Kernow Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

Pilot Exams – Read Me First

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:02:19 +0000

These exam questions have been compiled and checked by KHPA members to prepare club members for the BHPA Pilot Exam. Despite taking every effort to ensure that this exam is regularly reviewed the club cannot guarantee the accuracy of either the questions or answers.

If you disagree with any of the answers provided, have suggestions to improve the exam or would like to add your own questions, please contact a KHPA Committee Member listed on the Contacts page.

Pilot exam resources can also be found at:

Wessex HG and PG Pilot Exam

Dan Hamblin’s Pilot Exam at MorphFX

Polar Diagrams Glider Performance Airspeeds

Pilot Exam – Meteorology

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:10:27 +0000

In this exam there are 21 questions and the maximum score is 25.

Q1. The energy source that causes weather is:

Air rising from the ground
The jet stream.
Weather fronts.
Heat from the sun.

Q2. All the weather occurs in the following specific region:

the tropopause.
the troposphere.
the atmosphere.
the stratosphere.

Q3. The Coriolis effect describes how, in the Northern Hemisphere:

rising air is twisted clockwise.
a warm and cold front combine to form an occluded front.
a weather system moves from West to East.
rising air is twisted anticlockwise.

Q4. A weather front is a boundary between two air masses of:

differing densities.
differing directions.
differing speed.
differing humidity

Q5. Which of the following are characteristics of an approaching cold front:

Lowering cloudbase, rising temperature, cool day
Pressure initially falls then rises, warm day, wind veers by about 90 degrees.
Increasing virga or rain, backing then veering wind, cool day
Steadily falling pressure, front moves at about 15mph, preceded by cirrus clouds

Q6. Match the cloud types with the correct description:
a) Cirriform
b) Cumuliform
c) Stratiform
d) Nimbus

1) Rainbearing
2) Fibrous
3) Heaped
4) Layered

a = 1 b = 2 c = 4 d = 3
a = 3 b = 2 c = 4 d = 1
a = 4 b = 2 c = 1 d = 3
a = 2 b = 3 c = 4 d = 1

Q7. Cloudbase in feet is determined by which following formula:

Air temp-dew point x400
Air temp x dew point – 400
Air temp +400 x dew point
Air tempx400-dew point.

Q8. Increase in altitude ultimately causes a decrease in air:

Temperature.

Pressure.
Density.
All three

Q9. A layer of air that does not change in temperature with height is:

A thermal.
An inversion layer.
An isothermal layer.
Latent heat.

Q10. Unstable air is found when the:

ELR is lower than the DALR.
ELR is the same as the DALR.
SALR is equal to the DALR.
ELR is greater than the DALR.

Q11. What defines the height potential of a thermal:

Its temperature at cloudbase.
Its trigger point.
Its temperature on the ground.
Its diameter.

Q12. Which of the following statements are True? Please note that for every incorrect response one point will be deducted.

A low pressure system is a Cyclone and rotates clockwise.
Air rises in a high pressure system.
Air rises in a depression.
The jetstream is the propagator of pressure systems.
Polar maritime airmasses come from Scandinavia.
Weather fronts are drawn where they meet the ground.
On a weather map a trough is shown by a line of Vs.
Geostrophic wind points towards the centre of a Low.
Surface winds in a High point away from the centre.
Lenticular clouds are stationary.

Q13. Match the fog types with the description:
a) Radiation
b) Advection
c) Sea
d) Hill

1) Moist air moving over cool ground.
2) Ground cooling under moist air.
3) Moist air rising over an obstruction.
4) warm air moving over cold water.

a = 4 b = 3 c = 1 d = 2
a = 3 b = 1 c = 2 d = 4
a = 2 b = 3 c = 4 d = 1
a = 2 b = 1 c = 4 d = 3

Q14. If there is a high pressure system over Scotland and a low pressure
system over North East France, what wind direction would you expect to find
over central England at

a) under 1,000ft and;
b) higher.

a = W, b = SW
a = NE, b = E
a = E, b = NE
a = SW, b = W

Q15. At ground level winds tend to blow:

Towards the centre of a depression.
Outwards from a cyclone.
Towards an anticyclone.
In a uniform direction.

Q16. Which of the following cloud types is formed by air being cooled as it forced upwards over an obstruction:

Cumulus
Cirrus
Orographic
Stratus

Q17. Dew Point is defined as:

The point where rain begins to fall.
The point defining the maximum height of a thermal.
The point defining the start of an inversion.
The temperature at which the air becomes saturated.

Q18. Our weather in the UK is predominantly Tropical Maritime (i.e. from the South West) but what sort of weather would an Arctic Maritime airflow bring us:

Cold, wet and mostly stratus type clouds.
Cold, clear, unstable and high cloudbase.
Rising temperatures, intemittent drizzle and cirrus clouds.
No thermal activity, strong winds and heavy rain in all areas.

Q19. A sea breeze front occurs where:

Wind is blowing along the coast.
The sea breeze first makes landfall.
The cold air from the sea meets the warmer air from the land.
A line of cumulus clouds form about 5 miles out to sea.

Q20. A sea breeze front can be recognised by:

Light wind, no precipitation and fair weather cumulus.
A band of rain just out to sea and a thin layer of stratus cloud inland.
A line of cumulus cloud perpendicular to the boundary formed by the sea and the coast.
Vigorous cumulus clouds parallel to the coast with curtain cloud beneath it and very little cumulus to the seaward side.

Q21. Lenticular clouds are formed:

Where stable moist air flows over series of hills.
When moist air is lifted over an obstruction forming cloud at its dew point.
When air is cooled as it is lifted by thermal activity.
At the point of an occluded front.

Question 1 of 21