Course detail

Aeronautical Meteorology

FSI-DLM Acad. year: 2027/2028 Summer semester

The course focuses on aeronautical meteorology from the perspective of a professional pilot. The content is based on ATPL(A) Meteorology requirements and is supplemented by emphasis on practical interpretation of meteorological information, flight planning and independent pilot judgement.

Topics include atmospheric properties, pressure, temperature, humidity, stability and adiabatic processes, wind, turbulence, clouds, precipitation, visibility, icing, thunderstorms, air masses, fronts and pressure systems.

A major part of the course is devoted to practical use of meteorological reports and forecasts, surface and upper-air charts, radar and satellite products, and other available sources of meteorological information.

Students are encouraged not to interpret meteorological information in isolation, but to integrate different sources into a coherent understanding of the synoptic situation, estimate its further development and formulate an independent weather assessment for a specific flight.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Supervisor

doc. Ing. Ivo Jebáček, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Aerospace Engineering

Entry knowledge

Fundamentals of physics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Basic geographical knowledge and map-reading skills. Basic understanding of flight operations, flight rules and individual phases of flight is advantageous.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Lectures and exercises are compulsory, and the attendance (80% at the minimum) is controlled and recorded. 

The course-unit credit is awarded upon completion of assigned exercises and self-study tasks and successful completion of practical meteorological analyses.

The assessment includes at least one comprehensive meteorological evaluation of a specific flight, in which the student uses multiple available weather information sources and formulates an independent conclusion regarding expected weather development and its impact on the planned flight.

The examination is written and assesses both knowledge corresponding to ATPL(A) Meteorology requirements and the ability to correctly interpret meteorological information and apply it to a specific operational situation.

Attendance at exercises is compulsory. In justified cases, missed classes may be compensated by an individually assigned meteorological analysis or consultation according to the instructor’s instructions.

Aims

The aim of the course is to prepare students for practical use of meteorological information in flight planning and flight operations while providing knowledge corresponding to the ATPL(A) Meteorology requirements.

Emphasis is placed not only on knowledge of meteorological elements, phenomena, reports and forecasts, but particularly on their correct interpretation, integration and use in forming an independent assessment of current and expected weather conditions.

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • explain the fundamental atmospheric processes relevant to aviation,

  • describe the formation and development of clouds, precipitation, turbulence, icing and thunderstorms,

  • explain the relationships between pressure distribution, temperature, atmospheric stability and wind,

  • recognize basic synoptic situations and estimate their probable development,

  • interpret surface and upper-air weather charts,

  • correctly interpret METAR, SPECI, TAF, SIGMET and other aeronautical meteorological information,

  • use radar, satellite and numerical weather prediction products,

  • compare information from multiple sources and assess their consistency,

  • develop an independent working weather assessment for a planned route and flight time,

  • identify meteorological hazards relevant to individual phases of flight,

  • assess the suitability of weather conditions for VFR and IFR operations,

  • continuously update operational decisions according to observed weather development,

  • apply meteorological knowledge to safe pilot decision-making.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-PRP-P: Professional Pilot, Bachelor's, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

52 hours, optionally

Syllabus



  1. Atmosphere and basic meteorological parameters
    Composition and vertical structure of the atmosphere, pressure, temperature, density, standard atmosphere and aviation significance.




  2. Humidity, adiabatic processes and atmospheric stability
    Relative humidity, dew point, saturation, adiabatic processes, stable and unstable stratification.




  3. Wind and pressure distribution
    Pressure gradient, geostrophic and gradient wind, friction, surface and upper winds, wind shear.




  4. Turbulence and local airflow
    Mechanical and thermal turbulence, orographic effects, rotor, mountain waves and local winds.




  5. Clouds and precipitation
    Cloud formation, cloud classification, vertical development, precipitation processes and operational significance.




  6. Visibility, fog and low cloud
    Radiation and advection fog, visibility, low cloud and operational consequences for VFR and IFR flight.




  7. Icing and cloud-related turbulence
    Icing mechanisms, types of icing, occurrence conditions, hazards and operational decision-making.




  8. Thunderstorms and convective weather
    Thunderstorm life cycle, cumulonimbus, microburst, wind shear, hail, heavy precipitation and operational limitations.




  9. Air masses, fronts and pressure systems
    Warm, cold and occluded fronts, cyclones, anticyclones, typical weather and synoptic development.




  10. Synoptic charts and weather development analysis
    Surface and upper-air charts, isobars, geopotential, temperature fields, frontal analysis and independent assessment of weather development.




  11. Meteorological reports and aerodrome forecasts
    METAR, SPECI, TAF, trends, interpretation of individual groups and practical application.




  12. Warnings and en-route meteorological information
    SIGMET, AIRMET, significant weather charts, wind/temperature charts, radar and satellite products, en-route hazards.




  13. Pilot meteorological decision-making
    Integration of all available information, planning of a specific flight, independent weather assessment, alternatives, GO/NO-GO decision-making and in-flight reassessment.



Exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Syllabus



  1. Basic meteorological parameters, vertical atmospheric profiles and standard atmosphere.




  2. Temperature, humidity, dew point, atmospheric stability and interpretation of vertical temperature profiles.




  3. Analysis of surface pressure fields, wind and estimation of airflow from isobars.




  4. Upper-air charts, upper winds, wind shear, mountain and local airflow.




  5. Identification of clouds and precipitation from observations, radar and satellite data.




  6. Practical assessment of visibility, fog and low cloud for VFR and IFR operations.




  7. Analysis of icing and turbulence conditions along a specific route.




  8. Identification of convective situations, thunderstorm radar analysis and selection of safe route alternatives.




  9. Analysis of surface synoptic charts, fronts, pressure systems and estimation of their further development.




  10. METAR and SPECI – assessment of current aerodrome weather and operational implications.




  11. TAF interpretation and comparison of forecast conditions with observed weather development.




  12. SIGMET, significant weather charts, wind/temperature charts, radar and satellite information – preparation of an integrated en-route weather picture.




  13. Comprehensive meteorological flight preparation
    The student prepares an independent meteorological assessment for a specific flight using multiple information sources, identifies major hazards, estimates likely weather development and justifies a GO/NO-GO decision or proposed alternatives.