Instrument Rating Checkride Practice Test

What type of weather does a SIGMET warn pilots about?

1. Mild turbulence

2. Severe turbulence not associated with thunderstorms

3. Standard atmospheric conditions

4. Minor icing conditions

The correct answer is: Severe turbulence not associated with thunderstorms

A SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) is issued to inform pilots about significant weather events that could impact the safety of flight operations. Specifically, a SIGMET warns pilots about severe turbulence, hazardous icing, volcanic ash, and other significant weather phenomena that can adversely affect aircraft performance. In this context, the correct answer related to SIGMET warnings is severe turbulence not associated with thunderstorms. This highlights that SIGMET alerts are meant for severe conditions that represent a risk to aviation safety, delineating them from milder phenomena that may not pose substantial danger. The focus is on severe weather that can exist independently of thunderstorm activity, which is crucial information for pilots making flight decisions. Other weather conditions such as mild turbulence, standard atmospheric conditions, or minor icing are typically not severe enough to warrant a SIGMET, hence they fall outside the criteria for significant alerts that are essential in aviation safety management.