(1) ATM - ATC Clearances Flashcards
What is an Air Traffic Control clearance? (1)
Authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an air traffic control unit
What is an Air Traffic Control instruction? (1)
Directive issued by ATC for the purpose of requiring a pilot to take a specific action
What is a Downstream clearance? (1)
‘Downstream clearance’ means a clearance issued to an aircraft by an air traffic control unit that is not the current controlling authority of that aircraft
What is a Clearance limit? (1)
The point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance
What shall a clearance limit be specified by? (3)
- The name of the appropriate reporting point
- Aerodrome
- Controlled airspace boundary
(and/or)
When shall ATC clearances be issued solely on the following requirements for providing an ATC service? (3)
- For expediting and separating air traffic and be based on known traffic conditions which affect safety in aircraft operation
- ATC units shall issue such ATC clearances as necessary to prevent collisions and to expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic
- ATC clearances shall be issued early enough to ensure that they are transmitted to the aircraft in sufficient time for it to comply with them
ATC clearances do not constitute…? (1)
Constitute authority to violate any applicable regulations for promoting the safety of flight operations or for any other purpose
An ATC clearance shall be obtained prior to operating a controlled flight, or a portion of a flight as a controlled flight, by submitting a flight plan. True or False?
True
If a clearance is not satisfactory, what shall occur? (2)
- The pilot shall inform ATC
- An amended clearance shall be given
If, prior to departure, it is anticipated that, depending on fuel endurance and subject to re-clearance in flight, a decision may be taken to proceed to a revised destination aerodrome.
What actions shall be completed? (1)
The appropriate ATCU’s shall be so notified by the insertion in the flight plan of information concerning the revised route (where known) and the revised destination
What contents shall an ATC clearance have? (5)
- Aircraft identification
- Clearance limit
- Route of flight
- Level(s) of flight
- Any necessary instructions or information
While passing through the transition layer, the vertical position shall be expressed in terms of…? (2)
- Flight levels (Climbing)
- Altitudes (Descending)
The flight crew shall not be provided with the transition level in due time prior to reaching it during descent (SERA). True or False?
False
Conditional phrases shall not be used for movements affecting the active runway(s), except when? (1)
When the aircraft or vehicles concerned are seen by the appropriate controller and pilot
What order shall a conditional clearance be given? (4)
- Callsign
- Condition
- Clearance
- Brief reiteration of the condition
What items of clearance shall be readback? (4)
- ATC route clearances
- Other clearances or instructions, including conditional clearances and taxi instructions, shall be read back or acknowledged
- The controller shall listen to the read-back to ascertain correct by the flight crew and shall take immediate action to correct errors
- Voice read-back of CPDLC *¹ messages shall not be required, unless otherwise specified by the ANSP
(*¹ CPDLC is Controller-Pilot Data Link communications)
How / When shall co-ordination of clearances be made? (4)
- Coordinated between ATSU’s to cover the entire route of an aircraft or a specified portion
- An aircraft shall be cleared for the entire route to the aerodrome of first intended landing:
- Coordinate the clearance between all the units under whose control the aircraft will come
- Reasonable assurance that prior coordination will be effected between those units under whose control the aircraft will subsequently come
When may a clearance limit be issued? (2)
- When coordination has not been achieved or is not anticipated
- Prior to reaching such point, or at such point, the aircraft shall receive further clearance, holding instructions being issued as appropriate
When may a downstream clearance be issued? (4)
- For the purpose of receiving a downstream clearance prior to the transfer of control point
- Maintain the necessary two-way
communication with the current air traffic control unit - Downstream clearance shall be clearly identifiable as such to the pilot
- downstream clearances shall not affect the aircraft’s original flight profile in any airspace, other than that of the air traffic control unit responsible for the delivery of the downstream clearance (unless coordinated)
Coordination of clearances diagram 1
Coordination of clearances diagram 2
