Better than excellent condition. Like new.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

SINCLAIR WEEKS, Secretary

CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION

F. B. LEE, Administrator

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REALM OF FLIGHT

Presenting Practical Information About Weather

In Relation to the Piloting of Private Aircraft

Revised May 1954

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.

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Introductory Note

REALM OF FLIGHT is the first of a series of short manuals prepared

by the Civil Aeronautics Administration to provide the private

pilot with information essential to safe operation of his aircraft.

These texts, by presenting basic and elementary information, also

will serve as a basis for further study of theoretical and technical

material already available in many publications.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans who intend to become

active participants in "the air age" thus will be enabled to acquire

facts and guidance essential to that participation, with opportunity

to make advanced studies if they so desire.

REALM OF FLIGHT has drawn upon many sources: the practical

experience of pilots, the scientific knowledge of specialists, and the

large amount of information available in such publications as the

War Department's Technical Manual No. 1-132; "Basic Weather

for Pilot Trainees"; "Aerology for Pilots," prepared by the Navy;

and Civil Aeronautics Bulletin No. 25, "Meteorology for Pilots,"

by B. C. Haynes, Chief of Observation Section, U. S. Weather

Bureau. The latter book is recommended particularly for those

who wish to make a more detailed study of meteorology.

The Civil Aeronautics Administration has been accorded the

unstinting cooperation of the United States Weather Bureau, the

Civil Aeronautics Board, and the Government Printing Office, in

preparation of the publication. The pictorial illustrations were

executed by the Visual Services of the Civil Aeronautics Adminis-

tration's Office of Aviation Information. Drawings of weather

maps were prepared by the U. S. Weather Bureau. So widespread

was the participation of individuals that it is impracticable to ex-

press appreciation specifically to all who have contributed directly

and indirectly to the planning, the accuracy of material, and the

format.

ii

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CHAPTER

Table of Contents

I. Weather Information for the Pilot. Impor-

tance of Weather Information. Necessity

of Pilot Being Informed. Aids Provided

by the U. S. Weather Bureau. Types of

Forecasts.

CHAPTER II. The Nature of the Atmosphere. Tropo-

sphere and Stratosphere. Temperature

and Pressure Changes. Effect of Altitude

upon the Human Body...

CHAPTER III. The Significance of Atmospheric Pressure,

Effect upon Flight of Aircraft. Method of

Recording Pressure Changes...

Page

CHAPTER IV. Wind. The Cause of Wind. Circulation of

the Atmosphere. Wind Patterns in

"Highs" and "Lows". Effect of Convec-

tion Currents. Effect of Turbulence. Re-

cording of Wind Velocity and Direction.

Relationship of Surface Winds and Winds

Aloft

CHAPTER V. Moisture. Humidity, Temperature, and

Dew Point.....

CHAPTER VI. Results of Condensation. Dew and Frost.

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Types of Fog and Clouds. Dangers of

Thunder Heads. Method of Recording

Ceiling, Visibility and Precipitation....

CHAPTER VII. Air Masses and Fronts. Types of Air Masses

and Identifying Symbols. Flying Condi-

tions in Warm and Cold Air Masses.

Warm Fronts, Cold Fronts, Occluded

Fronts. Reading of Weather Maps and

Teletype Sequences