100+ Free SACAA ATPL Meteorology Practice Questions

Pass your SACAA Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) Meteorology Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More SACAA Pilot Licence Theory Subjects (South Africa)

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Sample SACAA ATPL Meteorology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SACAA ATPL Meteorology exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What are the two predominant gases that make up approximately 99% of the dry atmosphere by volume?

A.Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%)

B.Oxygen (78%) and Nitrogen (21%)

C.Nitrogen (78%) and Argon (21%)

D.Oxygen (50%) and Carbon Dioxide (49%)

Explanation: Dry air in the earth's atmosphere is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen by volume. The remaining 1% consists of argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.04%), and trace amounts of other gases.

2How does the height of the tropopause vary from the Equator to the Poles?

A.Highest at the Equator (~16-18 km) and lowest at the Poles (~8-10 km)

B.Lowest at the Equator (~8-10 km) and highest at the Poles (~16-18 km)

C.Uniform height across all latitudes (~11 km)

D.Highest over the mid-latitudes and lowest at both Equator and Poles

Explanation: Stronger equatorial heating causes greater vertical thermal expansion and convective overturning, pushing the tropopause higher (~16-18 km or ~55,000 ft) over the Equator. Over polar regions, cold dense air results in a much lower tropopause (~8-10 km or ~30,000 ft).

3What are the standard mean sea level (MSL) values defined by the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA)?

A.Temperature +15°C, Pressure 1013.25 hPa, Density 1.225 kg/m³

B.Temperature +20°C, Pressure 1000.0 hPa, Density 1.000 kg/m³

C.Temperature 0°C, Pressure 1013.25 hPa, Density 1.225 kg/m³

D.Temperature +15°C, Pressure 29.92 hPa, Density 1.450 kg/m³

Explanation: ISA MSL standard parameters are +15°C (288.15 K), 1013.25 hPa (29.92 inHg), and a dry air density of 1.225 kg/m³. These baseline values form the foundation for aviation altimetry and performance calculations.

4What is the standard ISA temperature lapse rate in the troposphere up to 36 090 ft (11 km)?

A.1.98°C per 1,000 ft (6.5°C per 1,000 m)

B.3.0°C per 1,000 ft (10.0°C per 1,000 m)

C.0.5°C per 1,000 ft (1.5°C per 1,000 m)

D.5.0°C per 1,000 ft (15.0°C per 1,000 m)

Explanation: Within the ISA troposphere, temperature decreases uniformly at a lapse rate of 1.98°C per 1,000 ft (commonly rounded to 2°C/1,000 ft) or 6.5°C per 1,000 metres up to the tropopause at 36,090 ft (11 km).

5How is Pressure Altitude defined in aviation meteorology?

A.The altitude indicated when the subscale of a barometric altimeter is set to 1013.25 hPa

B.The vertical distance of an aircraft above the terrain below it

C.The altitude indicated when the subscale is set to the local QNH

D.Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature variations

Explanation: Pressure Altitude (PA) is the height above the Standard Datum Plane (1013.25 hPa / 29.92 inHg). It is measured by setting the altimeter subscale to 1013.25 hPa.

6What is Density Altitude?

A.Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature deviations

B.Indicated altitude corrected for instrument and position error

C.The true height of the aircraft above mean sea level on a standard day

D.Pressure altitude corrected for moisture content only

Explanation: Density Altitude is defined as Pressure Altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. High temperatures reduce air density, causing the aircraft to perform as if it were at a higher altitude.

7When flying from an area of high pressure into an area of low pressure without resetting the altimeter subscale, the altimeter will:

A.Overread (indicate higher than true altitude)

B.Underread (indicate lower than true altitude)

C.Indicate the correct true altitude throughout

D.Fluctuate unpredictably depending on air temperature

Explanation: When moving from high to low pressure, pressure surfaces drop toward the surface. The altimeter senses lower pressure and interprets it as higher altitude, thus overreading ('High to low, look out below').

8How does colder-than-standard atmospheric temperature affect altimeter readings?

A.Pressure surfaces compress, causing the altimeter to overread (true altitude is lower than indicated)

B.Pressure surfaces expand, causing the altimeter to underread (true altitude is higher than indicated)

C.Temperature has no effect on pressure altimeters

D.The altimeter underreads below 10,000 ft and overreads above 10,000 ft

Explanation: Cold air is denser, compressing the vertical distance between pressure surfaces. An altimeter calibrated to ISA will overread, meaning the aircraft is lower than the altimeter indicates ('Hot to cold, look out below').

9What is an Isobar on a synoptic weather chart?

A.A line joining points of equal mean sea level atmospheric pressure

B.A line joining points of equal atmospheric temperature

C.A line joining points of equal wind speed

D.A line joining points of equal dew point temperature

Explanation: Isobars are lines connecting points of equal barometric pressure reduced to mean sea level. Closely spaced isobars indicate a steep pressure gradient and strong winds.

10In the Southern Hemisphere, surface wind around a high pressure system (anticyclone) circulates:

A.Anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise) and cross-isobaric outward

B.Clockwise and cross-isobaric inward

C.Clockwise and parallel to isobars

D.Anti-clockwise and cross-isobaric inward

Explanation: In the Southern Hemisphere, Coriolis force deflects air to the left. Flow around a high pressure center circulates anti-clockwise, while surface friction causes outward cross-isobaric flow.

About the SACAA ATPL Meteorology Exam

The SACAA ATPL Aviation Meteorology examination is a mandatory computer-based theoretical knowledge subject for the South African Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Aeroplane). It tests advanced atmospheric thermodynamics, ISA and altimetry, global and regional pressure systems, jet streams, wind shear, air masses and fronts, aviation weather hazards (icing, CAT, microbursts, mountain waves), Southern African climatology (Berg winds, Cape Doctor, Black South Easter, coastal lows, interior summer convection), and aeronautical meteorological reports and forecasts (METAR, TAF, SIGMET, WAFC upper wind and SIGWX charts).

Questions

40 scored questions

Time Limit

120 minutes

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

R450 per subject sitting under SACAA Part 187 user fees (South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA))

SACAA ATPL Meteorology Exam Content Outline

12%

Atmosphere, ISA, Altimetry and Density Altitude

Atmospheric layers, tropopause variation, ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA) deviations, pressure altitude, density altitude calculations, and altimeter temperature error corrections.

16%

Pressure Systems, Wind Dynamics and Jet Streams

Pressure systems, pressure gradient, Coriolis force in the Southern Hemisphere, geostrophic/gradient wind, surface friction, thermal wind, jet stream structure, and tropopause breaks.

14%

Thermodynamics, Lapse Rates, Clouds and Fog

DALR, SALR, ELR, atmospheric stability/instability, temperature inversions, cloud formation and cloud types, and fog mechanisms (radiation, advection, frontal, upslope, steam fog).

14%

Air Masses, Frontal Systems and Depressions

Air mass source regions and modifications, warm, cold, and occluded fronts, frontal weather hazards, polar front theory, and mid-latitude cyclone lifecycles.

16%

Aviation Weather Hazards: Icing, Turbulence, Microbursts & Mountain Waves

Aircraft icing types (clear, rime, mixed, hoar frost), carburettor icing, clear air turbulence (CAT), microbursts/wind shear performance impact, and mountain waves/rotors.

14%

Southern African Regional Meteorology & Climatology

South Atlantic/South Indian Anticyclones, Kalahari High, summer interior convective storms, coastal lows, Berg winds, Cape Doctor, Black South Easter, and South-Westerly Buster.

14%

Aeronautical Meteorological Information: METAR, TAF, SIGMET, WAFC & SIGWX

Decoding METAR, SPECI, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, Volcanic Ash Advisories, and interpreting WAFC upper-wind/temperature charts and Significant Weather (SIGWX) charts.

How to Pass the SACAA ATPL Meteorology Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Exam length: 40 questions
Time limit: 120 minutes
Exam fee: R450 per subject sitting under SACAA Part 187 user fees

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SACAA ATPL Meteorology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Remember Southern Hemisphere geostrophic and gradient wind rules: Coriolis force acts to the LEFT; Buys Ballot's Law places low pressure to your RIGHT when standing with your back to the wind.

2Master Berg wind physics: dry air descending 1,000–1,500 m off the interior plateau warms at the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR ~3°C/1,000 ft), producing hot, dry, turbulent offshore winds and severe low-level wind shear.

3Understand altimeter temperature errors: in air colder than ISA, altimeter overreads (indicated altitude is higher than true altitude — 'high to low or hot to cold, look out below').

4Know jet stream CAT characteristics: Clear Air Turbulence is most severe on the cold (polar) side of the jet core near the tropopause break and in upper-level trough axes.

5Practise decoding METAR/TAF codes, SIGMET triggers (severe icing, severe CAT, severe TS, heavy hail), and WAFC upper wind arrow conventions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass mark and time limit for the SACAA ATPL Meteorology examination?

Under CAR 61.01.10, the pass mark is 75%. The computer-based examination consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 120 minutes.

What is the cost of the SACAA ATPL Meteorology examination?

The examination fee is R450 per subject sitting under the SACAA Part 187 user fee schedule (approved ATOs/testing centres may charge additional facility fees).

Which Southern African meteorological phenomena are emphasized in the ATPL exam?

The SACAA ATPL exam heavily tests SA regional climatology including Berg winds (katabatic heating/föhn effect), coastal lows, the Cape Doctor, Black South Easters, summer interior high-plateau thunderstorms, and the winter Kalahari High subsidence inversion.

What upper-air and forecasting products are tested on the SACAA ATPL Meteorology paper?

Candidates must be able to decode METAR, SPECI, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, and Volcanic Ash Advisories, as well as interpret WAFC upper wind/temperature charts and high/medium-level Significant Weather (SIGWX) charts.

How are calculation questions presented in ATPL Meteorology?

Calculation questions require computing ISA temperature deviations, pressure and density altitude, altimeter temperature error corrections, convective cloud base from dew point depression, and thermal wind vectors.

100+ Free SACAA ATPL Meteorology Practice Questions

Explore More SACAA Pilot Licence Theory Subjects (South Africa)

SACAA ATPL (Helicopter) Air Law Exam

SACAA ATPL (Helicopter) Aircraft Technical & General Knowledge Exam

SACAA ATPL (Helicopter) Principles of Flight Exam

SACAA ATPL Air Law Exam

SACAA ATPL Aircraft General Knowledge Exam

SACAA ATPL Flight Planning Exam