A2 CofC Meteorology for Drone Pilots — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What wind speed measurement unit is most commonly used in UK aviation weather reports relevant to drone pilots?
- Knots (kt) (Correct answer)
- Miles per hour (mph)
- Metres per second (m/s)
- Beaufort scale
Correct answer: Knots (kt)
UK aviation weather reports (METARs, TAFs) use knots as the standard unit for wind speed. Drone pilots should familiarise themselves with knots and know their aircraft's wind speed limits in knots to interpret these reports correctly.
Question 2: What is a METAR and how is it useful for drone pilots?
- A routine aviation weather report giving current conditions at an aerodrome including wind, visibility, cloud, and temperature (Correct answer)
- A forecast of weather conditions for the next 24 hours
- A document detailing airspace restrictions due to weather
- A satellite image service for weather planning
Correct answer: A routine aviation weather report giving current conditions at an aerodrome including wind, visibility, cloud, and temperature
A METAR is a standardised, coded aviation weather observation report issued at regular intervals (typically hourly or half-hourly). Drone pilots can use METARs from nearby aerodromes to assess current conditions such as wind speed, visibility, and cloud base before flying.
Question 3: Which weather phenomenon poses the greatest risk to drone batteries and electronic components?
- Very low temperatures (below 0°C) (Correct answer)
- High humidity alone
- Light drizzle
- Overcast cloud cover
Correct answer: Very low temperatures (below 0°C)
LiPo batteries suffer significantly reduced capacity and voltage in low temperatures, which can cause sudden power loss and in-flight failure. Electronics are also vulnerable to condensation when moving between cold and warm environments. Most manufacturers specify minimum operating temperatures.
Question 4: What is the significance of a temperature inversion for drone pilots?
- It can cause reduced visibility and fog near the ground while conditions are clear at altitude (Correct answer)
- It always improves flying conditions by stabilising the air
- It creates dangerous turbulence at all altitudes
- It has no relevance to drone operations below 120 m
Correct answer: It can cause reduced visibility and fog near the ground while conditions are clear at altitude
A temperature inversion (where temperature increases with altitude rather than decreasing) can trap moisture and pollutants near the surface, creating fog, mist, or smog. Visibility may be poor at drone operating altitudes even when overhead conditions appear clear, reducing the pilot's ability to maintain visual line of sight.
Question 5: What does 'wind shear' mean and why does it matter for drone pilots?
- A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, which can cause loss of control (Correct answer)
- A sustained strong wind that limits flight duration
- A measurement of wind turbulence intensity
- A type of gust reported in METARs
Correct answer: A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, which can cause loss of control
Wind shear occurs when adjacent air masses move at different speeds or directions. For drones, wind shear can cause sudden, unpredictable attitude changes and may exceed the drone's ability to self-correct, leading to loss of control — particularly dangerous near obstacles.
Question 6: What is the minimum visibility recommended for visual line of sight (VLOS) drone operations in UK guidance?
- The pilot must be able to see the drone at all times — typically requiring several hundred metres of clear visibility (Correct answer)
- 5 km — the same as VFR meteorological minima for manned aviation
- The drone's camera feed can substitute for direct visual contact in poor visibility
- 100 m visibility is sufficient for all open category operations
Correct answer: The pilot must be able to see the drone at all times — typically requiring several hundred metres of clear visibility
VLOS requires the pilot to maintain unaided visual contact with the drone at all times to determine its position, heading, and attitude. There is no fixed minimum visibility stated in metres, but the practical requirement means the pilot must be able to see and track the drone clearly — poor visibility that prevents this means flight should not take place.
A2 CofC Meteorology for Drone Pilots
What wind speed measurement unit is most commonly used in UK aviation weather reports relevant to drone pilots?