Meteorology is one of the 7 CASA CPL/PPL theory subjects under CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3.
Every topic below is drawn from the same syllabus registry that drives Aero Academic's Knowledge
Deficiency Report — including which regulatory citations are confirmed against the published MOS
text and which are still awaiting review.
Topics covered in depth
Cold Front Passage
Wind, cloud, temperature and pressure sequence as a Southern Hemisphere cold front crosses an aerodrome.
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.6.1 (p.505) — Typical flying weather associated with frontsVerified“Describe typical ‘flying weather’ associated with the following using the factors described in subclause 2.6.2: (a) cold fronts; (b) warm fronts; (c) wave depressions; (d) occluded fronts; (e) tropical cyclones; (f) the equatorial trough.”
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.6.2 (p.505) — Fronts — temperature, wind, stability, cloud and precipitation changesVerified“For subclause 2.6.1, ‘flying weather’ embraces the following: (a) temperature (warmer/colder); (b) wind changes (back/veer, stronger/weaker); (c) stability and turbulence; (d) cloud type and approximate amount, precipitation.”
Standing lee waves, ACSL formation and the rotor zone downwind of a ridge in stable air.
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.8.1 (p.507) — Meteorological phenomena — favourable conditions, recognition and effect on the aircraftVerified“With respect to the phenomena listed below in subclause 2.8.2, do the following: (a) state the conditions that are favourable to the development of the phenomenon and, where applicable, its dispersal; (b) recognise signs which may indicate the presence of each phenomenon; (c) describe the effect of the phenomenon on flight characteristics; (d) where applicable, state the pilot actions required.”
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.8.2 (p.507) — Phenomena list including mountain waves and föhn windsVerified“The following is a list of meteorological phenomena that is for the purposes of subclause 2.8.1: (i) thermals, turbulence; (iii) wind gradient, wind shear and low-level jetstreams; (v) mountain waves and fohn winds; (ix) downdrafts associated with terrain/cloud.”
Common exam mistakes
Lenticular cloud is stationary while the air rushes through it.
The most severe turbulence is in the rotor beneath the crests, not in the smooth cloud.
Lee-side downdraughts can exceed a light aircraft’s maximum rate of climb.
The 24-hour coastal wind cycle: a cool onshore sea breeze that builds through the day behind an advancing sea-breeze front, and the weaker, shallower offshore land breeze that replaces it overnight.
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.7.1 (p.505) — Meteorological phenomena — conditions, recognition, effect on flight and pilot action, including land and sea breezesVerified“With respect to the phenomena listed below (i) – (vi): (a) state the conditions favourable to their development and, where applicable, their dispersal; (b) recognise signs which may indicate their presence; (c) describe their effect on flight characteristics where applicable, state the pilot actions required to minimise their effect on an aircraft in flight: (i) turbulence; (ii) windshear; (iii) mountain waves; (iv) land and sea breezes; (v) thunderstorms; (vi) downdrafts associated with terrain and cloud.”
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.2.3 (p.506) — Factors in the diurnal variation of surface air temperature and the land–sea temperature gradientVerified“List factors that influence the diurnal variation of surface air temperature and explain the temperature gradient between land and sea surfaces.”
CASR Part 61 MOS Schedule 3 (MT) 2.5.4 (p.505) — Factors in the diurnal variation of wind and typical surface wind variation over 24 hoursVerified“List the ‘factors’ that effect the diurnal variation of wind and describe typical ‘variations’ in surface wind strength during a 24-hour period.”
Common exam mistakes
A sea breeze is named for where it comes FROM — it blows onshore, off the sea and onto the warmer land. A land breeze blows offshore.
The sea breeze arrives as a front: an abrupt wind shift (often 90° or more), a temperature drop, a rising dewpoint, gusts and low-level shear — a runway change on an otherwise fine day.
The circulation is a closed loop — the surface flow is only half of it; the return flow aloft runs the opposite way.
The cycle is asymmetric: the daytime sea breeze is stronger, deeper and reaches further inland than the night land breeze, because the land–sea temperature contrast is larger by day.
A strong opposing gradient wind can hold the sea breeze offshore all day; the weak night land breeze is swamped more easily still, and it will not clear fog or smoke — only carry it out to sea.
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