Is weather, including METAR and TAF reading, on the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test?
Yes.
Weather is ACS Task PA.I.C, Weather Information, which names METAR, SPECI, PIREP, TAF and other weather products and a list of meteorology topics.
The ACS states that "Knowledge and risk management elements are primarily evaluated during the knowledge testing phase of the airman certification process." It does not publish how many questions each topic gets, so this page lists the tasks and elements that cover the topic instead.
In plain words
Task PA.I.C has two halves. The first is weather products: a METAR is a routine airport observation (SPECI is the special one), a PIREP is a pilot observation, and a TAF is a forecast for an airport. These and the other products, from the surface analysis chart to AIRMETs and SIGMETs, sit under PA.I.C.K2.
The second half is meteorology itself (PA.I.C.K3): stability, wind, fronts, clouds, turbulence, thunderstorms, icing, fog, frost and obstructions to visibility. The risk elements then tie it all to the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions (PA.I.C.R1).
What the FAA says you must know
Area of Operation I, Task C. Weather Information (PA.I.C)
Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR.
Knowledge: the applicant demonstrates understanding of:
- PA.I.C.K1 Sources of weather data (e.g., National Weather Service, Flight Service) for flight planning purposes.
- PA.I.C.K2 Acceptable weather products and resources required for preflight planning, current and forecast weather for departure, en route, and arrival phases of flight such as:
- PA.I.C.K2a Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI) and Pilot Observations (PIREP)
- PA.I.C.K2b Surface Analysis Chart, Ceiling and Visibility Chart (CVA)
- PA.I.C.K2c Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)
- PA.I.C.K2d Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA)
- PA.I.C.K2e Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (FB)
- PA.I.C.K2f Convective Outlook (AC)
- PA.I.C.K2g Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories including Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMET
- PA.I.C.K3 Meteorology applicable to the departure, en route, alternate, and destination under visual flight rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), including expected climate and hazardous conditions such as:
- PA.I.C.K3a Atmospheric composition and stability
- PA.I.C.K3b Wind (e.g., windshear, mountain wave, factors affecting wind, etc.)
- PA.I.C.K3c Temperature and heat exchange
- PA.I.C.K3d Moisture/precipitation
- PA.I.C.K3e Weather system formation, including air masses and fronts
- PA.I.C.K3f Clouds
- PA.I.C.K3g Turbulence
- PA.I.C.K3h Thunderstorms and microbursts
- PA.I.C.K3i Icing and freezing level information
- PA.I.C.K3j Fog/mist
- PA.I.C.K3k Frost
- PA.I.C.K3l Obstructions to visibility (e.g., smoke, haze, volcanic ash, etc.)
- PA.I.C.K4 Flight deck instrument displays of digital weather and aeronautical information.
Risk management: the applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:
- PA.I.C.R1 Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:
- PA.I.C.R1a Circumstances that would make diversion prudent
- PA.I.C.R1b Personal weather minimums
- PA.I.C.R1c Hazardous weather conditions, including known or forecast icing or turbulence aloft
- PA.I.C.R2 Use and limitations of:
- PA.I.C.R2a Installed onboard weather equipment
- PA.I.C.R2b Aviation weather reports and forecasts
- PA.I.C.R2c Inflight weather resources
Source: FAA, Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6C, November 2023), quoted as published; the page lists the elements that cover this topic, not every element of each task. Skill elements are tested on the practical test, where the ACS says the evaluator must test each one by observing the applicant perform it.
Original practice questions
Written by Capxule from the ACS text quoted above. These are not FAA questions.
1. In the ACS weather task, which product is listed as an airport observation rather than a forecast?
- A. TAF
- B. METAR
- C. FB
Show the answer
B. METAR
PA.I.C.K2a lists Airport Observations (METAR and SPECI). The TAF is a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (PA.I.C.K2c) and the FB is the Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecast (PA.I.C.K2e).
2. What does TAF stand for in the Private Pilot ACS?
- A. Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
- B. Total Altitude Forecast
- C. Traffic Advisory Frequency
Show the answer
A. Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
PA.I.C.K2c reads "Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)".
3. Personal weather minimums appear in the ACS as part of which decision?
- A. Choosing a cruising altitude
- B. The go/no-go and continue/divert decisions
- C. Filing a flight plan
Show the answer
B. The go/no-go and continue/divert decisions
PA.I.C.R1 covers making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including personal weather minimums (PA.I.C.R1b).
Practise for the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test
Original practice questions written from current FAA sources, with mock tests that follow the published test format.
Start the practice testOther topics on the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test
Independent study page, not affiliated with the FAA.