301

Question 1

You may vector an aircraft into Class G airspace if you…

Answer 1

You may vector an aircraft into Class G airspace if you inform the pilot and obtain the pilot’s approval.

Question 2

TC AIM GEN 5.1 Area Minimum Altitude (AMA)

Answer 2

The lowest altitude to be used under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) that will provide a minimum vertical clearance of 1000 ft. or, in a designated mountainous region, 2000 ft., rounded up to the next 100-ft. increment, under conditions of standard temperature and pressure, above all obstacles located in the area specified.

Question 3

MINIMUM SECTOR ALTITUDE (MSA)

Answer 3

The lowest altitude that will provide a minimum clearance of 1000 ft under conditions of standard temperature and pressure above all objects located in an area contained within a sector of a circle with a 25 NM radius centred on a radio aid to navigation or a specified point.

US: minimum safe altitude

Question 4

MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE (MVA)

Answer 4

The lowest altitude for vectoring aircraft by ATC that meets obstacle clearance and radio coverage requirements in the airspace specified

Question 5

Safe altitude 100 nautical miles

Answer 5

Safe altitude 100 nautical miles doesn’t have a formal definition.

It is an altitude, usually found on CAP charts, that is flight checked and approved for use within 100 miles of the geographical centre of the aerodrome as depicted on the CAP chart and meets obstruction clearance requirements.

Question 6

Transition altitude

TC AIM GEN 5.1> Transition

Answer 6

In most cases for IFR, it is an altitude specifically shown for an aircraft that is changing (“transitioning”) from enroute to approach.

(a) The general term that describes the change from one phase of flight or flight conditions to another, e.g. transition from en route flight to the approach or transition from instrument flight to visual flight.
(b) A published procedure used to connect the basic standard instrument departure (SID) to one or more en route airways or to connect one or more en route airways to the basic standard terminal arrival (STAR). More than one transition may be published in the associated SID or STAR.

Question 7

Do not approve or assign any altitude that is…

Answer 7

Do not approve or assign any altitude that is below the minimum IFR altitude. Inform the pilot if a requested altitude is below the minimum IFR altitude.

Question 8

If a pilot requests it, you may approve an altitude that is below the MEA, but is at or above the MOCA, for any of the following reasons:

Answer 8

• Flight safety
  Pin: Flight safety may be jeopardize by conditions such as icing/turbulence
• Flight check of a NAVAID[4]
• A MEDEVAC flight
• GNSS navigation[5]

Aircraft operating at the MOCA may be in uncontrolled airspace

Adequate navigation signal coverage may not always exist below the MEA

Question 9

When an aircraft is traversing an airway, you may…

Answer 9

When an aircraft is traversing an airway, you may clear that aircraft to an altitude that is below the MEA, but is at or above another applicable minimum IFR altitude.

Pin: Aircraft are considered to traverse an airway when the airspace protected for the track of the aircraft infringes on the airspace to be protected for the airway. An aircraft cleared “via direct” on a track that is coincident with an airway is considered to traverse the airway

Question 10

CHANGING MEA

If the MEA is higher beyond the next fix…

Answer 10

If the MEA is higher beyond the next fix, clear the aircraft to climb in sufficient time to enable it to cross the fix at or above the MEA established beyond the fix.

Question 11

LOWER MEA BEYOND NEXT FIX

If the pilot requests an altitude that is lower than the MEA for the leg flown, but….

Answer 11

If the pilot requests an altitude that is lower than the MEA for the leg flown, but the altitude requested is at or above the MEA beyond the next fix, do not clear the aircraft to descend below the MEA for the leg flown until after the aircraft passes the fix.

Question 12

Altitude Instructions

If not pracitcal to immediately assign an operationally suitable altitude or flight level….

Answer 12

If not pracitcal to immediately assign an operationally suitable altitude or flight level, the time or location to expect a higher altitude

(CLIMB / DESCEND) (altitude), EXPECT (altitude) AT (time or fix)

If the pilot is not informed when to expect clearance to a higher altitude, and communications fail before an approach clearance at an intermediate location is acknowledged, the aircraft will continue to its destination in accordance with published communication failure procedures. The pilot is responsible for advising the controllers when the assigned altitude will not permit the aircraft to proceed to its destination should communications fail.

Question 13

Operationally Suitable Altitude

Answer 13

In the low‑level air structure, an operationally suitable altitude or flight level is the flight‑planned altitude, or an altitude as near as possible to the flight‑planned altitude taking into consideration the aircraft’s route. In the high‑level air structure, an operationally suitable altitude or flight level is an altitude no more than 4000 feet below the flight‑planned altitude.

Question 14

When an aircraft is operated in the altimeter-setting region, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall

Answer 14

(a) immediately before conducting a take-off from an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome or, if that altimeter setting is not obtainable, to the elevation of the aerodrome;

(b) while in flight, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the nearest station along the route of flight or, where the nearest stations along the route of flight are separated by more than 150 nautical miles, to the altimeter setting of a station near the route of flight; and

(c) immediately before commencing a descent for the purpose of landing at an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome, if that altimeter setting is obtainable.

Question 15

When an aircraft is operated in the standard pressure region, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall

Answer 15

(a) immediately before conducting a take-off from an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome or, if that altimeter setting is not obtainable, to the elevation of the aerodrome;

(b) before reaching the flight level at which the flight is to be conducted, set the altimeter to 29.92 inches of mercury or 1,013.2 millibars; and

(c) immediately before commencing a descent for the purpose of landing at an aerodrome, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome, if that altimeter setting is obtainable.

Despite paragraph (1)(c), when a holding procedure is being conducted before landing at an aerodrome located in the standard pressure region, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the aerodrome immediately before descending below the lowest flight level at which the holding procedure is conducted.

Question 16

when flying from the altimeter-setting region into the standard pressure region,

Answer 16

when flying from the altimeter-setting region into the standard pressure region, set the altimeter to 29.92 inches of mercury or 1,013.2 millibars immediately after the aircraft’s entry into the standard pressure region

Question 17

when flying from the standard pressure region into the altimeter-setting region

Answer 17

when flying from the standard pressure region into the altimeter-setting region, set the altimeter to the altimeter setting of the nearest station along the route of flight or, where the nearest stations along the route of flight are separated by more than 150 nautical miles, the altimeter setting of a station near the route of flight immediately before the aircraft’s entry into the altimeter-setting region.

Question 18

If an aircraft will proceed from the Standard Pressure Region to the Altimeter Setting Region

Answer 18

If an aircraft will proceed from the Standard Pressure Region to the Altimeter Setting Region, issue the current altimeter setting before the transition occurs.

Question 19

Lowest Usable Flight Levels

Answer 19

29.92 and Higher: FL180
29.91 to 28.92: FL190
28.91 to 27.92: FL200
27.91 and lower: FL210

If a change in altimeter setting requires an increase or permits a decrease in the lowest usable flight level, coordinate with adjacent sectors or units as required.

Question 20

Apply vertical separation with a CYR

Upper Limit Defined in terms of a Flight Level

Answer 20

Question 21

Apply vertical separation with a CYR

Upper Limit Defined in terms of an altitude

Answer 21

Question 22

Issue the altimeter setting as follows:

Answer 22

• Identify the setting by the name of the station to which it applies, unless:
  ◦ The setting applies to the station at which the unit is located.
  ◦ There is no possibility of misunderstanding.
• If the setting is 28.99 or lower, or 31.00 or higher, state the setting twice
  (altimeter), I SAY AGAIN (altimeter)
• If the setting is higher than 31.00, issue the actual altimeter setting and confirm that the pilot has set the aircraft altimeter to 31.00.
• If the setting is obtained from a weather report that is one hour old or more, include the time of the report.
  ALTIMETER AT (time) WAS (setting)
• If the setting changes by ± 0.02 inches or more, issue a revised altimeter setting.
• If a pilot asks which type of setting is provided, identify the setting as QNH (height above sea level).

If no local or remote altimeter is available for a location, inform the pilot when issuing landing information.
ALTIMTER SETTING FOR (unit id) NOT AVAILABLE

Question 23

Consider an aircraft to be maintaining an altitude when

Answer 23

Its altitude readout is within 200 feet of its assigned altitude

Note: This is a key rule. It tells you that when an aircraft reports its altitude, you must correlate it immediately with the data block altitude readout and ensure that it is within the 200-foot parameter.

Question 24

Consider an aircraft to have reached an altitude when

Answer 24

Question 25

Consider an aircraft to have vacated an altitude when

Answer 25

Understand the “starting point” in the note below

Question 26

Consider an aircraft to have passed an altitude when

Answer 26

Question 27

Use altitude readouts of aircraft under the jurisdiction of another controller to determine aircraft altitudes only if either of the following applies.

Answer 27

• The other controller has confirmed the aircraft’s altitude.
• On handoff, the transferring controller does not inform you that an aircraft’s altitude readout is invalid or not validated.

Do not use altitude readouts when the site altimeter setting for the geographic region concerned is below 26.00 or above 33.00.

Question 28

During any phase of flight, pilots should adhere to the following procedures:

When an altitude clearance is issued, the pilot should…

Answer 28

When an altitude clearance is issued, the pilot should begin the climb or descent promptly on acknowledgement of the clearance. The climb or descent should be made at an optimum rate consistent with the operating characteristics of the aircraft. If the above is not the case, or if it becomes necessary to stop the climb or descent, the pilot should advise ATC of the interruption or the delay in vacating an altitude.

Question 29

During any phase of flight, pilots should adhere to the following procedures:

If the phrase “when ready” is used in conjunction with an altitude clearance or instruction….

Answer 29

If the phrase “when ready” is used in conjunction with an altitude clearance or instruction, the change of altitude may be initiated whenever the pilot wishes. The climb or descent should be made at an optimum rate consistent with the operating characteristics of the aircraft. When not informed that the aircraft has been IDENTIFIED, pilots are expected to advise ATC when the altitude change is initiated. Compliance with assigned or published altitude crossing restrictions and speeds is mandatory (CAR 602.31—Compliance with Air Traffic Control Instructions and Clearances), unless specifically cancelled by ATC. (MEAs are not considered restrictions; however, pilots are expected to remain at or above MEAs.)

NOTE: When an aircraft reports vacating an altitude, ATC may assign the altitude to another aircraft. Control will be based on the pilot following these procedures and on the normal operating characteristics of the aircraft.

Question 30

During any phase of flight, pilots should adhere to the following procedures:

If a descending aircraft must level off at 10 000 ft ASL to comply with CAR 602.32

Answer 30

If a descending aircraft must level off at 10 000 ft ASL to comply with CAR 602.32—Airspeed Limitations while cleared to a lower level, the pilot should advise ATC of the descent interruption.

Question 30

During any phase of flight, pilots should adhere to the following procedures:

ATC may authorize aircraft to employ cruise climb techniques either….

Answer 30

ATC may authorize aircraft to employ cruise climb techniques either between two levels or above a specified level. A clearance or instruction to cruise climb authorizes climb at any given rate as well as temporary levelling at intermediate altitudes. Pilots are expected to advise ATC of the altitude they temporary level off at to the nearest 100 ft. Once the aircraft has vacated an altitude during a cruise climb, it may not return to that altitude. ATC will use the following phraseology:

CRUISE CLIMB TO (altitude) or CLIMB TO (altitude) CRUISE CLIMB BETWEEN (levels) (or ABOVE [level])

Question 31

(1) Subject to subsection (3), the pilot-in command of an aircraft shall

Answer 31

(a) comply with and acknowledge, to the appropriate air traffic control unit, all of the air traffic control instructions directed to and received by the pilot-in-command; and
(b) comply with all of the air traffic control clearances received and accepted by the pilot-in-command and

(i) subject to subsection (2), in the case of an IFR flight, read back to the appropriate air traffic control unit the text of any air traffic control clearance received, and (ii) in the case of a VFR flight, read back to the appropriate air traffic control unit the text of any air traffic control clearance received, when so requested by the air traffic control unit.

Question 32

You may assign an altitude only after another aircraft previously at that altitude, or climbing or descending through that altitude, has reported or is observed doing one of the following:

Answer 32

• Vacating or passing the altitude you want to assign
• Vacating or passing an altitude separated by the appropriate minimum from the altitude you want to assign, and one of the following applies:
  ◦ Severe turbulence exists.
  ◦ The aircraft previously at the altitude you want to assign has been issued a cruise climb.

Pin: The climb or descent rate of both aircraft must be considered in determining when an aircraft may be cleared to the altitude that has been vacated

Question 33

CRUISE CLIMB

Answer 33

A cruising technique resulting in a net increase in altitude as the aircraft mass decreases. A clearance or instruction to carry out a cruise climb allows the pilot the option of climbing at any given rate, as well as the option of levelling off at any intermediate altitude.

Question 34

If required for separation include…

Answer 34

If required for separation include the phraseology REPORT LEAVING or REPORT REACHING

Question 35

TC AIM RAC 2.12 Mountainous Regions

Answer 35

… shall be flown at an altitude of at least 2000 feet above the highest obstacle within 5NM of the aircraft in flight when in areas 1 and 5, and at least 1500 feet above the highest obstacle within 5NM when in areas 2, 3 and 4.

Question 36

MINIMUM IFR ALTITUDE

Answer 36

The lowest IFR altitude established for use in a specific airspace. Depending on the airspace concerned, the minimum IFR altitude may be a minimum obstacle clearance altitude (MOCA), a minimum enroute altitude (MEA), a minimum sector altitude (MSA), a minimum vectoring altitude (MVA), a safe altitude 100 NM, a terminal arrival area (TAA), an area minimum altitude (AMA), a transition altitude, or a missed approach altitude. The minimum IFR altitude provides obstacle clearance, but may or may not be within controlled airspace.

Question 37

MINIMUM OBSTACLE CLEARANCE ALTITUDE (MOCA)

Answer 37

The altitude above sea level between specified fixes on airways or air routes that meets the IFR obstacle clearance requirements for the route segment in question.

This altitude is published on aeronautical charts.

Question 38

MINIMUM ENROUTE ALTITUDE (MEA)

Answer 38

The altitude above sea level between specified fixes on airways or air routes that assures acceptable navigational signal coverage and that meets the IFR obstacle clearance requirements.

This altitude is published on aeronautical charts.