301 - Flow Pattern and Operational Procedures Flashcards
Glossary > Minimum IFR Altitude
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.
Glossary > Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude (MOCA)
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.
Glossary > Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA)
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.
TC AIM > Area Minimum Altitude (AMA)
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.
Similar concept to MOCA but not restricted to an airway or route
Glossary > Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA)
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
Glossary > Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA)
The lowest altitude for vectoring aircraft by ATC that meets obstacle clearance and radio coverage requirements in the airspace specified.
Safe altitude 100 nautical miles
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.
TC AIM > Transition
(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.
Minimum Altitudes
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.
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:
- Flight safety (flight safety may be jeopardized by conditions such as icing or turbulence)
- Flight check of a NAVAID
- A MEDEVAC flight
- GNSS navigation[3]
-aircraft operating at the MOCA may be in uncontrolled airspace
- adequate navigation signal coverage may not always exist below the MEA
- GNSS provides adequate navigation accuracy along
Traversing Airways and Routes
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.
MEA Higher or Lower Beyond the Next Fix
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.
MEA Higher or Lower Beyond the Next Fix
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.
CARs 602.35 > Altimeter setting and Operating Procedures in the Altimeter setting Region
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
(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.
Altimeter Setting and Operating Procedures in the Standard Pressure Region
(1) 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
(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.
(2) 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.
Altimeter Setting and Operating Procedures in Transition between Regions
Except where otherwise authorized by an air traffic control unit, each flight crew member who occupies a flight crew member position that is equipped with an altimeter shall
(a) 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; and
(b) 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.
Altimeter Setting Region
If an aircraft will proceed from the Standard Pressure Region to the Altimeter Setting Region, issue the current altimeter setting before the transition occurs.
The rule is that every one hundredth of an inch of mercury is equivalent to 10 feet.
The difference between 29.92 and 29.93 is 10 feet.
The difference between 29.92 and 29.82 is 100 feet.
The difference between 29.92 and 28.92 is 1000 feet.
Lowest Usable Flight Level
Do not assign any flight level lower than the lowest usable flight level indicated in the following table.
Altimeter Setting > Lowest Usable Flight Level
29.92 and higher > FL180
29.91 - 28.92 > FL190
28.91 - 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.
Vertical Separation with a CYR
Apply vertical separation with a CYR as indicated in the tables below:
Upper limit defined by flight level
* IFR > Above FL290 > 2000 ft
* IFR > 18000 ft ASL - FL290 > 1000 ft
Upper limit defined by altitude
IFR > Above FL290
* 29.92 or higher > 2000 ft
* 29.91-28.92 > 3000 ft
* 28.91-27.92 > 4000 ft
* 27.91 or lower > 5000 ft
IFR > 18000 ft ASL to FL290
* 29.92 or higher > 1000 ft
* 29.91-28.92 > 2000 ft
* 28.91-27.92 > 3000 ft
* 27.91 or lower > 4000 ft
IFR or CVFR > Below 18000 ft ASL > 1000 ft
Weather Information > Altimeter Setting Information
Issue the altimeter setting as follows:
* 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.
For example, Toronto ACC issuing an altimeter setting for Peterborough: “Peterborough altimeter two-niner-seven-two.”
For example, Edmonton ACC issuing an altimeter setting for Red Deer and Edmonton: “Red Deer altimeter two-niner-six-six; Edmonton altimeter two-niner-six-three”
* If the setting is 28.99 or lower, or 31.00 or higher, state the setting twice
* 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.
* 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). [4]
If no local or remote altimeter is available for a location, inform the pilot when issuing landing information.
4 An altimeter on a QNH setting displays the height above sea level. In Canada, the height above aerodrome elevation or relevant runway threshold (QFE) is not available.
Altitude Readout Limitations
Use altitude readouts of aircraft under the jurisdiction of another controller to determine aircraft altitudes only if either of the following applies.
* 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.
TC AIM RAC 8.4.1 > Climb or Descent
During any phase of flight, pilots should adhere to the following procedures:
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(C)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.
Generic Enroute Course 301-49
NAV CANADA Proprietary / Propriété exclusive
(d) 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])
CARs 602.31 >Compliance with Air Traffic Control Instructions and Clearances
(1) Subject to subsection (3), the pilot-in command of an aircraft shall
(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.
Maintaining Vertical Separation > Assigning Altitudes
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:
* 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.
Glossary > Cruise Climb
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.
