Airspace & ATS Flashcards
What is FIR
FIR = Flight information region
it’s the first division of the world’s airspace
all airspaces in a state’s control is assigned to 1 or more FIRs
what are the services offered in FIR
FIS (flight info service) + Alerting service
FIR is divided into how many layers vertically?
2 layers -
lower and upper FIR
each have different flying rules dependign of flying traffic
boundary between lower and upper FIR differ from state to state
EXplain UFIR
Upper FIR boundary corresponds to the a VFR cruising level
Within an a FIR there are 2 types of airspaces
Controlled (with air traffic control) and uncontrolled (with no/little air traffic control)
In a controlled airpaces - there are further subdivisions
Control Area: volume of airspace whose lower limits are above the surface of the ground
Control zone: volume of airspace extends down to the ground
Control area
This is composed of: airways/volumes above airports knows as Terminal Manoeuvring areas
Lowest limit of control area is no less than 700 ft above ground level and can be expressed in height, altitude or Flight level
The upper limit is established if:
ATS is not provided above that upper limit
if there is another control area ontop, therefore the lower limit of one coinsides with the upper limit of the other
Control Zone
The lateral limits of the Control Zone contains the path of IFR flights arriving and departing under IMC
usually 9.3km lateral distance from the centre of aerodrome.
if control zone is within a control area, then the control zone extends towards the lower limit of the control area
Where to find info on ATS
Annex 11 has principles of ATS but states may have variations - publshed in PANS-ATM (doc 4444)
Objective of ATS
Excercise control and provide guidance to aircraft in order to maintain separation between aircraft and another aircraft or aircraft and obstacles
maintain and expediate orderly flow of air traffic
to provide info necessary for safe and efficienct conduct of flight
to assist in search and rescue operation/interception
ATS split into 3 parts
**ATC -air traffic control **
has ATC Unit to manage controlled airspace traffic
**FIS - Flight information services
**Provides pertinent info for all flights flying in a FIR
Delivered by FIC (flight info centre)
Alert services
Provides assistance to aircraft in distress flying in a FIR region
Delivered by FIC (flight info centre)
ATC is split into 3 parts
ATC Tower
Manage the traffic control at the aerodrome
Approach Control Unit
Manage approach, arrival and departure control at the Control zone
A unit may manage it for one aerodrome or multiple
Area control unit
manage the air traffic control of enroute flights.
Usually the name is prefixed by georgraphical name
“London ACC’
If Area Control services is limited - which unit can support?
service for enroute traffic can be handed to the Approach Control Unit
If there isn’t a dedicated Approach Control Unit, to whom can that service be handed to?
ATC Tower (aerodrome tower)
ATC Tower gets handed the following traffic:
Arriving Aircraft that are visual or after landing
Aircraft flying IMC just before entering the runway and before take off or after being airborn.
Approach unit get handed the following traffic
flights departing in VMC when they leave the vicinity of aerport or entering in IMC
what is the term used when there is a longitude and longitude separation between aircraft
composite separation
5 parts of ATC clearance
aircraft identification
limits of the clearance
route of flight
flight levels for full route or part of.
Other: departure or arrival maneouvring, clearance expiry time, communication, etc..
**given verbatim*
What must a PIC do with an ATC clearance
Read it back ‘read back’ so ATC can undestand that the instructions are acknowledged.
PIC can override the ATC clearnace for safety of flight and is in charge of observing rule of air
Clearance Crossing from one FIR to another
Clearance is required -
ACC contacts the other ACC enroute to alert before PIC enters.
PIC must ensure though that he gets clearance anyway before entering the other FIR.
EUROCONTROL - Upper area control centre
Where is FIS offered?
FIS -
Offered in controlled an uncontrolled airspace.
In controlled -
Usually ATC takes precedence but FIS is also available
In uncontrolled -
It might be the only service offered
how is FIS provided to an aircraft
Transmits info directly to an aircraft or generic info on a set frequency for anyone who listens in
What are the FIS broadcasts
HF - Operation Flight Information Service (OFIS) - for long haul (ex: IFR)
VHF - Operation Flight Information Service (OFIS) - for short haul (ex: VFR)
ATIS - Automated Terminal Informatin Service
What information is transmitted by FIS?
Weather conditions at departure and destinations, alternate airdromes + SIGmet / AIRmet
Volcanic activities, ashes cloud, etc
Release of hazardous material
conditions of aerodrome and movement area
**serviceability of navigation aids **
collision hazard in classes C,D,E,F,G
surface vessel info over water
accepting flight plan
**passing requests **to controlled airspaces
ETAs to destinations
Why is ATIS used
To reduce load on approach frequencies
how is ATIS provided (frequencies)
- a single frequency for arriving aircraft
- a single frequency for departing aircraft
- a single frequency for arriving and departing aircraft (all)
- 2 frequencies in one aerodrome - one for departure and one for arrival
If ATIS frequencies are not available, how to transmit the info?
Via voice channel of terminal navigation aid (VOICE ATIS)
This aid is a very high frequency omni-directional radio signals used at low or high altitudes
can an ATIS transmit info for multiple aerodromes?
no, info must relate to one aerodrome
how long are the ATIS broadcasts
short - 30 sec each
how are the ATIS messages identified
phonetic letter
if the message expires or gets updated, the next letter in alphabetical order gets used.
what should the aircraft do after receiving an ATIS
aircraft can report the information letter when it checks in with ATC
(this way the controller at ATC doesn’t have to repeat the message)
what if the aircraft checks in with an ATIS identifier that is no longer current
ATC controller must correct the aircraft by replying back with the update
who provides altimeter setting to aircraft?
ATC controller MUST do so.
ATIS gives cloud cover infomation if..
cloud is below 5000ft or below the highest minimum sector altitude
SEGMET
info issued by MET office to announce an occurence or expected occurence of a weather phenomna that could affect the safety of a flight operation.
An amended aerodrome forecast must be passed to an aircraft how long before its arrival?
60 min
Alert Services does not provide..
Doesn’t provide Search and rescue aid, but
provides Alerting services to SSR aid and appropriate parties regarding an aircraft in needs for assistance
Who provides Alert Services
Any ATS Unit and even a FIC
Alerting services is provided to:
- aircraft provided with air control traffic service
- aircraft subject to unlawful interferance
- aircraft that submitted flight plan and/ or has made itself knowns to ATS
