FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practice Exam

What information does an area forecast (FA) provide?

1. Current temperature conditions

2. Daily rainfall amounts

3. Expected VMC and general weather conditions

4. Specific flight paths

The correct answer is: Expected VMC and general weather conditions

An area forecast (FA) is designed to provide information on expected visual meteorological conditions (VMC) along with general weather conditions over a specific geographic area for a designated time period. This involves assessing various meteorological factors like cloud cover, visibility, and overall weather trends that may impact aviation activities. FAs typically cover larger regions than standard weather updates, giving pilots and dispatchers critical insights into what weather to anticipate for planning flights, ensuring safety and efficiency. The forecast does not focus on current temperature conditions or specific rainfall amounts, as those are covered by other types of reports such as METARs for current conditions or specific rainfall reports for meteorological data. Additionally, area forecasts do not provide specific flight paths, as flight routing is usually determined based on air traffic control instructions and not included within the scope of the FA.