10.7 (b): Continuing Airworthiness

Question 1

What is the maximum distance a non-ETOPS approved aircraft may fly from an adequate aerodrome?

Answer 1

'’The maximum is laid down by national authorities and is normally the distance corresponding to 60 minutes flight time at the single engine cruise speed’’

Question 2

What are the two operational criteria for an ETOPS approved aeroplane?

Answer 2

'’There are two operational criteria: 60-minutes to 120-minutes and 120-minutes to 180-minutes

Question 3

What Annex of ICAO sets out the ICAO Regulation regarding ETOPS?

Answer 3

ICAO Regulation (Annex 6)

Question 4

In what 2 EASA Regulation document is the ETOPS regulations set out?

Answer 4

'’The following EASA Regulations and Implementing Rules provide the current Regulations regarding ETOPS:
* Part-OPS SPA.ETOPS
* EASA AMC-20

Question 5

List the Manuals that will be affected for an ETOPS aircraft

Answer 5

'’The ETOPS requirements are integrated into the relevant manuals which include the:
* Aircraft maintenance manual
* Aircraft flight manual
* Minimum equipment list
* Route manual
* ETOPS manual

Question 6

Who approves the ETOPS manual and when should it be submitted?

Answer 6

'’The ETOPS manual is approved by the responsible authority and contains the defintions, guidance and special procedures to support the intended operation

'’The manual should be submitted to the Authority 30-days before implementation of ETOPS flights.

Question 7

What items should be reported as part of the ETOPS Reliability Programme?

Answer 7

'’The Authority should be notified within 96 hours of events reportable through this programme.
In addition to the items addressed by CAP 418 (Condition Monitored Maintenance) for routine reliability reporting, the following items should be included:
* In-flight shutdowns
* Diversion or turn back
* Uncommanded power changes or surges
* Inability to control the engine or obtain desired power
* Problems with systems critical to ETOPS
* Any other event detrimental to ETOPS

Question 8

What is the ‘‘goal’’ of ETOPS maintenance training?

Answer 8

'’The goal of this programme is to ensure that all personnel involved in ETOPS are provided the necessary training so that the ETOPS maintenance tasks are properly accomplished and to emphasise the special nature of ETOPS maintenance requirements.

Question 9

Which organisation makes the classifications for all weather operations (ILS)?

Answer 9

ICAO

Question 10

Define Decision Height

Answer 10

'’A decision height (DH) or decision altitude (DA) is a specified lowest height or altitude in the approach descent at which, if the required visual reference to continue the approach (such as the runway markings or runway environment) is not visible to the pilot, the pilot must initiate a missed approach.’’

Question 11

Define Runway Visual Range (RVR)

Answer 11

'’In aviation meteorology, runway visual range (RVR) is the distance over which a pilot of an aircraft on the centreline of the runway can see the runway surface makrings delineating the runway or identifying its centre line. RVR is normally expressed in feet or meters’’

Question 12

What aircraft instrument is used to measure and display Decision Height?

Answer 12

'’CAT I relies only on altimeter indications for decision height, whereas CAT II and CAT III approaches use radio altimeter (RA) to determine decision height

Question 13

State the minimum Decision Heights and minimum RVR for the following ILS categories
CAT I
CAT II
CAT IIIA
CAT IIIB
CAT IIIC

Answer 13

Category - Decision Height - RVR Requirement
CAT I - Not less than 200 ft (60m) - Not less than 550m or ground visibility not less than 800m
CAT II - Less than 200 ft but not less than 100ft (30m) - Not less than 350m
CAT III A - Less than 100ft or no DH - Not less than 200m
CAT III B - Less than 50 ft or no DH - Not less than 50 m
CAT III C - No DH - None

Question 14

What and where is the difference between EASA RVR specification and the ICAO RVR specification?

Answer 14

CAT III B - ICAO says RVR Not less than 50 m
However, EASA specifies 75 m RVR minimum CAT II B

Question 15

What additional aircraft equipment is mandatory, in order to perform CAT III operations?

Answer 15

• Two ILS glide path and localizer receivers with the first pilot’s station receiving information from one, and the second pilot’s station receiving information from the other
• One radio altimeter with display at each pilot’s station
• A visual indication at each pilot’s station (e.g an alert light) when the aeroplane reaches the pre-selected decision height appropriate to the approach
• An appropriate equipment failure warning system
• An excess-G/S-deviation alert at each pilot’s station (e,g Amber flashing light).