TP 15263 - Atmospheric pressure - section overview

In plain language

This section of TP 15263 outlines the meteorological knowledge requirements for Canadian RPAS pilots operating aircraft from 250 g up to 150 kg, covering atmospheric pressure, altimetry, moisture, stability, clouds, surface layers, turbulence, wind, and fronts.

Requirement as structured

This section of TP 15263 outlines the meteorological knowledge requirements for Canadian RPAS pilots operating aircraft from 250 g up to 150 kg, covering atmospheric pressure, altimetry, moisture, stability, clouds, surface layers, turbulence, wind, and fronts.

Original regulatory text

- Pressure measurements - Define atmospheric pressure, station pressure, sea level pressure. - Explain how atmospheric pressure varies with height. - Explain the movement of air resulting from high- and low-pressure systems, convergence, and divergence. - Relate weather characteristics to pressure systems. - Station pressure - Sea level pressure - Pressure system and their variations - Effects of temperature Meteorological aspects of altimetry - Pressure altitude - Recall the factors that affect density altitude. - Assess weather and density altitude for anticipated performance (take-off and launch) and flight envelope limitations. - Density altitude - Altimeter settings Moisture - Temperature variations with altitude - Explain the relationship between lapse rate, temperature-dewpoint spread and cloud base. - Explain the effect of moisture and temperature on the formation of clouds, height of cloud base. - Discuss the significance of cloud base height on potential air traffic. - Relative humidity/dewpoint - Cloud formation - Precipitation Stability and instability - Characteristics of stable/unstable air - Characterize the effects of stable and unstable air masses (visibility, turbulence, and smog layers). - Surface heating/cooling - Lifting processes Clouds - Types applicable to low level flying and recognition - Identify cloud types and their impact on flying operations. - Discuss the significance of observed vertical cloud development. - Associated precipitation and turbulence Surface based layers - Fog formation - Explain how fog is formed. - Identify the elements that can dissipate fog. - Identify different obstructions to vision. - Haze/smoke - Blowing obstruction to vision Turbulence - Convection - Explain the sources of mechanical turbulence. - Describe the formation of turbulence around large objects and mountain tops. - Identify sources of micro-climate turbulence and wind shear. - Mechanical - Orographic - Wind shear Wind - Pressure gradient - Explain the effect of pressure gradient on the horizontal movement of air. - Explain how wind changes in the friction layer due to surface heating. - Define wind shear and its effect on turbulence. - Explain the formation of land/sea breezes. - Use a picture to explain anabatic and katabatic winds. - Explain the effects of urban airflow. - Low level winds-variation in surface wind - Friction - Diurnal effects - Land/sea breezes - Katabatic/anabatic effects - Topographical effects Fronts and frontal weather - Structure/frontal wave - Discuss the relationship between air masses and creation of weather fronts. - Describe the changes in weather as a front approaches and passes over your location. - Cold front - Warm front

Applies when

country

Canada

min mtom g

250

max mtom kg

150

regulatory category

General