100+ Free SACAA CPL Meteorology Practice Questions

Pass your SACAA Commercial 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 CPL Meteorology Practice Questions

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

1According to the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA), what are the standard sea-level values for temperature, pressure, and air density?

A.15°C, 1013.25 hPa, and 1.225 kg/m³

B.20°C, 1013.25 hPa, and 1.000 kg/m³

C.15°C, 1000.0 hPa, and 1.225 kg/m³

D.0°C, 1013.25 hPa, and 1.400 kg/m³

Explanation: ISA standard sea-level conditions are defined as a temperature of 15°C (59°F), a pressure of 1013.25 hPa (29.92 inHg), and an air density of 1.225 kg/m³. These baseline values are essential for altimetry and aircraft performance calculations.

2How does the altitude of the tropopause typically vary from the equator to the geographic poles?

A.Higher at the equator (~16–18 km) and lower at the poles (~8–10 km)

B.Lower at the equator (~8–10 km) and higher at the poles (~16–18 km)

C.Uniform across all latitudes at approximately 11 km (36,000 ft)

D.Higher over the poles during winter and lower over the equator during summer

Explanation: Due to intense solar heating and convection at the equator, warm air expands upward, pushing the tropopause to around 16–18 km (52,000–60,000 ft). Over cold polar regions, atmospheric density is higher and thermal expansion is minimal, resulting in a lower tropopause (~8–10 km).

3An aircraft is parked at an aerodrome with an elevation of 4,500 ft AMSL. The current QNH reported by ATC is 1003 hPa. What is the pressure altitude of the aircraft?

A.4,800 ft

B.4,200 ft

C.4,500 ft

D.5,100 ft

Explanation: Pressure altitude is calculated by adjusting field elevation for the difference between standard pressure (1013.25 hPa) and current QNH using ~30 ft/hPa. Difference = (1013 - 1003) = 10 hPa lower than standard. Pressure altitude = 4,500 + (10 × 30) = 4,800 ft.

4An airport has a pressure altitude of 5,000 ft and an outside air temperature (OAT) of +25°C. What is the density altitude under these conditions?

A.7,400 ft

B.6,200 ft

C.5,000 ft

D.3,800 ft

Explanation: Standard temperature at 5,000 ft is 15°C - (2°C × 5) = +5°C. Temperature deviation = +25°C - (+5°C) = +20°C (ISA +20). Density altitude increases by ~120 ft per 1°C above ISA. Density Altitude = 5,000 + (20 × 120) = 7,400 ft.

5When flying from an area of high barometric pressure into an area of low pressure without resetting the altimeter subscale from departure QNH, how will the true altitude compare to indicated altitude?

A.True altitude will be lower than indicated altitude.

B.True altitude will be higher than indicated altitude.

C.True altitude will remain exactly equal to indicated altitude.

D.Indicated altitude will automatically adjust to display true altitude.

Explanation: The altimeter measures pressure and assumes standard lapse rates. Flying into lower pressure causes the instrument to sense lower ambient pressure and indicate a higher altitude than the aircraft is actually flying, leading to the rule: 'High to Low, look out below' (True altitude is lower than indicated).

6If an aircraft flies at a constant indicated altitude from a warm air mass into a cold air mass without resetting the subscale, what happens to the true altitude?

A.True altitude decreases.

B.True altitude increases.

C.True altitude remains constant.

D.True altitude increases initially then drops sharply.

Explanation: Cold air is denser than warm air, causing pressure surfaces to contract vertically closer together. Maintaining a constant indicated altitude (constant pressure surface) in colder air means the aircraft physically descends relative to sea level, resulting in a true altitude lower than indicated ('Warm to Cold, look out below').

7What fundamental physical relationship does the hydrostatic equation describe in the atmosphere?

A.The balance between the vertical pressure gradient force and gravity

B.The relationship between surface friction and Coriolis deflection

C.The rate of moisture condensation during adiabatic expansion

D.The change in speed of sound with altitude

Explanation: The hydrostatic equation (dP/dz = -ρg) expresses the balance between the upward pressure gradient force and the downward gravitational force acting on an atmospheric column. It demonstrates that atmospheric pressure decreases rapidly near the surface where density is high, and more slowly at high altitudes.

8An aircraft is cruising at Flight Level 100 over Johannesburg. The mean atmospheric temperature of the air column is ISA -15°C. What is the approximate true altitude of the aircraft?

A.9,400 ft

B.10,600 ft

C.10,000 ft

D.8,800 ft

Explanation: FL100 corresponds to 10,000 ft pressure altitude. Cold air contracts the pressure column by approximately 4% for every 10°C below ISA. With ISA -15°C, true altitude decreases by 4% × 1.5 = 6%. 6% of 10,000 ft is 600 ft. True Altitude = 10,000 - 600 = 9,400 ft.

9An airfield at 5,000 ft elevation has a QNH of 1008 hPa and an outside air temperature of +32°C. What is the approximate density altitude?

A.8,400 ft

B.5,160 ft

C.6,500 ft

D.9,800 ft

Explanation: Pressure Altitude = 5,000 + (1013.25 - 1008) × 30 ≈ 5,160 ft. Standard ISA temp at 5,160 ft is 15°C - (2°C × 5.16) ≈ +4.7°C. Temp deviation = +32°C - 4.7°C = +27.3°C (ISA +27.3). Density Altitude = PA + (120 × Temp Dev) = 5,160 + (120 × 27.3) ≈ 8,436 ft (~8,400 ft).

10What temperature lapse rate characteristic defines the isothermal layer immediately above the tropopause in the lower stratosphere?

A.Temperature remains constant with increasing altitude.

B.Temperature decreases at 3°C per 1,000 ft.

C.Temperature increases rapidly with height.

D.Temperature drops to absolute zero.

Explanation: In the lower stratosphere immediately above the tropopause, temperature stops decreasing and remains nearly constant with altitude (0°C/1000 ft lapse rate); this is known as an isothermal layer.

About the SACAA CPL Meteorology Exam

The SACAA CPL Meteorology examination is a mandatory theoretical knowledge exam for commercial pilot candidates in South Africa. It assesses advanced atmospheric physics, pressure systems, thermodynamics, wind dynamics, clouds, air masses, fronts, flight hazards (icing, turbulence, thunderstorms, wind shear), Southern African synoptic climatology (Berg winds, coastal lows, cut-off lows, Highveld squall lines), altimetry, METAR/TAF/SIGMET decoding, 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 CPL Meteorology Exam Content Outline

15%

Atmosphere, ISA, and Altimetry

Atmospheric structure, composition, ISA definitions, pressure altitude, density altitude calculations, temperature deviations, and hydrostatic equilibrium.

15%

Pressure Systems and Thermodynamics

Highs, lows, troughs, ridges, cols, adiabatic lapse rates (DALR, SALR, ELR), atmospheric stability, lapse rate calculations, and temperature inversions.

15%

Wind Dynamics and General Circulation

Coriolis force, pressure gradient force, geostrophic wind, gradient wind, thermal wind, Buys Ballot's law (Southern Hemisphere), land/sea breezes, and Föhn wind calculations.

10%

Clouds, Fog, and Humidity

Dew point, relative humidity, cloud classification, cloud formation mechanisms, cloud base height calculations, radiation fog, advection fog, and frontal fog.

15%

Air Masses, Fronts, and Synoptic Meteorology

Air mass classifications, cold/warm/occluded fronts, frontogenesis, squall lines, upper-air troughs, and front passage weather sequences.

15%

Flight Hazards: Icing, Turbulence, and Thunderstorms

Clear, rime, and mixed structural icing, carburettor icing, thunderstorm lifecycle, microbursts, low-level wind shear (LLWS), mountain waves, rotors, and CAT.

15%

Southern African Climatology and Local Synoptic Patterns

Subtropical high-pressure belt, highveld anticyclone, coastal lows, Berg winds, Cape Doctor, Black South Easter, interior squall lines, and cut-off lows (COL).

10%

Meteorological Reports, Forecasts, and Charts

Decoding METAR, SPECI, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, VOLMET, ATIS, SIGWX charts, and upper wind/temperature charts for South African flight planning.

How to Pass the SACAA CPL 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 CPL Meteorology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Southern Hemisphere wind rules: Coriolis force deflects moving air to the LEFT, Highs circulate counterclockwise, and Lows circulate clockwise.

2Understand Föhn wind calculations: air cools at the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR 3°C/1000 ft) up to cloud base, then at the Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate (SALR ~1.5°C/1000 ft) to the crest, and warms at the DALR (3°C/1000 ft) on the lee side.

3Memorise South African local synoptic patterns: Berg winds cause severe temperature spikes and low humidity along the coast preceding a coastal low or cold front.

4Practice decoding complex METAR, TAF, and SIGMET messages, including CAVOK rules, trend forecasts (BECMG, TEMPO), and wind shear warnings.

5Study structural icing conditions: Clear ice forms in cumuliform clouds with large supercooled water droplets at 0°C to -10°C, while Rime ice forms in stratiform clouds at lower temperatures (-10°C to -20°C).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass mark for the SACAA CPL Meteorology exam?

CAR 61.01.10 sets the pass mark for SACAA theoretical knowledge examinations at 75%. There is no negative marking, so unanswered questions should still be attempted before time expires.

How many questions and how much time does SACAA CPL Meteorology allow?

The official SACAA CPL Meteorology exam comprises 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 120 minutes on the PEXO examination system.

How much does the SACAA CPL Meteorology exam cost?

The SACAA Part 187 exam fee is R450 per subject sitting. ATOs or examination centers may add a nominal invigilation/facility fee.

What local South African synoptic weather features are tested in CPL Meteorology?

The exam heavily emphasizes South African meteorology, including Berg winds, coastal lows, the highveld winter anticyclone, Cape Doctor, Black South Easter, summer squall lines over the interior plateau, and cut-off lows (COLs).

How long are CPL theoretical exam passes valid?

Candidates must complete all required CPL theoretical examinations within 18 months from the date of the first pass. Once all subjects are passed, the theory credits remain valid for 36 months to complete the CPL skills test.

100+ Free SACAA CPL 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