FAA AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER FINAL EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are some examples of the causes of temperature variations across the planet
- ✔✔Diurnal variation
Seasonal variation
Latitude (angle of sun exposure)
Topographical issues
Altitude effects
✔✔The tropopause is characterized by? - ✔✔an abrupt change of temperature lapse
rate
✔✔What effect does temperature have on aircraft performance? - ✔✔As temperature
increases, aircraft performance is reduced due to a decrease in air density.
✔✔What potential issues might arise when an inversion exists at an airport? -
✔✔Inversions are often associated with reduced visibility and possible wind shear as an
aircraft passes through the inversion layer.
✔✔What effect does temperature have on aircraft performance? - ✔✔As temperature
increases, aircraft performance is reduced due to a decrease in air density
✔✔Describe a low-pressure system? - ✔✔Lows are areas of reduced pressure and
have counterclockwise wind that flows inwards and upwards in the northern hemisphere
(opposite in the southern hemisphere). These are commonly associated with poor
weather.
✔✔What is a "trough"? - ✔✔A trough is an elongated area of low pressure. Weather
systems often develops in association with troughs.
✔✔What is a "ridge" - ✔✔A ridge is an elongated area of high pressure.
✔✔What is "col"? - ✔✔A col is a neutral area between high and low-pressure systems,
or it is where a ridge and trough meet.
✔✔Describe a high-pressure system - ✔✔Highs are areas of increased pressure and
have clockwise wind that flows outward and downward in the northern hemisphere
(opposite in the southern hemisphere). These are commonly associated with good
weather.
✔✔How does pressure vary with altitude? - ✔✔Pressure decreases as altitude
increases. In the standard atmosphere the rate of decrease is 1 inch Hg per 1,000 feet.
,✔✔What is "true altitude"? - ✔✔True altitude is an aircraft's height above sea level. Its
also known as mean sea level (MSL).
✔✔What is "pressure altitude? - ✔✔This is altitude in reference to the standard datum
plane of 29.92'' Hg
✔✔Why does a high density altitude reduce aircraft performance? - ✔✔a) Reduce
engine thrust/power
b) Reduce the amount of lift that is produced by
the wing
✔✔What is "Coriolis force"? - ✔✔The Coriolis force is a phenomenon that occurs due to
the rotation of the Earth that causes wind in the Northern Hemisphere to be deflected to
the right.
✔✔Why is wind speed usually slower near the surface as compared to aloft? - ✔✔This
occurs due to friction between the terrain at the surface and the wind. Winds aloft move
relatively unrestricted.
✔✔How does wind flow in relation to isobars aloft? - ✔✔Winds aloft tend to flow parallel
to isobars due to Coriolis force turning the wind to the right (in the Northern
Hemisphere)
✔✔What is Fog? - ✔✔Fog is a surface - based cloud that always forms in stable air
conditions
✔✔What are the three main types of Fog and how are they formed? - ✔✔1. Radiation
Fog: occurs when there is a surface - based temperature inversion. (mostly during
relatively calm nights and just after sunrise)
2. Advection Fog: forms when warm moist air
flows over a colder surface (commonly occurs
over bodies of water such as lakes or oceans)
3. Upslope Fog: forms when moist, stable air is gradually moved over higher ground by
the wind (commonly in mountainous areas)
✔✔Name five causes of turbulence? - ✔✔i. Convective currents (heating of ground
Surface)
ii. Mountain waves
iii. Wind shear
iv. Clouds
v. Inversions
vi. wake turbulence (from the aircraft)
vii. Mechanical (objects on the ground such as
, trees or buildings)
✔✔What is " CAT"? - ✔✔High altitude turbulence (normally above 15,000 feet msl) not
associated with cumuliform cloudiness.
✔✔When is it likely that aircraft will accumulate ice? - ✔✔Anytime there is visible
moisture and the temperature is near or below freezing.
✔✔What are the three types of airframe icing? - ✔✔1. Clear
2. Rime
3. Mixed
✔✔Name some dangers associated with operating in icing conditions? - ✔✔i. Disrupts
airflow over the wing
ii. Increase aircraft weight
iii. Reduce thrust (affects airflow over propeller or jet compressor blades)
iv. Affects probes and associated instrument
systems
✔✔What determines the type of airframe icing that will form? - ✔✔The type of icing that
forms is determined by water droplet size.
✔✔What ingredients and conditions are needed for thunderstorms to occur? -
✔✔Moisture
Lifting force
Unstable air
✔✔What are the stages of a thunderstorm? - ✔✔1. Cumulus (continuous updraft as the
cloud builds)
2. Mature (precipitation reaching the surface)
3. Dissipating (predominantly downdrafts)
✔✔Describe a warm front and the associated weather? - ✔✔Warm front occurs when
warm air is pushing against cooler air.
✔✔What is a "squall line"? - ✔✔is a non-frontal instability line that often forms ahead of
a fast moving cold front.
✔✔What is "microburst"? - ✔✔Is a concentrated area of wind shear that flows
downward and outward from a strong thunderstorm.
✔✔What is the "jet stream"? - ✔✔The jet stream is a narrow band of strong wind, in
excess of 50 knots, that occurs in the upper atmosphere.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are some examples of the causes of temperature variations across the planet
- ✔✔Diurnal variation
Seasonal variation
Latitude (angle of sun exposure)
Topographical issues
Altitude effects
✔✔The tropopause is characterized by? - ✔✔an abrupt change of temperature lapse
rate
✔✔What effect does temperature have on aircraft performance? - ✔✔As temperature
increases, aircraft performance is reduced due to a decrease in air density.
✔✔What potential issues might arise when an inversion exists at an airport? -
✔✔Inversions are often associated with reduced visibility and possible wind shear as an
aircraft passes through the inversion layer.
✔✔What effect does temperature have on aircraft performance? - ✔✔As temperature
increases, aircraft performance is reduced due to a decrease in air density
✔✔Describe a low-pressure system? - ✔✔Lows are areas of reduced pressure and
have counterclockwise wind that flows inwards and upwards in the northern hemisphere
(opposite in the southern hemisphere). These are commonly associated with poor
weather.
✔✔What is a "trough"? - ✔✔A trough is an elongated area of low pressure. Weather
systems often develops in association with troughs.
✔✔What is a "ridge" - ✔✔A ridge is an elongated area of high pressure.
✔✔What is "col"? - ✔✔A col is a neutral area between high and low-pressure systems,
or it is where a ridge and trough meet.
✔✔Describe a high-pressure system - ✔✔Highs are areas of increased pressure and
have clockwise wind that flows outward and downward in the northern hemisphere
(opposite in the southern hemisphere). These are commonly associated with good
weather.
✔✔How does pressure vary with altitude? - ✔✔Pressure decreases as altitude
increases. In the standard atmosphere the rate of decrease is 1 inch Hg per 1,000 feet.
,✔✔What is "true altitude"? - ✔✔True altitude is an aircraft's height above sea level. Its
also known as mean sea level (MSL).
✔✔What is "pressure altitude? - ✔✔This is altitude in reference to the standard datum
plane of 29.92'' Hg
✔✔Why does a high density altitude reduce aircraft performance? - ✔✔a) Reduce
engine thrust/power
b) Reduce the amount of lift that is produced by
the wing
✔✔What is "Coriolis force"? - ✔✔The Coriolis force is a phenomenon that occurs due to
the rotation of the Earth that causes wind in the Northern Hemisphere to be deflected to
the right.
✔✔Why is wind speed usually slower near the surface as compared to aloft? - ✔✔This
occurs due to friction between the terrain at the surface and the wind. Winds aloft move
relatively unrestricted.
✔✔How does wind flow in relation to isobars aloft? - ✔✔Winds aloft tend to flow parallel
to isobars due to Coriolis force turning the wind to the right (in the Northern
Hemisphere)
✔✔What is Fog? - ✔✔Fog is a surface - based cloud that always forms in stable air
conditions
✔✔What are the three main types of Fog and how are they formed? - ✔✔1. Radiation
Fog: occurs when there is a surface - based temperature inversion. (mostly during
relatively calm nights and just after sunrise)
2. Advection Fog: forms when warm moist air
flows over a colder surface (commonly occurs
over bodies of water such as lakes or oceans)
3. Upslope Fog: forms when moist, stable air is gradually moved over higher ground by
the wind (commonly in mountainous areas)
✔✔Name five causes of turbulence? - ✔✔i. Convective currents (heating of ground
Surface)
ii. Mountain waves
iii. Wind shear
iv. Clouds
v. Inversions
vi. wake turbulence (from the aircraft)
vii. Mechanical (objects on the ground such as
, trees or buildings)
✔✔What is " CAT"? - ✔✔High altitude turbulence (normally above 15,000 feet msl) not
associated with cumuliform cloudiness.
✔✔When is it likely that aircraft will accumulate ice? - ✔✔Anytime there is visible
moisture and the temperature is near or below freezing.
✔✔What are the three types of airframe icing? - ✔✔1. Clear
2. Rime
3. Mixed
✔✔Name some dangers associated with operating in icing conditions? - ✔✔i. Disrupts
airflow over the wing
ii. Increase aircraft weight
iii. Reduce thrust (affects airflow over propeller or jet compressor blades)
iv. Affects probes and associated instrument
systems
✔✔What determines the type of airframe icing that will form? - ✔✔The type of icing that
forms is determined by water droplet size.
✔✔What ingredients and conditions are needed for thunderstorms to occur? -
✔✔Moisture
Lifting force
Unstable air
✔✔What are the stages of a thunderstorm? - ✔✔1. Cumulus (continuous updraft as the
cloud builds)
2. Mature (precipitation reaching the surface)
3. Dissipating (predominantly downdrafts)
✔✔Describe a warm front and the associated weather? - ✔✔Warm front occurs when
warm air is pushing against cooler air.
✔✔What is a "squall line"? - ✔✔is a non-frontal instability line that often forms ahead of
a fast moving cold front.
✔✔What is "microburst"? - ✔✔Is a concentrated area of wind shear that flows
downward and outward from a strong thunderstorm.
✔✔What is the "jet stream"? - ✔✔The jet stream is a narrow band of strong wind, in
excess of 50 knots, that occurs in the upper atmosphere.
