FAA Instrument Flight Instructor (FII)WeatherEasy
A flight service specialist tells a pilot that AIRMET Zulu is current for the planned route of flight. This advisory primarily provides information on which hazard?
- AWidespread areas of IFR conditions and mountain obscuration
- BModerate icing and freezing level heights
- CSevere thunderstorms and tornado activity
- DModerate turbulence and sustained surface winds of 30 knots or greater
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Moderate icing and freezing level heights
AIRMET Zulu covers moderate icing conditions and provides freezing level heights. AIRMET Sierra covers IFR/mountain obscuration, and AIRMET Tango covers turbulence and sustained surface winds; severe thunderstorms/tornadoes are covered by Convective SIGMETs, not AIRMETs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes AIRMET Sierra, which covers IFR conditions and mountain obscuration.
- C. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are covered under Convective SIGMETs, a separate advisory.
- D. This describes AIRMET Tango, not AIRMET Zulu.
AIRMET Types
AIRMETs are advisories for weather hazards significant to light aircraft but less severe than SIGMETs, divided into three types identified by phonetic letters.
- Sierra: IFR conditions and mountain obscuration
- Tango: turbulence and sustained surface winds ≥30 knots
- Zulu: icing and freezing level heights
- Issued every 6 hours with updates as needed
Memory trick: Sierra=See low clouds, Tango=Turbulent winds, Zulu=Zero-degree ice