FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot (UAG)WeatherMedium
A remote pilot receives a weather briefing for a planned operation and notes a METAR reporting 'VV002'. What does 'VV002' indicate?
- AVisibility is 2 statute miles horizontally.
- BVertical visibility is 200 feet above ground level (AGL).
- CVariable wind direction at 2 knots.
- DVertical visibility is 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Vertical visibility is 200 feet above ground level (AGL).
The 'VV' in a METAR stands for Vertical Visibility, which is reported when the sky is obscured and no cloud layer can be discerned. The three digits following 'VV' represent the vertical visibility in hundreds of feet above ground level (AGL). Therefore, 'VV002' indicates 200 feet AGL.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes horizontal visibility, not vertical visibility, and '002' would not represent 2 statute miles in that context.
- C. This refers to wind, which is reported differently in a METAR (e.g., 'VRB02KT').
- D. This option exaggerates the height; 'VV002' means 200 feet, not 2,000 feet.
Vertical Visibility (VV)
Vertical visibility is reported in a METAR when the sky is completely obscured (e.g., by fog, heavy snow, or smoke) and no cloud layers can be observed. It indicates the vertical distance an observer can see into the obscuring phenomenon.
- Reported as 'VV' followed by three digits.
- The three digits represent hundreds of feet AGL.
- Indicates the height at which an aircraft would enter the obscuring layer from below.
Memory trick: METARs Make Every Takeoff And Landing Readable.