FAA Ground School Practice Test

When the sky condition and visibility are absent from the ATIS broadcast, what can be inferred about the ceiling and visibility?

1. The ceiling is at 3000 feet and visibility is 3 miles or more

2. The ceiling is at 5000 feet and visibility is at 5 miles or more

3. The ceiling is at 1000 feet and visibility is at 1 mile or less

4. The ceiling is at 7000 feet and visibility is at 7 miles or more

The correct answer is: The ceiling is at 5000 feet and visibility is at 5 miles or more

When the sky condition and visibility are absent from the ATIS broadcast, it generally indicates that the weather conditions are good enough that there aren't significant concerns regarding low ceilings or restricted visibility. In aviation, this typically means that the ceiling is cloud coverage at a higher altitude, and visibility is also relatively unrestricted. The correct inference is that the ceiling is at least 5000 feet and visibility is 5 miles or more. This conclusion is based on aviation standards where the absence of significant weather data implies that conditions are above basic VFR (Visual Flight Rules) minimums. These minimums generally require a ceiling of 1,000 feet and visibility of 3 statute miles; the absence of sky condition and visibility indicates that pilots can expect conditions that are significantly better than these minimums. In contrast, the other options suggest lower ceilings and visibility conditions that are not reflective of the inferred standard when data is absent. The presence of such figures would typically be reported if the weather conditions warranted attention or if they were within the minimum requirements for operation.