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Drone Advanced Exam (RPAS) overview

Drone Advanced Exam (RPAS): Aviation weather reports and meteorology

Decoding METARs and TAFs (wind, visibility, weather, cloud, ceiling, temperature, altimeter), change groups, pressure and density altitude, stability, fronts, thunderstorms and wind shear.

  • 14 questions
  • Topic drill
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Aviation weather reports and meteorology · Question 1Score 0/0

A report's weather group reads -RA BR. How do you decode it?

Study reference: TC drone rules: CARs Part IX and TC AIM RPA chapter (Oct 2026), Ch. 8 Meteorology — TC AIM MET 7.0–8.3; TC AIM AIR 1.5, 2.7–2.8; TP 15263 Section 4

All 14 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. A report's weather group reads -RA BR. How do you decode it?

    1. Heavy rain and blowing snow
    2. Light rain and mist
    3. Rain ending and breaking cloud
    4. Moderate rain with hail and fog

  2. In a TAF, what does TEMPO 2818/2901 1 1/2SM -SN mean?

    1. A 30% chance of snow between those two times only
    2. Temporary drops to 1½ SM in light snow then
    3. Visibility will slowly improve to 1½ SM by 0100Z
    4. A permanent change to 1½ SM from 1800Z on the 28th

  3. What is a TAF?

    1. A notice that a runway is closed for repairs
    2. A forecast for the area around an aerodrome
    3. A report of the weather observed on the hour
    4. A pilot's report of turbulence met in flight

  4. A METAR reports FEW010 SCT025 BKN040 OVC080. What is the ceiling?

    1. 2,500 ft
    2. 1,000 ft
    3. 8,000 ft
    4. 4,000 ft

  5. What is a METAR?

    1. A warning about volcanic ash in the upper atmosphere
    2. A chart of the winds and temperatures aloft over Canada
    3. A forecast of the weather for the next 30 hours
    4. A routine report of observed weather at an aerodrome

  6. A METAR shows 09015G25KT. What is the wind?

    1. From 150° true at 9 knots, gusting to 25 knots
    2. Toward 090° magnetic at 15 km/h, gusting to 25
    3. From 090° true at 25 knots, easing to 15 knots
    4. From 090° true at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots

  7. Which conditions produce high density altitude and poorer drone performance?

    1. Any day with a high altimeter setting
    2. Hot, humid air at a high-elevation site
    3. Cold, dry air at sea level in winter
    4. Cool air on a calm, overcast morning

  8. Which abbreviation is NOT used in Canadian TAFs?

    1. RMK
    2. CAVOK
    3. TEMPO
    4. BECMG

  9. A METAR reports 06/05. What should a drone pilot expect?

    1. Very dry air, with no chance of cloud or fog forming soon
    2. Fog or low cloud is likely, as the air is nearly saturated
    3. Freezing rain, because the dew point is above freezing
    4. Strong gusts, because temperature and dew point are close together

  10. In which stage of a thunderstorm are updrafts and downdrafts both present, with the heaviest rain and hail?

    1. The stratus stage
    2. The cumulus stage
    3. The mature stage
    4. The dissipating stage

  11. How do you read the group A3006 in a METAR?

    1. Airport elevation of 3,006 ft above sea level
    2. Visibility of 3 miles in the afternoon
    3. Aircraft ceiling at 3,006 ft above ground
    4. Altimeter setting 30.06 inches of mercury

  12. In a METAR, what does BKN008 mean?

    1. Scattered cloud (3/8 to 4/8) based at 80 ft above ground
    2. Broken cloud based at 8,000 ft above sea level
    3. Clear sky with visibility of 8 statute miles
    4. Broken cloud (5/8 to 7/8) based at 800 ft above ground

  13. In which unit is prevailing visibility reported in Canadian METARs?

    1. Statute miles
    2. Metres
    3. Kilometres
    4. Nautical miles

  14. Which weather usually comes with stable air?

    1. Gusty winds, very good visibility and towering cumulus
    2. Thunderstorms building quickly during the afternoon
    3. Showers with strong turbulence close to the ground
    4. Smooth air but poor visibility, with haze or layer cloud

Aviation weather reports and meteorology: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

METAR basics

  • METAR = routine aerodrome weather report, normally issued on the hour; SPECI = special report for significant changes between hours.
  • Canadian station identifiers have four letters starting with C, then W, Y or Z (e.g. CYXE).
  • Date/time group: day of the month + time in UTC (e.g. 292000Z = 29th at 2000 UTC).
  • AUTO = automated station (AWOS); CCA = first correction.

Decoding groups

  • Wind: three digits of direction in degrees TRUE (rounded to 10°) + speed in knots, e.g. 09015G25KT = from 090° true at 15 kt gusting 25 kt. 00000KT = calm. VRB = variable.
  • Visibility in statute miles (e.g. 3/4SM).
  • Weather: - light, no sign moderate, + heavy; RA rain, SN snow, DZ drizzle, BR mist (visibility 5/8 SM or more), FG fog (under 5/8 SM), TS thunderstorm, SH showers, FZ freezing, VC in the vicinity (within 5 SM).
  • Cloud amount in oktas: FEW up to 2/8, SCT 3–4/8, BKN 5 to less than 8/8, OVC 8/8; heights in hundreds of feet AGL (BKN008 = 800 ft). CB/TCU appended for convective cloud.
  • Ceiling = lowest BKN or OVC layer (or vertical visibility).
  • Temperature/dew point in °C, M = minus (21/19). A small spread means fog or low cloud is likely.
  • Altimeter: A2992 = 29.92 in. Hg. RMK remarks; SLP in hPa; density altitude given in remarks when 200 ft or more above field elevation.

TAF basics

  • TAF = aerodrome forecast, valid for about 5 NM around the runway complex; maximum validity 30 hours; issued about 20 minutes before validity starts.
  • Change groups: FM (from: a lasting change at a time), BECMG (becoming: gradual change over a period), TEMPO (temporary fluctuations), PROB30/PROB40 (probability %).
  • CAVOK is not used in Canadian TAFs; RMK gives the next issue time.
  • Wind shear group WS011/27050KT = shear from the surface to 1,100 ft with 270° at 50 kt.

Pressure and density altitude

  • Pressure decreases with height; high pressure usually means settled weather, low pressure cloud and precipitation.
  • Density altitude rises with high temperature, high elevation and humidity; high density altitude reduces lift, thrust and hover performance.
  • Standard atmosphere: 15 °C and 29.92 in. Hg at sea level; about 2 °C cooler per 1,000 ft.

Moisture, stability, fronts

  • When temperature and dew point meet, the air is saturated: cloud or fog forms. The smaller the spread, the lower the cloud base.
  • Stable air: smooth air, poor visibility, haze or smog layers, stratus. Unstable air: good visibility, turbulence, cumulus and showers.
  • A cold front often brings a band of showers or thunderstorms, gusty wind shifts and clearing behind it; a warm front brings widespread low cloud and steady precipitation ahead of it.

Thunderstorms and wind shear

  • Thunderstorm stages: cumulus (updrafts), mature (updrafts and downdrafts, heaviest rain, hail, lightning), dissipating (downdrafts).
  • Severe turbulence up to 20 NM from severe storms; do not take off or land as a storm approaches.
  • Microbursts: intense downdrafts about 1 NM across, rarely lasting more than 15 minutes; wind shear most dangerous within 1,000 ft AGL.

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