Mixed Results — Weather & Airspace
Right instincts but shaky first answers — correct after the examiner probes on Class C communication and TAF risk. Marginal until those hold up unprompted.
You're approaching a Class B shelf VFR at 3,500 feet. Approach says, "Cessna 345, standby." You're two minutes from the boundary. Can you enter?
I don't think so. For Bravo I need an actual clearance, not just standby.
What exact action do you take?
I'd turn or level off to stay outside, maybe ask, "Confirm cleared into the Bravo?" but I would not cross until they clear me.
Good. You separated Class B clearance from simple radio contact.
You call Class C approach and they reply, "Aircraft calling approach, standby." Are you allowed into the Class C surface area?
Since they answered, I think two-way communication is started, so maybe yes?
What words from ATC would make it enough?
They need to use my callsign, like "Cessna 345, standby." "Aircraft calling" is not enough. So I should stay out and call again.
Correct after probing. Your first instinct was risky; Class C requires callsign acknowledgement.
Decode this METAR: `KABC 151455Z 18012G22KT 4SM -RA BR BKN012 OVC025 18/16 A2992`. Would you depart VFR?
It's from the 15th at 1455Z. Wind 180 at 12 gusting 22, 4 miles visibility, light rain and mist. Broken 1,200, overcast 2,500, altimeter 29.92. It might be legal VFR, but I'd be cautious.
If pattern altitude is 1,000 feet AGL, what does that 1,200 broken ceiling do to your options?
That's only 200 feet above pattern altitude, so there's almost no margin. I'd probably delay instead of launching into rain, mist, gusts, and a low ceiling.
Good correction from legality to risk management.
Your destination TAF includes `FM151700 24015G25KT 4SM TSRA BKN020CB TEMPO 1518/1522 2SM +TSRA OVC010CB`. ETA is 1930Z. Can you plan this as a VFR arrival?
The prevailing visibility is 4 miles, so technically VFR, but thunderstorms are there.
What makes the TEMPO group important?
My ETA is inside 1800 to 2200Z, so temporary 2 miles, heavy thunderstorms, and 1,000 overcast CB could happen when I arrive. I would delay, divert, or choose a different plan.
Correct after the follow-up. Don't stop at the first VFR-looking number.
You want to cruise at 4,500 MSL in Class E below 10,000. Clouds are scattered 3,000 and broken 4,800 MSL, visibility 3 miles. Legal?
Visibility is 3 miles, so that part is legal. But I'm only 300 feet below the broken layer, and I need 500 below in Class E. So 4,500 is not legal.
What else do you check before descending?
Terrain, obstacles, minimum safe altitude, airspace, and whether I still have an out. With only 3 miles and low clouds, I'd probably delay or reroute.
Solid. You applied the cloud clearance instead of just reciting 3-152.
Overall result
Marginal pass with prompting; not checkride-ready until the Class C and TAF judgment errors are corrected without help.
Read-only shared transcript