DME
 * MUST KNOW: station passage characteristics - min DME at passage.
 * 3. GPS
 * Type: KLN-900
 * Communications:
 * 1. VHF range 108.0 - 136.975 MHz (includes VOR navigation range - SEE ABOVE)
 * 2. UHF range 225.00 - 399.975 MHz
 * 3. Transponder
 * Type: Collins TDR-950
 * Mode 3 = squawk; Mode C = squawk and alt; 4096 squawks
 * 4. VHF Radio
 * Type: Becker AR4201
 * Freq range: 118.0 - 136.975
 * 5. UHF Radio
 * Type: AN/ARC-159V
 * Freq range: 225.0 - 399.975
 * Miscellaneous:
 * 1. Precision approach (PAR,ILS) gives course AND glideslope
 * 2. Non-precision gives course only
 * 3. Ground controlled approach can be PAR (prec.) or ASR (non-prec.)
 * PAR needs comm every 5 seconds on final
 * ASR needs comm every 15 seconds on final
 * 4. Holding patterns
 * Standard (or if not specified) = right turns
 * Non-Standard = left
 * 14,000 and below = 1 minute legs
 * Above 14,000 = 1 1/2 minute legs
 * Always hold toward fix
 * Need to be able to find/compute things:
 * OPNAV 3710
 * 1. T/O mins: (published mins but absolute min of 300-1 or 200-1/2)
 * 2. Planning mins (hopefully you grasp the whole add 300-1 thing by now...)
 * 3. Executing approaches: Pub mins but NLT 200-1/2 RVR24
 * 4. Practice approaches - anything goes as long as not filed as destination or alternate.
 * GP
 * 1. Mad definitions in Chapter 2
 * 2. DD-175, How-to guide: Chapter 4
 * 3. Chapter 5: Pilot procedures 12 questions come from pages 8-17
 * 4. NOTAMS website is in Chapter 5
 * 5. Clearance or Ground relays IFR clearance.
 * CRAFT (Clearance, Route, Altitude, Frequency, Transponder)
 * 6. You must call FSS (800-WXBRIEF) to close flight plan or to modify in the air (122.2 255.4).
 * 7. FLIPs used for "Desk" planning.
 * AP-1
 * 1. Airspace 3-48 through 3-58
 * 2. Hazards and supplemental info about airports (may have to look up because referenced in IFR Supplement)
 * 3. Preferred IFR Route and VOR receiver checkpoints
 * Enroute Supplement (IFR Supplement)
 * 1. Understand how to get information out of this thing. Know where to find that (R) means radar, (E) means 121.5 and 243.0 are monitored, P means military can stop on by, lighting type 10 means ALSF-2, S10 means runway can support 10,000 lbs on a single mount, and that Eastern West Virginia Regional has a MD-3 electric starting unit.
 * 2. Don't forget about ADIZ stuff in Section C
 * Charts
 * 1. Hope you figured out these guys.
 * 2. Use the legend when you can't figure something out (FSS freqs, guard freqs, what the star means, what (A) means, etc).
 * 3. MEA, MOCA, MRA, and what routes/NAVAIDS they refer to.
 * 4. Must be able to figure what FSS to use, which ARTCC to talk to
 * 5. Make sure you know what defines and intersection (arrows and DME fixes)
 * Approach Plates
 * 1. Be able to read APs (no shit?)
 * 2. MDA = MSL, HAT/HAA/ceiling = AGL
 * 3. Use the legend.
 * 4. (V) is not a type of approach lighting only (A) symbols are
 * 5. Know if/what type of PT is required.
 * 6. Be able to find mins to T/O or use as alternate.
 * FIH
 * 1. Section A - LOST COMM
 * AVE FAME (Route: AVE-F; Altitude: AME) to find the precedence of your route and altitude in lost comm
 * Route
 * Assigned route
 * Route specified in radar vector
 * Expected route in absence of assigned route
 * Route filed in the flight plane in absence of assigned or expected
 * Altitude
 * Assigned altitude
 * MEA (minimum enroute altitude)
 * Expected altitude always specifieds a time to a fix
 * Hold at IAF until ETA
 * Climb BEFORE you get to intersection if it has MCA
 * Begin climb AT interection if there is a change in MEA
 * 2. POSREPs Section B, understand radar vs non-radar environment as well as mando reports
 * 3. Section C
 * PMSV locations, freqs, and callsign "METRO"'
 * METAR, ATIS, and PIREP stuff
 * 4. NOTAM codes are in Section F
 * Extra foot stomping...
 * 1. 4 reasons for starting a new block in the jet log are:
 * NAVAID to NAVAID, on and off airways
 * Course change of more than 6°on Victor airways
 * Both ends of a direct route
 * Mandatory reporting points, especially the one you have to fly over in NC on one of the tests!
 * 2. You are required to get clearance to enter Class B airspace.
 * 3. IAF/DME fix can be written CEW201016 - meaning 16 DME on the Crestview 201 radial
 * 4. MUST HAVE ALTIMETER SETTING WITHIN 100 NM OF ROUTE - AP-1 Chapter 3

That's all for now folks. You know how to edit if you have things to add!

Navigation Class & Exam
Nav class is a 1 hour class that you'll (usually) attend sometime during the RI section of the syllabus. Class is quick and easy. Flip through the NAV FTI before you show up (only 25 pages or so) and take notes. Most instructors are pretty good about letting you know what to study to take the test. If you missed the foot stomping in class here's a refresher..


 * Altitudes: KNOW AGL VS MSL Use the La Paz, Bolivia, test: Runway elevation there is 12,000' MSL. Class D airspace there must be 2500' AGL (this is a question 5 times on some versions) not MSL otherwise it'd be 8000' below ground.
 * Class B: SFC to 10000'MSL (normally), two way radio, mode-c, private pilot/military aviator, solid blue lines on sectional
 * Class C: 10NM ring. Inner ring is 5NM, SFC to 4000' AGL; outer ring is 5 - 10 NM, 1200' AGL to 4000' AGL, solid magenta lines
 * Class D: SFC to 2500' AGL, blue dashed circle
 * Route Altitudes for VNAV:
 * 1000' AGL Day
 * 2000' AGL Night
 * 4500' AGL Maximum
 * 500' AGL absolute minimum per OPNAV
 * VFR Cruising:
 * Start at 3000' AGL
 * Based on magnetic COURSE (not plane heading)
 * 360°-179° = East; East = ODD Alt. (+500') - Think... Only Odd people want to move out east to Lejeune
 * 180°-359° = West; West = EVEN Alt. (+500')
 * Highest westbound VFR cruising altitude: 16,500' MSL
 * Highest eastbound VFR cruising altitude: 17,500' MSL
 * VFR Chart Stuff:
 * Lambert Conformal Charts are good because it uses the same scale in all directions
 * 1:500,000 scale
 * 1:500,000 is LARGER than 1:1,000,000 (larger scale = more detail)
 * 1:500,000 is nice because it fits better in a tight space. Seriously though... who comes up with this stuff?
 * Know what tower symbols are and what each line of altitude means -> MSL (AGL) subtracting the two give you ground elevation at that point
 * Depression contours are regular contour lines with spurs or ticks
 * Max. Elevation Figures (MEF) provides 100-199 ft clearance over highest feature. MSL! Know how subtract 100 and 199 from that figure....yeah....
 * Railroads
 * ALL MULTIPLE track and SOME SINGLE track railroads are depicted
 * Railroad stations with 5 or more tracks or longer then 2000' are depicted
 * Double lane highways are the easiest type of transportation line to ID in the air
 * A Magenta square on the interchart relationship diagram means there is a TERMINAL AREA CHART for that location
 * Underground pipelines are depicted as a dashed line with "Underground Pipeline" written on it
 * Cities are depicted as yellow outline (large) or circles (small)
 * Bridges: over 500 feet and crossing double line stream over 600 feet wide
 * Use the compass rose to find magnetic course
 * VFR Operations:
 * ALWAYS CIRCLE LEFT to land unless told otherwise
 * ALDIS lamp signals - read them over again
 * FSS is on 122.2 and 255.4; their callsign is "____ RADIO"
 * If you'd like an intersection T/O, ask ground.
 * AIRCRAFT RIGHT OF WAY RULES - KNOW THEM (both for the test and so you don't run into my ass while flying around)
 * There is no 180 position in the civilian pattern
 * Need ATC clearance to enter Class B Airspace
 * Need 2-way communication to enter Class C/D Airspace
 * Prohibited Areas are for national security reasons
 * Need prior permission to penetrate Restricted Areas
 * Do not need permission to enter Alert Areas or if VFR in a Military Operations Area
 * Compliance with STAGE III TSRA is MANDATORY for CNATRA aircraft
 * Extra Rounds:
 * Pilotage means using VFR checkpoints
 * Check the chart, then look outside for preplanned checkpoints
 * Minimum Altitude over parks, bird sanctuaries, etc.. is 3000' AGL (3710)
 * FAA requires only 2000' clearance over these areas.
 * Primary roads are HARD SURFACED roads
 * Linear landmarks are only good for position checks when they are intersecting
 * FSS will consider you late if you exceed 30 min. after ETA, if in flight and appears you will exceed 15 min past ETA then change flight plan with FSS
 * 6T's are different: Time, Turn, Time, Transition, True (check wet compass), Talk (IGP and VFR posn. report to FSS)
 * Airspace is centered around the airfield not the navaid

RIFP CAIs
The Radio Instrument CAIs can be notoriously difficult and frustrating, especially when asked to hold a pencil to the screen.

I0301D


 * Wind Correction Problems
 * 150/9: wind is NE, crab to left
 * 150/9: wind is SW, crab to right
 * 240/25: wind is NE, crab to right
 * 195/10: wind is W, crab to right
 * 285/20: wind is SW, crab to left
 * 195/20: wind is S, crab to left
 * 300/20: wind is NW, crab to right
 * 195/18: wind is SE, crab to left
 * 330/25: wind is SW, crab to left
 * 015/25: wind is NW, crab to left
 * 255/20: wind is SW, crab to right