FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)WeatherMedium
A pilot reviews a weather depiction chart before departure and notices an area enclosed by a smooth, solid contour line. According to standard weather depiction chart symbology, what conditions exist within this contour?
- AMarginal VFR conditions with ceilings 1,000–3,000 feet or visibility 3–5 statute miles
- BIFR conditions with ceilings below 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 statute miles
- CVFR conditions with ceilings above 3,000 feet and visibility greater than 5 statute miles
- DAn area of moderate to severe icing forecast below 10,000 feet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. IFR conditions with ceilings below 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 statute miles
On a weather depiction chart, areas of IFR weather (ceiling below 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 SM) are enclosed by a smooth solid contour line, while marginal VFR areas are outlined with a scalloped/dashed line.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. MVFR areas use a scalloped or dashed contour, not a smooth solid line.
- C. VFR areas have no contour line since they represent the default background condition.
- D. Icing information is depicted on icing/freezing level charts, not the weather depiction chart contour lines.
Weather Depiction Chart Contours
The weather depiction chart uses a smooth solid line to enclose areas of IFR weather and a scalloped/dashed line to enclose areas of marginal VFR (MVFR) weather; areas outside these contours are VFR.
- Smooth solid line = IFR (ceiling <1,000 ft and/or vis <3 SM)
- Scalloped/dashed line = MVFR (ceiling 1,000-3,000 ft or vis 3-5 SM)
- No contour = VFR conditions
Memory trick: Smooth line = 'solidly bad' (IFR); scalloped = 'so-so' (marginal).