04 ATS Practice and Procedure

Question 1

Below what altitude may pilots be assigned responsibility for separation? What is the pilot’s responsibility?

Answer 1

You may only assign responsibility for visual separation to a pilot when:
a) aircraft are operating at or below 10 000 FT; and
b) the pilot of one aircraft:
i) reports sighting the other aircraft; and
ii) accepts responsibility to maintain visual separation with, pass behind or
follow that aircraft.

Question 2

When applying visual separation what must you do if there is doubt as to the pilot’s ability to keep the other aircraft in sight?

Answer 2

Issue an alternative instruction to provide separation if there is any doubt as to the pilot’s ability to keep the other aircraft in sight or maintain separation.

Question 3

List four possible limitations to a pilot’s ability to comply with instructions?

Answer 3

a) the field of vision from the cockpit;
b) the contrast of aircraft with the background against which it will appear;
c) glare of the sun; and
d) restrictions on atmospheric visibility which may not be currently apparent to
the pilot e.g. loss of forward visibility following descent into a haze layer.

Question 4

What traffic information should be given to aircraft when passing Directed Traffic Information?

Answer 4

a) aircraft identification;
b) type, and description if unfamiliar;
c) position information;
d) estimated time of passing or closest point of approach;
e) direction of flight or route of aircraft;
f) level;
g) intentions of the pilot, such as:
i) initial departure track and intended cruising level; and
ii) inbound track or direction, level and next estimate; and
h) advice that an aircraft is not yet on the appropriate frequency.

Question 5

What is the definition of a “State Aircraft”?

Answer 5

An aircraft of any part of the Defence Force (including any aircraft that
is commanded by a member of that force in the course of his/her
duties as such a member) and aircraft used in the military, Customs, or
Police services of a foreign country

Question 6

Identify if the following levels should be assigned to aircraft travelling east or west.
FL120
A090
FL230
FL430
FL450
A080

Answer 6

FL120 West
A090 East
FL230 East
FL430 West
FL450 East
A080 West

Question 7

Which Flight Levels are not available when the Area QNH is 993 HPA?

Answer 7

FL110, FL115

Question 8

What circumstances would warrant the issue of a safety alert according to MATS?

Answer 8

Unless the pilot has advised that action is being taken to resolve the situation or that the other aircraft is in sight, issue a safety alert prefixed by the phrase ‘SAFETY ALERT’ when you become aware that an aircraft is in a situation that places it in unsafe proximity to:
a) terrain;
b) obstruction;
c) active restricted or prohibited areas; or
d) other aircraft.

Question 9

At which altitude must aircraft operating in the Australian FIR change to QNH 1013.2 HPA?

Answer 9

A100

Question 10

When may you discontinue issuing a safety alert?

Answer 10

You may discontinue issuing further safety alerts or traffic avoidance advice when the pilot advises action is being taken to resolve the situation or has reported the other aircraft in sight.

Question 11

In what classes of airspace may safety alerts be issued?

Answer 11

All classes

Question 12

When is the prefix “Suggest” used when issuing collision avoidance advice for aircraft in close proximity?

Answer 12

Prefix advice to turn or change level with ‘SUGGEST’ unless the advice is for
controlled flights with reference to other controlled flights
(i.e Used for Class G Airspace)

Question 13

What is expected of the controller upon becoming aware of information such that it would be reasonable to conclude that an unsafe situation has occurred, or may occur?

Answer 13

Provide a Safety Alert

Question 14

To which organisation must messages from Customs Surveillance Flights be passed?

Answer 14

Australian Maritime Security Operations Centre

Question 15

Which message must be sent to the Australian Maritime Security Operations Centre regarding surveillance flights?

Answer 15

SURVEREP

(Survey Report)

Question 16

Give 5 Examples of Suspicious Circumstances that ATC must report

Answer 16

a) aircraft signalling to the ground;
b) objects seen to be dropped from aircraft;
c) aircraft operating at night without navigation lights;
d) unusual activity at aerodromes e.g. operation of aircraft not normally seen
in the area, and thefts of aviation fuel;
e) recent activity at remote airstrips e.g. fire breaks, recent grading, grass
cutting, and positioning of fuel drums;
f) movements of unidentified itinerant aircraft, especially if there is a
suggestion that they are travelling from or to an overseas destination;
g) unexplained activity at remote airstrips;
h) aircraft operating from sites not recognised as aerodromes e.g. beaches,
roads, etc; and
i) any other matters indicating the likelihood of illegal activity gained in the
course of an ATS unit’s normal functions, for example:
i) unexplained elements in a flight plan;
ii) aircraft making unscheduled landings or diversions from route without
adequate explanation; and
iii) marked discrepancies in flight times

Question 17

What is a holding procedure?

Answer 17

A predetermined manoeuvre which keeps an aircraft within a specified
airspace while awaiting further clearance.

Question 18

What is a holding fix?

Answer 18

A geographic location that serves as a reference for a holding
procedure.

Question 19

Does a holding instruction impose a clearance limit on an aircraft?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

When do you not have to describe a holding pattern at a clearance limit to a pilot?

Answer 20

When the holding pattern is published in the applicable Aeronautical Information Publications

Question 21

When a clearance limit is cancelled, this includes a cancellation of holding, what must be issued to the aircraft?

Answer 21

An onwards clearance

Question 22

What are the 5 elements of assuring separation?

Answer 22

Assure separation through the process of assessing traffic, identifying conflicts,
planning to ensure separation, executing the plan and monitoring the situation to ensure the standard is not infringed.

SIPEM

Question 23

For the purposes of longitudinal separation how are same/opposite direction tracks defined?

Answer 23

For separation purposes, reciprocal and same tracks are those tracks that
intercept at less than 45 degrees.

Question 24

When applying lateral separation what should be used in preference to manual plotting methods?

Answer 24

Apply lateral separation using authorised:
a) lateral separation diagrams;
b) tables; or
c) lateral conflict tools.