FAA Ground School Practice Test

What are the base and tops of the overcast layer reported by a pilot in Figure 14?

1. 6500 ft msl and 8500 ft msl

2. 7200 ft msl and 8900 ft msl

3. 8000 ft msl and 9000 ft msl

4. 7500 ft msl and 8600 ft msl

The correct answer is: 7200 ft msl and 8900 ft msl

The correct choice indicates that the overcast layer reported by the pilot has a base at 7200 feet mean sea level (msl) and a top at 8900 feet msl. The base and top of a cloud layer are critical for understanding flight conditions, particularly in terms of visibility and navigation. When interpreting aviation weather information, pilots consider the altitude of cloud layers to make informed decisions about flight safety. In this case, a base of 7200 feet msl signifies that the bottom of the overcast layer begins at that height, while the top at 8900 feet msl tells us how high the overcast extends into the atmosphere. Knowing the specific altitudes helps pilots determine if they can operate under visual flight rules (VFR) or if they need to rely on instrument flight rules (IFR), especially when encountering low visibility conditions caused by cloud cover. The values provided in the correct answer suggest that the overcast layer has relatively significant vertical extent, which is important information for pilots assessing flight viability. Understanding these cloud levels and their implications on weather conditions is vital for ensuring safe flight operations.