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PPL Meteorology

PPL Meteorology

Product information

$249NZD

One-time payment

1 Year of Full Access

What you'll get

  • Comprehensive coverage of all PPL meteorology syllabus requirements aligned with New Zealand CAA standards
  • Real-world weather report decoding including METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, GRAFORs, and other essential aviation weather products
  • New Zealand-specific weather patterns and conditions with local examples and case studies
  • Detailed coverage of weather hazards including thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, and fog with practical avoidance strategies
  • Module review quizzes and comprehensive final assessment to prepare for ASPEQ examination

This course is intended solely for the purchaser and may not be copied, printed, redistributed, or shared with others. Read full licence

Description

Weather is the single biggest variable in every flight you will ever make, and meteorology is where most PPL students lose marks they did not need to lose. This course is built to fix that. Instead of asking you to memorise definitions, it teaches you how the atmosphere actually behaves: why pressure systems form and move, how air masses change as they cross New Zealand, and what the sky is telling you before you have even opened a forecast.

You will work through the full PPL meteorology syllabus, structured the way the weather itself builds. You start with the structure and composition of the atmosphere, then move through temperature, pressure and wind, moisture and stability, cloud and precipitation, and finally the hazards that matter most to a light-aircraft pilot. Thunderstorms, airframe and carburettor icing, turbulence, fog and low visibility are each covered with the practical recognition and avoidance strategies that keep you safe, not just the textbook description.

A large part of flying in New Zealand is reading the weather products you will rely on for real. This course gives you hands-on practice decoding METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, GRAFORs, ATIS and the aviation weather charts, using genuine New Zealand examples so the forecasts you study are the forecasts you will actually use. Selected MetService material is reproduced under permission so you learn from the real thing.

Every module finishes with a review quiz, and the course ends with a comprehensive final assessment modelled on the ASPEQ exam. As with everything on the platform, every answer is fully explained, so you understand why it is right. That is what holds up when the exam rewords a question, and what keeps you making good decisions when the weather turns on a real flight.

Course Overview

  • Free

    1. Course Structure (How this course works)

  • Free

    2. Introduction to Meteorology

  • Free

    3. Syllabus

  • Free

    4. Pass Your Aspeq Aviation Exam with Confidence!

  • 5. Webinar - (Monthly)

  • Free

    1. Introduction

  • Free

    2. Structure of the atmosphere

  • Free

    3. The Troposphere

  • Free

    4. Horizontal and Vertical motions of air

  • Free

    5. Vertical Variation of Density

  • Free

    6. Vertical variation of Temperature

  • Free

    7. Depth of Troposphere

  • Free

    8. The Stratosphere

  • Free

    9. Upper Atmosphere

  • Free

    10. Exercise

  • Free

    11. Composition

  • Free

    12. Water-Vapour

  • Free

    13. Exercise

  • Free

    14. Aerosols

  • Free

    15. Summary

  • Free

    16. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Measurements

  • 3. Solar & Terrestrial Radiation

  • 4. Daily Temperature Cycle

  • 5. Factors affecting daily temperature

  • 6. Exercise

  • 7. Heat Transfer

  • 8. Exercise

  • 9. Summary

  • 10. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Atmospheric pressure

  • 3. Atmospheric Density

  • 4. Pressure Lapse Rate

  • 5. Surface Pressure

  • 6. ISA

  • 7. The Altimeter

  • 8. QNH, QFE, and Altimetry

  • 9. Activity

  • 10. Summary

  • 11. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Measurement and Units of Wind

  • 3. Wind Direction Units

  • 4. Forces and Effects on Wind

  • 5. Coriolis Force

  • 6. Coriolis Strength & Direction

  • 7. Geostrophic Wind

  • 8. Surface Friction

  • 9. The Speed Coriolis Chain

  • 10. The Friction Layer

  • 11. Gusts and Squalls

  • 12. Veering and Backing

  • 13. Flying through the Friction Layer

  • 14. Exercise

  • 15. Diurnal Wind Variation

  • 16. Windsocks

  • 17. Geographical Wind Indicators

  • 18. Other Wind Indicators

  • 19. Buy Ballots

  • 20. Summary

  • 21. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • Free

    2. Isobars and Wind

  • 3. Highs and Ridges

  • 4. Lows and Troughs

  • 5. Pressure Systems

  • 6. Cols

  • 7. Fronts on a chart

  • 8. Tropical Cyclone

  • Free

    9. Decoding an MSL Chart

  • 10. Summary

  • 11. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Sea Breeze

  • 3. Sea Breeze - Meteorological Parameters

  • 4. Exercise

  • 5. Katabatic Winds

  • 6. Katabatic Winds - Meteorological Parameters

  • 7. Anabatic Winds

  • 8. Anabatic Winds - Meteorological Parameters

  • 9. Local Obstructions and Wind Flow

  • 10. Terrain Channeling and Atmospheric Stability

  • 11. Summary

  • 12. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Water Vapour

  • 3. Dew Point

  • 4. Relative Humidity

  • 5. Moisture Content and Dew Point

  • 6. Dew Point > Relative Humidity

  • 7. Changing States

  • 8. Exercise

  • 9. How water vapour enters the atmosphere

  • 10. Factors Affecting Evaporation

  • 11. Latent Heat

  • 12. Summary

  • 13. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Stability

  • 3. Atmospheric Stability

  • 4. Adiabatic Process

  • 5. Environmental Lapse Rate

  • 6. Inversions & Isothermal Layers

  • 7. Lapse Rate Wording

  • 8. Stable Air

  • 9. Unstable Air

  • 10. Conditionally Stable Air

  • 11. Effects on flying

  • 12. Exercise

  • 13. Determining Stability

  • 14. Atmospheric Stability Scenarios

  • 15. Summary

  • 16. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Understanding Atmospheric Inversions

  • 3. Radiation Inversions

  • 4. Turbulence Inversions

  • 5. Subsidence Inversions

  • 6. Frontal Inversions

  • 7. Effects of Inversion in Aviation

  • 8. Summary

  • 9. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Cloud Terminology

  • 3. Altitude Limits

  • 4. How Clouds Form

  • 5. Lifting Mechanism

  • 6. Cloud Sensors

  • 7. Low Clouds

  • 8. Stratus

  • 9. Stratocumulus

  • 10. Nimbostratus

  • 11. Cumulus

  • 12. Towering Cumulus

  • 13. Cumulonimbus

  • 14. Middle Clouds

  • 15. Altostratus

  • 16. Altocumulus

  • 17. High Clouds

  • 18. Cirrus

  • 19. Cirrostratus

  • 20. Cirrocumulus

  • 21. Cloud Characteristics

  • 22. Exercise #1

  • 23. Exercise #2

  • 24. Surface Temperature

  • 25. Clouds Dissipation

  • 26. Summary

  • 27. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Definitions

  • 3. Type of Precipitation

  • 4. Differences in Precipitation

  • 5. Exercise

  • 6. Precipitation Characteristics

  • 7. Rates of Precipitations

  • 8. Summary

  • 9. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Visibility

  • 3. Visibility Sensor

  • 4. Precipitation

  • 5. Fog & Mist

  • 6. Haze & Smoke

  • 7. Sea Spray

  • 8. Blowing Snow

  • 9. Sun Glare

  • 10. Slant Range

  • 11. Fog types and formation

  • 12. Radiation Fog

  • 13. Advection Fog

  • 14. Other Types of Fog

  • 15. Operational Challenges

  • 16. Summary

  • 17. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Understanding Aircraft Icing

  • 3. Clear Ice

  • 4. Rime Ice

  • 5. Hoar Frost

  • 6. Avoiding and Alleviating Airframe Icing

  • 7. Snow, Sleet, and Hail

  • 8. Carburetor Icing

  • 9. Summary

  • 10. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Formation of Thunderstorms

  • 3. Life-Cycle of a Thunderstorm

  • 4. Hazards Associated with Thunderstorms

  • 5. Microbursts

  • 6. Avoiding Thunderstorms

  • 7. Summary

  • 8. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Fohn Wind

  • 3. Mountain Waves

  • 4. Rotor Zones

  • 5. VFR Flight Planning in Mountainous Terrain

  • 6. Summary

  • 7. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Air Masses

  • 3. Air Masses Affecting New Zealand

  • 4. Cold Fronts

  • 5. Warm Fronts

  • 6. Occluded Fronts

  • 7. Stationary Front

  • 8. Southerly Flow in NZ

  • 9. Northerly Flow in NZ

  • 10. Summary

  • 11. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Turbulence

  • 3. Wind Shear

  • 4. Convective Turbulence

  • 5. Mechanical Turbulence

  • 6. Wake Turbulence

  • 7. Summary

  • 8. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Factors

  • 3. Westerly Situations

  • 4. Easterly Situations

  • 5. Wind Directions and Flying Conditions

  • 6. Summary

  • 7. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. Time format

  • 3. Activity: Time Conversions

  • 4. Go Preflight

  • 5. GRAFOR

  • 6. TAF

  • 7. METAR's and SPECI's

  • 8. SIGMET's

  • 9. SIGWX

  • 10. ATIS

  • 11. AWIB

  • 12. ATIS v AWIB

  • 13. BWR

  • 14. AIREP

  • 15. AAW

  • 16. Summary

  • 17. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • Free

    2. Satellite Imagery

  • 3. Radar Imagery

  • Free

    4. Rain Radar

  • Free

    5. Summary

  • 6. Module Review

  • 1. Introduction

  • 2. SIGWX

  • 3. SIGMET

  • 4. AAW

  • 5. MSL

  • 6. GRAFOR

  • 7. TAF

  • 8. METAR

  • 9. ATIS

  • 10. Summary

  • 11. Module Review

  • 1. Overview

  • 2. Practice Assessment

  • 3. Course Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics are covered in the PPL Meteorology course?
The course covers 22 comprehensive modules including meteorological services and reports, weather maps, the atmosphere, temperature and heat, pressure and density, wind systems, local winds, water vapour, atmospheric stability, inversions, clouds, precipitation, visibility and fog, aircraft icing, thunderstorms, Fohn winds, air masses and fronts, turbulence, New Zealand weather patterns, weather imagery, forecast interpretation, and a comprehensive assessment.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The course is self-paced, allowing you to study at your own speed. Most students complete the course over several weeks, dedicating regular study time. The comprehensive nature of the content means you can take as long as needed to fully understand each topic before moving forward.
Is this course aligned with New Zealand CAA requirements?
Yes, the course is specifically designed to meet New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority requirements for PPL meteorology training and aligns with the ASPEQ examination syllabus.
Do I need any prior knowledge to start this course?
No, while basic aviation knowledge is helpful, the course is designed to build understanding from fundamental principles. It starts with atmospheric basics and progressively builds to more advanced weather interpretation skills.
How does this course prepare me for the ASPEQ examination?
The course includes extensive quiz banks, module review quizzes, and a comprehensive final assessment that mirrors the style and content of ASPEQ examination questions. This ensures you're well-prepared and confident when sitting your examination.