Weather
This module of Virtual Skies will introduce you to basic concepts of weather and how they can affect aviation. You will learn about:
- Our Earth’s atmosphere and how temperature, pressure, and density affect an aircraft’s performance.
- Winds, why they exist, how they can be forecasted, and how aircraft operation can be adjusted to safely arrive at destinations.
- Air Moisture content as a factor for flight and the danger of aircraft icing.
- How to read those signposts in the sky known as clouds.
- What kinds of weather services are available to pilots when developing their fight plans and how they receive weather updates during the flights themselves.
Check out the variety of jobs associated with Aviation Weather in the “Career Radar.”
After reviewing these topics in the "Tutorial," engage in the Cloud Identification and Weather Chart activities that let you put your knowledge of Aviation Weather to practical use in the "Take Control" subsection. The "You Decide" subsection has an interesting flight from Lake Tahoe scenario, in which you can sharpen your newly developed skills, research additional aviation topics, and reinforce your knowledge of weather.
For those who want to assess their grasp of these Aviation Weather concepts, there is a pass/no pass, multiple-choice quiz. With a score of >80%, you can print out a cool NASA Virtual Skies Aviation Weather certificate of achievement.
