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An aircraft is approaching a cold front from the warm air mass side at FL 270 and experiencing moderate to severe turbulence. A jet stream is forecast to be at FL 310. The shortest way to get out of this turbulence is by:
  • A
    Descending
  • B
    Maintaining FL 270
  • C
    Climbing
  • D
    Turning right

By "this turbulence" the examiner refers to the turbulence associated with the jet stream - Clear Air Turbulence.

Clear Air Turbulence associated with Jet Streams is strongest on the cold side of the jet stream where the wind shear is greatest. In the vicinity of a jet stream, CAT can be encountered anywhere from 7 000 ft below to about 3 000 ft above the tropopause.

  • In this case, the jet core is at FL310, you are flying at FL270 => 4000 ft below the jet core. The best way to avoid CAT would be to descend further to a lower flight level, as at FL270 you still might experience clear air turbulence. Descending to FL240 should be enough to avoid the CAT area.

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