ATPL meteorology 050: practice questions and syllabus

What the syllabus covers

The topics of the EASA syllabus for this subject, with what each one lists.

1. 050 01The atmosphere

   composition and vertical division, temperature, pressure, density, International Standard Atmosphere (ISA), altimetry.

2. 050 02Wind

   definition and measurement, primary cause, general circulation, local winds, mountain waves, turbulence, jet streams.

3. 050 03Thermodynamics

   humidity, changes of state of water, adiabatic processes.

4. 050 04Clouds and fog

   cloud formation and description, fog, mist, haze.

5. 050 05Precipitation

   development and types of precipitation.

6. 050 06Air masses and fronts

   air masses, fronts.

7. 050 07Pressure systems

   principal pressure areas, anticyclones, non-frontal depressions, tropical revolving storms.

8. 050 08Climatology

   climatic zones, tropical climatology, typical weather situations in the mid-latitudes, local winds and associated weather.

9. 050 09Flight hazards

   icing, turbulence, wind shear, thunderstorms, tornadoes, inversions, stratospheric conditions, hazards in mountainous areas, visibility-reducing phenomena.

10. 050 10Meteorological information

    observations, weather charts, information for flight planning, meteorological services.

Source: EASA, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (AMC to Part-FCL)

The illustrated course

To understand before you answer: 14 chapters and 157 key points, 157 of them with a diagram or an illustration. The first chapter, « The atmosphere, radiation and the standard atmosphere », is free to read.

1. The atmosphere, radiation and the standard atmosphere
2. Pressure, isobaric surfaces and altimetry
3. Wind, from the surface to jet streams
4. Humidity, thermodynamics and stability
5. Clouds and precipitation
6. Visibility, mist and fog
7. Air masses, fronts and disturbances
8. Pressure systems
9. General circulation and climatology
10. Terrain, breezes and local winds
11. Icing
12. Thunderstorms and convective phenomena
13. Turbulence, CAT and wind shear
14. Weather messages and charts

ATPL meteorology course: contents and chapter 1

3 questions to practise

Taken from the site's English bank and checked one by one. Read the question, choose your answer, then open the explanation. Like every explanation on the site, they may contain errors.

1. Question 1 · 050 01 The atmosphere

   QNH is defined as

   • Apressure at MSL in the standard atmosphere
   • BQFE reduced to MSL using the values of the standard atmosphere
   • CQFE reduced to MSL using the values of the actual atmosphere
   • Dpressure at MSL in the actual atmosphere
   Show the answer+

   Answer: B. QFE reduced to MSL using the values of the standard atmosphere

   QNH is defined as QFE (station pressure) reduced to mean sea level using standard atmosphere values.

2. Question 2 · 050 02 Wind

   The most frequent wind direction in a valley caused by thermal effects is toward the :

   • Avalley during daylight as much as at night.
   • Bvalley during daylight hours.
   • Cmountain during daylight hours.
   • Dmountain at night.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: C. mountain during daylight hours.

   Thermally driven valley winds blow up toward the mountain (upslope, anabatic) during daylight hours, as heated air rises along the slopes.

3. Question 3 · 050 04 Clouds and fog

   Which of the following types of clouds are evidence of unstable air conditions?

   • ASC, NS.
   • BCU, CB.
   • CCI, SC.
   • DST, CS.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: B. CU, CB.

   Cumulus and cumulonimbus (CU, CB) clouds are evidence of unstable atmospheric conditions.

7 more free questions, no sign-up: Free ATPL meteorology questions

How to approach this subject

Practise decoding METAR, TAF and SIGMET, then learn the reference figures: an isothermal layer at −56.5 °C from 11 to 20 km in the standard atmosphere, a TREND valid for 2 hours, about 27 ft per hPa near the ground, a warm front where warm air slides over cold air and a cold front where cold air pushes under warm air. For wind, Buys Ballot's law (back to the wind, low pressure on your left, in the northern hemisphere) is the anchor.

How ForAllPilots trains you

• Series of 20 or 30 questions

  New questions, mistakes to review or a mix of both, with the answer and its explanation straight away.

• Flashcards

  Question on the front, explained answer on the back, filtered by subject, to learn without a timer.

• Timed mock exam

  100 questions in 150 minutes, drawn from the whole ATPL bank: a training format, not a copy of an official paper.

• AI instructor, optional

  From €4.99 a month on top of the Private pilot or PRO offer: it quizzes you in writing and explains your mistakes. A beta tool, it does not replace an approved instructor.

ATPL access comes with the PRO offer (which also includes Private pilot): €19.99 a month, cancel anytime, or €129 once with the Exam Pass (18 months of access, nothing renews). Prices include all taxes.