ADI Question Bank Flashcards
State the objectives of an Air Traffic Controller
Objectives of ATS
- To prevent collisions between aircraft
- To prevent collisions between aircraft on the manoeuvring area and obstructions on that area
- To expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic
- To provide information and advice useful to the safe and efficient conduct of flight
- Notify appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid and to assist such organisations as required.
Aerodrome Controller
To provide information and instructions to aircraft under its control in order to achieve and safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic with the objective of;
- Preventing collisions between;
Aircraft flying in and in the vicinity of the ATZ
Aircraft landing and taking off from the aerodrome
Aircraft, vehicles, obstructions and other aircraft on the manoeuvring area - Assisting in the prevention of collisions between aircraft on the apron
An Aerodrome control unit provides which services?
A basic service
An aerodrome control service
Alerting service
When shall aerodrome control transfer control to approach?
In VMC= prior to the aircraft leaving the vicinity of the aerodrome or prior to the aircraft entering IMC
In IMC= immediately after the aircraft is airborne.
What is Essential Aerodrome Information?
Information concerning the state of the manoeuvring area and its associated facilities that may constitute a hazard to a particular aircraft. It shall be issued to pilots in sufficient time to ensure the safe operation of aircraft. This may include the provision of urgent information to pilots during take-off or landing runs.
What would constitute Essential Aerodrome Information?
- Construction work or maintenance on the manoeuvring area
- Rough portions of the manoeuvring area and whether marked or not
- failure of irregular functioning of Aerodrome lighting system. Defects must be passed to pilots in the form that they have been reported to the controller. Controllers should not make assumptions that a particular defect renders an associated aid unserviceable or not available. Pilot is responsible for deciding his course of action.
- Aircraft Parked close to the runways or taxiways and aircraft engaged in ground running of engines
- Failure or irregular operation of Approach aids
- Water, snow, ice or frost on a runway, a taxiway or apron
- In snow or ice conditions, information concerning Anti-icing, or de-icing liquid chemicals or other containments or sweeping and/or sanding of runways, taxiways and aprons.
- Information on the location and operational status of any Arrester gear.
- Bird formations or individual large birds on the manoeuvring area or in the vicinity of the aerodrome and the extent of any bird dispersal action being carried out. When flocks of birds or single large ones are seen, the aerodrome operator or bird control unit must be informed.
Describe the Cambridge ATZ
2.5 nm radius centred on the centre of rwy 23/05
What are the uses of the ATM at Cambridge?
ATM may be used to;
1) determine the landing order, spacing and distance from touchdown of arriving aircraft;
(2) assist in applying longitudinal separation for departing aircraft;
(3) enable the controller to confirm that the initial track of a departing aircraft conforms with the clearance issued;
(4) provide information to aircraft on the position of other aircraft in the circuit or carrying out an instrument approach. Cambridge does not have approval for advanced uses of the ATM so traffic displayed on it must be considered un-validated, un-verified and traffic information passed from the ATM must be phrased as ‘believed to be’ and ‘approximately’
What are the conditions for a multiple line-up?
1) it is during daylight hours;
2) all aircraft are continuously visible to the aerodrome controller;
3) all aircraft are on the same RTF frequency;
4) pilots are advised of the number of aircraft ahead in the departure sequence, and the position/runway from which these aircraft will depart;
5) the physical characteristics of the runway do not render preceding aircraft in the departure sequence invisible to succeeding aircraft on the same runway.
What are the conditions for a land after?
1) the runway is long enough to allow safe separation between the two aircraft and there is no evidence to indicate that braking may be adversely affected;
(2) it is during daylight hours;
(3) the preceding landing aircraft is not required to backtrack in order to vacate the runway;
(4) the controller is satisfied that the landing aircraft will be able to see the preceding aircraft which has landed, clearly and continuously, until it has vacated the runway; and
(5) the pilot of the following aircraft is warned. Responsibility for ensuring adequate separation rests with the pilot of the following aircraft.
What does APS/APP co-ordinate with ADI controller?
1) aircraft approaching to land; if necessary requesting landing clearance;
2) arriving aircraft which are to be cleared to visual holding points;
3) aircraft routing through the traffic circuit
In addition in MATS 2 also;
APP
1) When an IFR aircraft is Active
2) When it passes an IAF for a procedural approach OR passes 15nm from touchdown for a self positioned approach
3) When the aircraft is either localiser established, base-turn complete or FAT established for a procedural approach
4) APP shall also inform ADI of the intentions of aircraft before transferring control
5) Where transfer of control is not transferred ADI and APP will co-ordinate closely
6) All IFR aircraft requiring a visual approach shall be co-ordinated with ADI on an individual basis for joining instructions. APP shall also inform ADI of the landing order when working more than one IFR aircraft and the anticipated delay to a departing IFR aircraft along with the reason for the delay. And; any over-flight traffic at or below 2,500ft QNH within 3nm and co-ordinate traffic through the ATZ at or below 2000ft altitude.
APS
Aircraft being vectored for an instrument approach and aircraft which are identified and are being monitored making a procedural approach;
1) APS or ATSA will inform ADI when aircraft becomes active.
2) APS shall inform ADI when the aircraft is approximately 12 miles from touchdown before intercepting the FAT.
3) APS shall make ADI aware of the aircraft’s intentions before transferring control.
4) Where control is not transferred (subject to ADI agreement), ADI and APS will coordinate closely.
5) All IFR aircraft requiring a visual approach shall be co-ordinated on an individual basis for joining instructions.
When may standard separtation be reduced in the vicinity of an aerodrome?
Also in the vicinity of an aerodrome as per ICAO, when:
- ADC continuously sees all the aircraft, and can provide adequate separation
- Aircraft see each other and agree to maintain separation (– good in circuit at night if IFR.)
- Following aircraft sees the one in front and agrees to maintain separation.
Describe in detail, low approach restrictions and their uses
- If the runway in use is occupied by aircraft or vehicles, an approaching aircraft that has requested a low approach or a touch and go, may be cleared to carry out a low approach restricted to a height not below 400 feet above the threshold elevation. In such circumstances, the pilot is to be informed of the aircraft or vehicles on the runway. Additionally, the aircraft or vehicle on the runway is to be informed of the aircraft carrying out the low approach.
- For aircraft operating on the aerodrome QNH, the low approach altitude restriction is to be based on 400ft plus threshold elevation, rounded up to the nearest 50ft (450ft at Cambridge)
- The runway in use shall be kept clear of aircraft and vehicles if an approaching aircraft is likely to descend below 400 feet above the threshold elevation.
What is the definition of windshear?
A sustained change in wind velocity along an aircraft’s flight path which occurs significantly faster than an aircraft can accelerate or deccelerate.
What are ATC actions in the event of windshear?
In the event of a pilot executing a missed approach due to a windshear alert, controllers should be prepared for the aircraft to exceed the missed approach altitude. Controllers should provide enhanced traffic information as necessary and provide instructions and advice as deemed appropriate to ensure safety.
Whenever a pilot reports windshear conditions to ATC, the information shall be relayed to subsequent inbound and outbound aircraft until confirmation is received that the condition no longer exists.
Additionally ADI should consider the following and issue warnings as considered necessary;
- Possible turbulence/wind-shear on short final rwy 10/ departure rwy 28, caused by the mound of earth west of H17. This is especially significant when the wind is a strong North-westerly
- Possible turbulence/ wind-shear on short final of rwy 23 caused by the engine running bay. Especially when North westerly winds
- ERB. ADI should be mindful that prop/jet wash from the engine running bay may affect aircraft on final approach for rwy 23, especially when wind is north-westerly
Give an example of the phraseology that will be used to pass on reports of windshear
“G-CD, at 0745 a departing B757 reported windshear at 800 feet. Airspeed loss
20 knots, strong right drift”
When wind shear is forecast or is reported by aircraft, ATC will warn other aircraft until such time as aircraft report the phenomenon no longer exists.
What is the definition of a runway incursion?
A runway incursion is any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for aircraft take-off and landing. The protected area of a surface for aircraft take-off and landing is determined by the existence and location of the runway strip, clear and graded area, obstacle free zone and ILS sensitive areas.
What runway lights do we have at EGSC?
Elevated high intensity bi-directional (with Omni-directional component) runway edge lights at 60m intervals
Flush bi-directional red stop end lighting for both runways.
Blue turn pad lighting- low intensity which will remain low intensity regardless of the rest of the runway edge lighting settings.
What are the runway dimensions and lighting installations for each runway at Cambridge?
Rwy 05/23 1964m x 45m, thr 05=36ft 23=47ft
Lights= Elevated high intensity bi-directional (with Omni-directional component) runway edge lights at 60m intervals
Flush bi-directional red stop end lighting for both runways.
Blue turn pad lighting- low intensity which will remain low intensity regardless of the rest of the runway edge lighting settings.
23= Flush green threshold lighting plus green wingbars (due to runway being an L2 precisions instrument runway) also yellow lights edge lights for the last third of the runway.
05= Green wingbars only on the threshold due to being a non-precision instrument runway.
Also stopbars, Runway guard lights (wig wags), illuminated signage.
05/23 Grass 900m x 35m, thr 36ft 10/28 439m x 35m, thr 35ft
What is the frequency and DOC for Cambridge tower?
125.905 10NM. 10,000ft
What is the frequency and DOC for Cambridge Approach?
120.965
40nm/FL200
What is the frequency and DOC for Cambridge Radar?
124.980 in the AIP but operationally we use 120.965
40nm/FL150
What is the frequency for D and D?
121.5 VHF 243 UHF
What is the frequency for Fire?
121.6
What is the frequency for Stansted Director?
136.2
What is the frequency for Stansted Radar?
120.625
What is the frequency for Lakenheath Approach?
128.9
What is the frequency for Duxford Information?
122.080
Describe the local area out to a range of 10 miles
What is the radius of action of the RFFS?
Within aerodrome boundary and within an area encompassed by arcs drawn with a 1km radius from either threshold that are joined together.
They may operate outside of this area when needed, the decision to do this rests with the AFS O/iC after consultation with ATC and Ops
What are the categories of emergency according to the MATS 2
- Aircraft Accident/ Aircraft Accident imminent
- Aircraft Ground Incident
- Full Emergency
- Local Standby
- Weather Standby
- Unlawful Acts
- Off aerodrome accidents
- Other duties ie Domestic Fire, RTA’s and hazardous materials
Where is the RVP for external emergency vehicles?
Crash Gate 2
Following an aircraft accident, describe the procedures to be followed for removing a crashed aircraft from a runway
Removal of crashed aircraft is the responsibility of the Aerodrome Operator and the aircraft owner or operator. In the case of a reportable accident the permission of the AAIB is required before removal action can be commenced.
Emergency Removal
If it is apparent that continued obstruction of a runway, or interference with an approach aid, by a crashed aircraft might further endanger life, e.g. other arriving aircraft having insufficient fuel for diversion, the senior controller should ensure that the emergency situation is fully understood by the Aerodrome Operator. Under normal circumstances the AAIB may be contacted at any time without undue delay. Exceptionally, if there are communication difficulties, the Aerodrome Operator may wish to take action in accordance with the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations 1996, which provide that an aircraft may be removed or interfered with so far as may be necessary for the purpose of preventing any danger or obstruction to the public or to air navigation.
Describe the various actions you would take when an unexpected aircraft joins a busy circuit.
When a controller becomes aware of an aircraft which has deviated significantly from its intended track but has not reported as being lost, the following actions should be followed in so far as is necessary:
(1) Attempt to establish two-way communication, unless such communication already exists, and inform the pilot of his position (SERA.11010(a)(1)(i) & (ii));
(2) Inform other ATS units into whose area the aircraft has strayed or may stray (SERA.11010(a)(1)(iii));
(3) Request appropriate assistance from D&D, other ATS units, and other aircraft in establishing communication with the strayed aircraft (SERA.11010(a)(1)(iv) & (v));
(4) Notify, the Civil Watch Supervisor at the parent ACC in the event that unlawful interference is suspected (SERA.11005 & SERA.11010(c)).
(5) Inform other aircraft in the circuit about the aircraft making them aware of the fact that the aircraft is unknown and not talking to you.
What is the definition of a full emergency?
When it is known that an aircraft in the air is, or is suspected to be, in such difficulties that there is a danger of an accident.
What is the definition of an Aircraft Accident/ Aircraft Accident Imminent?
Aircraft accidents, which have occurred or are inevitable on, or in the vicinity of, the aerodrome.
Who’s responsibility is it to stand-down emergency services during an aircraft accident?
The SAFO who shall advise ATC as soon a possible
What is the published RFFS crash category? If you had any doubts, how would you find out?
A4
By calling the fire station
Why do we issue a QFE threshold for runway 05 at Cambridge? What is the threshold elevation for runway 05 and why do we use this threshold elevation for runway 05 Grass?
Because QFE threshold for an instrument runway is used when the threshold elevation is 7 feet or more below aerodrome elevation.
36ft (aerodrome elevation is 48ft)
This same QFE is used for Rwy 05G To harmonise operations between the two.
What are the noise abatement procedures for runway 23/05?
Runway 23
- The maximum take off run available should normally be used for all aircraft types other than light aircraft
- Aircraft requesting a right turn over the city shall be told to maintain runway heading until at least 2000ft QNH, or until west of the city. The following phraseology is to be used “Standard noise abatement right turn approved, Runway 23…”
Runway 05
- The maximum take off run available should normally be used for all aircraft types other than light aircraft
- Aircraft requesting a left turn out shall do so avoiding the city of Cambridge. The following phraseology shall be used; “Standard Noise abatement left turn approved, Rwy 05…”
