Private Pilot for Airplane Category › II. Preflight Procedures › Task E. Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES)

PA.II.E.K4

Knowledge

Visual indicators for wind.

Study note

Get a short, cited explanation of this element written from the FAA handbooks: the core idea, the numbers that matter, common test traps, and a quick self-check.

From the FAA library

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge p. 14-20
Chapter 14: Airport Operations › Wind Direction Indicators
Wind Direction Indicators It is important for a pilot to know the direction of the wind. At facilities with an operating control tower, this information is provided by ATC. Information may also be provided by FSS personnel either located ... none of these services is available, it is possible to determine wind direction and runway in use by visual wind indicators. A pilot should check these wind indicators even when information is provided on the CTAF at a given airport…
Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook p. 6-5
LANDING › GLASSY WATER LANDING
safety. By its nature, glassy water indicates no wind, so there are no concerns about which direction to land, no crosswind to consider, no weathervaning, and obviously no rough water. Unfortunately, both the visual and the physical characteristics of glassy…
Airplane Flying Handbook p. 1-13
Chapter 1: Introduction to Flight Training › Safety Considerations › Stall Awareness
wing can be brought to an excessive AOA at any speed. High pitch attitude is not an absolute indication of proximity to a stall. Some airplanes are capable of vertical flight with a corresponding low AOA. Most airplanes are quite ... level or near level pitch attitude. The key to stall awareness is the pilot’s ability to visualize the wing’s AOA in any particular circumstance, and thereby be able to estimate his or her margin of safety above stall…
Airplane Flying Handbook p. 9-6
Chapter 9: Approaches and Landings › Final Approach › Stabilized Approach Concept
around. Typically, pilots go-around if unable to establish a stabilized approach by 500 ft above airport elevation in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) or 1,000 ft above airport elevation in instrument conditions (IMC). For a typical GA piston aircraft ... Heading. The aircraft tracks the centerline to the runway with only minor heading/pitch changes necessary to correct for wind or turbulence to maintain alignment. Bank angle normally limited to 15 degrees once established on final. 3. Airspeed. The aircraft speed…
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge p. G-29
Glossary › Pilot’s Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual
weather. Shows the areas of high and low pressure, fronts, temperatures, dewpoints, wind directions and speeds, local weather, and visual obstructions. Synchro. A device used to transmit indications of angular movement or position from one location to another. Synthetic vision…
Aviation Weather Handbook p. 16-16
16 Mountain Weather › 16.2 Mountain Waves and Adverse Winds › 16.2.7 Visual Indicators of Orographic Wind Fields
across mountain ranges. The point is that strong wind flow in the vicinity of irregular terrain can produce a multitude of disturbances of varying size and strength, many without reliable visual indicators. Their presence should be suspected when ... flying downwind of rugged terrain, whenever the wind flow at ridge level exceeds about 20 kt. 16.2.7 Visual Indicators of Orographic Wind Fields Figure 16-15 provides a schematic of mountain waves and possible associated clouds. The most distinctive clouds…