These are practice questions that test your ability to decode specific METAR… — Page 484, Lesson 462

I want to walk you through a set of METAR-related questions from your training material. These are practice questions that test your ability to decode specific METAR codes. Let me explain each one clearly. First, we have a question about the code "CAVOK." This is a very important METAR abbreviation. It stands for "Ceiling And Visibility OK." The question gives you four possible meanings. Option (a) says it means visibility 10 km or more, and no cloud below 5000 ft. Option (b) says visibility 10 km or more, and few cloud below 5000 ft. Option (c) says visibility 10 nautical miles or more, and no cloud below 5000 ft. Option (d) says visibility 10 nautical miles or more, and no scattered cloud below 5000 ft. The correct definition is that CAVOK means visibility is 10 kilometres or more, and there is no cloud below 5000 feet. It also implies no significant weather and no cumulonimbus. So the correct answer here is (a). Next, question 7 deals with a visibility group in a METAR: "R20/0050." This is a runway visual range report. The code breaks down as follows: "R" stands for runway, "20" is the runway designator — runway 20, meaning the runway oriented approximately 200 degrees magnetic. The slash separates the runway identifier from the visibility value. "0050" means the visibility is 50 metres. So the group "R20/0050" tells us that for runway 20, the current visibility is 50 metres, as measured by runway visual range equipment. Option (a) says exactly that: as measured by runway measuring equipment for runway 20, a current visibility of 50 metres. That is the correct answer. Option (b) incorrectly says 500 metres. Option (c) incorrectly adds "in the last 20 minutes" — that time reference is not part of this code. Option (d) says less than 5000 metres, which is too vague and not the specific value given. Now question 8: the code "BECMG FM 1100 –RASH" in a METAR. Let's decode this. "BECMG" is the change indicator meaning "becoming" — it indicates a forecast change to the conditions. "FM 1100" means "from 1100 UTC" — that is the time the change begins. Then "–RASH" — the minus sign indicates "light" or "slight," and "RASH" stands for rain showers. So the whole group means: becoming from 1100 UTC, slight rain showers. Option (b) says exactly that: becoming from 1100UTC slight rain showers. That is the correct answer. Option (a) says "cessation of rain showers" — that would be coded differently, like "RASH" ending. Option (c) misses the "slight" intensity indicator. Option (d) adds an end time "till 0000UTC" which is not in this code. These are the book's practice questions — let's try them one at a time.