Calm Wind vs Wind Calm

Anthony Santanastaso

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Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« on: December 09, 2020, 10:57:21 AM »
In reviewing Academy exam questions, it was discovered that a question regarding calm wind in the Basic ATC/S1 Exam was misleading and ambiguous. It has since been corrected.

Part of the misconception over the question and its answer stems from a rather confusing and incongruous definition of calm wind. To help, consider memorizing a specific order to the words: wind calm vs calm wind.

Think of this! In conversation, you would not say, "it feels as though the wind calm." The absence of "is" makes the sentence incomplete. "Wind Calm" is not meant to be conversational, and that's because it's meant to be ATC phraseology. For this reason, how we define wind as being calm in relation to ATC and describing it to pilots over frequency can be answered by looking in the Air Traffic Control Handbook (7110.65).

Follow me so far? Great! "Wind Calm" as referenced in 7110.65, 2-6-3 is as follows:

Quote
b. Describe the wind as calm when the wind velocity is less than three knots.

Awesome! So, where does the confusion set in?  ???

"Calm wind" has a different definition depending upon the resource in which you find the reference.


While they exist and might be pertinent in a variety of aviation applications, neither of these two listed resources directly impact or influence the job of the air traffic controller in relation to their ATC duties in the handling of air traffic. As it pertains to the safe operation of air traffic, ATC needs only to refer to the 7110.65 (mentioned at the beginning of this post) when describing wind as calm to aircraft.

To help differentiate and segregate all of the aforementioned resources, think of the specific word order: calm wind vs wind calm. Then, make sure you understand the context in which the words are mentioned.

  • Am I being asked to describe the definition of wind calm? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Is this in reference to ATC phraseology or job duty? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as it relates to forecasting? If YES, then "3 knots or less" (AIM)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as a trained observer? If YES, then "less than 1 knot" (7900.5)

Hopefully this helps to clear up some of the confusion regarding calm wind vs wind calm!   :D

NOTE: This tutorial does not intend on exploring the difference between "Wind Calm" and "Calm Wind Runway." For more information about "Calm Wind Runway" as it pertains to ATC, please review 7110.65, 3-5-1.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2020, 11:13:57 AM by Anthony Santanastaso »
Anthony Santanastaso

David Stone

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2020, 08:37:52 PM »
Very detailed explanation, Anthony. It seems, unfortunately, that the confusion stems from multiple related entities failing to coordinate their definitions of a term. While your clarification of the order of the wording makes perfect sense (I always say, 'Words have meanings'), I'm afraid this subtle difference would be lost on many and should not be the hindrance it is if the different entities would simply communicate.
David Stone

Raymond Ferretti

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2021, 06:12:38 PM »
In reviewing Academy exam questions, it was discovered that a question regarding calm wind in the Basic ATC/S1 Exam was misleading and ambiguous. It has since been corrected.

Part of the misconception over the question and its answer stems from a rather confusing and incongruous definition of calm wind. To help, consider memorizing a specific order to the words: wind calm vs calm wind.

Think of this! In conversation, you would not say, "it feels as though the wind calm." The absence of "is" makes the sentence incomplete. "Wind Calm" is not meant to be conversational, and that's because it's meant to be ATC phraseology. For this reason, how we define wind as being calm in relation to ATC and describing it to pilots over frequency can be answered by looking in the Air Traffic Control Handbook (7110.65).

Follow me so far? Great! "Wind Calm" as referenced in 7110.65, 2-6-3 is as follows:

Quote
b. Describe the wind as calm when the wind velocity is less than three knots.

Awesome! So, where does the confusion set in?  ???

"Calm wind" has a different definition depending upon the resource in which you find the reference.


While they exist and might be pertinent in a variety of aviation applications, neither of these two listed resources directly impact or influence the job of the air traffic controller in relation to their ATC duties in the handling of air traffic. As it pertains to the safe operation of air traffic, ATC needs only to refer to the 7110.65 (mentioned at the beginning of this post) when describing wind as calm to aircraft.

To help differentiate and segregate all of the aforementioned resources, think of the specific word order: calm wind vs wind calm. Then, make sure you understand the context in which the words are mentioned.

  • Am I being asked to describe the definition of wind calm? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Is this in reference to ATC phraseology or job duty? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as it relates to forecasting? If YES, then "3 knots or less" (AIM)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as a trained observer? If YES, then "less than 1 knot" (7900.5)

Hopefully this helps to clear up some of the confusion regarding calm wind vs wind calm!   :D

NOTE: This tutorial does not intend on exploring the difference between "Wind Calm" and "Calm Wind Runway." For more information about "Calm Wind Runway" as it pertains to ATC, please review 7110.65, 3-5-1.

Logan Reimer

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2022, 07:45:47 PM »
In reviewing Academy exam questions, it was discovered that a question regarding calm wind in the Basic ATC/S1 Exam was misleading and ambiguous. It has since been corrected.

Part of the misconception over the question and its answer stems from a rather confusing and incongruous definition of calm wind. To help, consider memorizing a specific order to the words: wind calm vs calm wind.

Think of this! In conversation, you would not say, "it feels as though the wind calm." The absence of "is" makes the sentence incomplete. "Wind Calm" is not meant to be conversational, and that's because it's meant to be ATC phraseology. For this reason, how we define wind as being calm in relation to ATC and describing it to pilots over frequency can be answered by looking in the Air Traffic Control Handbook (7110.65).

Follow me so far? Great! "Wind Calm" as referenced in 7110.65, 2-6-3 is as follows:

Quote
b. Describe the wind as calm when the wind velocity is less than three knots.

Awesome! So, where does the confusion set in?  ???

"Calm wind" has a different definition depending upon the resource in which you find the reference.


While they exist and might be pertinent in a variety of aviation applications, neither of these two listed resources directly impact or influence the job of the air traffic controller in relation to their ATC duties in the handling of air traffic. As it pertains to the safe operation of air traffic, ATC needs only to refer to the 7110.65 (mentioned at the beginning of this post) when describing wind as calm to aircraft.

To help differentiate and segregate all of the aforementioned resources, think of the specific word order: calm wind vs wind calm. Then, make sure you understand the context in which the words are mentioned.

  • Am I being asked to describe the definition of wind calm? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Is this in reference to ATC phraseology or job duty? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as it relates to forecasting? If YES, then "3 knots or less" (AIM)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as a trained observer? If YES, then "less than 1 knot" (7900.5)

Hopefully this helps to clear up some of the confusion regarding calm wind vs wind calm!   :D

NOTE: This tutorial does not intend on exploring the difference between "Wind Calm" and "Calm Wind Runway." For more information about "Calm Wind Runway" as it pertains to ATC, please review 7110.65, 3-5-1.

Edward Curtis

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2022, 07:01:21 AM »
In reviewing Academy exam questions, it was discovered that a question regarding calm wind in the Basic ATC/S1 Exam was misleading and ambiguous. It has since been corrected.

Part of the misconception over the question and its answer stems from a rather confusing and incongruous definition of calm wind. To help, consider memorizing a specific order to the words: wind calm vs calm wind.

Think of this! In conversation, you would not say, "it feels as though the wind calm." The absence of "is" makes the sentence incomplete. "Wind Calm" is not meant to be conversational, and that's because it's meant to be ATC phraseology. For this reason, how we define wind as being calm in relation to ATC and describing it to pilots over frequency can be answered by looking in the Air Traffic Control Handbook (7110.65).

Follow me so far? Great! "Wind Calm" as referenced in 7110.65, 2-6-3 is as follows:

Quote
b. Describe the wind as calm when the wind velocity is less than three knots.

Awesome! So, where does the confusion set in?  ???

"Calm wind" has a different definition depending upon the resource in which you find the reference.


While they exist and might be pertinent in a variety of aviation applications, neither of these two listed resources directly impact or influence the job of the air traffic controller in relation to their ATC duties in the handling of air traffic. As it pertains to the safe operation of air traffic, ATC needs only to refer to the 7110.65 (mentioned at the beginning of this post) when describing wind as calm to aircraft.

To help differentiate and segregate all of the aforementioned resources, think of the specific word order: calm wind vs wind calm. Then, make sure you understand the context in which the words are mentioned.

  • Am I being asked to describe the definition of wind calm? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Is this in reference to ATC phraseology or job duty? If YES, then "less than 3 knots" (7110.65)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as it relates to forecasting? If YES, then "3 knots or less" (AIM)
  • Am I being asked to define the definition of calm wind as a trained observer? If YES, then "less than 1 knot" (7900.5)

Hopefully this helps to clear up some of the confusion regarding calm wind vs wind calm!   :D

NOTE: This tutorial does not intend on exploring the difference between "Wind Calm" and "Calm Wind Runway." For more information about "Calm Wind Runway" as it pertains to ATC, please review 7110.65, 3-5-1.

Edward Curtis

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2022, 06:16:43 AM »
Very detailed explanation

Daniel Costa

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2022, 08:17:50 PM »
Nice explanation

sami madanat

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2023, 09:57:28 PM »
Very Nice explaination!
« Last Edit: June 22, 2023, 12:00:09 AM by sami madanat »

Isaiah Fleming

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Re: Calm Wind vs Wind Calm
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2024, 09:10:48 AM »
nice explanation