Airways Flashcards
In the UK, what class of airspace are airways?
Class A
What is Class A airspace?
Airspace in which only IFR flights are allowed. All flights are in receipt of a radar service and must follow mandatory instructions for separation and sequencing from one another.
Typically, how wide is an airway?
10nm
How is the structure/route of an airway defined?
By a series of reporting points (name and position). These are stored in aircraft navigation databases.
What will be expected of you if you plan to fly an airways route?
File a full flight plan
Obtain clearance for the flight
Obey ATC clearances and instructions
What are the 3 categories of flight plan?
Full flight plan
Repetitive flight plans
Abbreviated flight plans
What is a full flight plan?
Information filed in written form on Form CA48/RAF Form 2919, or filed through an approved electronic flight planning system.
What is a repetitive flight plan?
Used for operators flying the same route on a regular basis, e.g. civil airliner.
What is an abbreviated flight plan?
The limited information required to obtain a clearance for a portion of flight (e.g. flying in a control zone or crossing an airway).
Filed either by phone or by RT when airborne. Abbreviated flight plans should be filed with the appropriate civil or military ATSU.
When can you find detailed information on how to complete a flight plan?
FIH
What charts should you use for airways navigation?
ERC UK(L) 2 or UK(L)1
How is the airways structure designed to be navigated?
Predominantly using RNAV capability (up to ENP 1 in terminal airspace below 10,000ft), although many still use VOR/DME beacons.
Beacons useful as a backup/check of the FMS
If the flight time from take-off to joining CAS is less than 10 minutes, what should you do before departure?
Obtain your airways clearance before departure.
In all other cases, ATC will pass the clearance when you are airborne.
If you have filed a flight plan, but have not received your airborne clearance yet, can you enter controlled airspace?
No
You must receive a positive clearance to enter controlled airspace.
What should you check prior to joining an airway?
Altimeters are set to 1013 and you are at the correct flight level
Route on FMS and appropriate VOR/DME beacons are tuned ready for use if needed - think and plan ahead, prepare kit accordingly.
If you are relying on a VOR/DME beacon as a primary navigation source in an airway, what checks must you carry out when setting it up?
FATSIC
Where do you typically join and airway and how?
At a VOR beacon or a reporting point.
Ideally, join at 90 deg. to the airway centreline. Turn to intercept the centreline (1nm anticipation at 180kts, therefore approx. 1.2 at M0.38).
How should you join an airway at a VOR if it is being used as the primary navigation source?
Fly at 90 deg. to the airway centreline to the beacon overhead.
Turn when the VOR needle unlocks. DME range will indicate your height in miles (1nm approx. 6000ft).
Turn on to a heading to make good the airway centreline, a 20 deg. intercept is normally sufficient.
Note - Don’t need to overfly a reporting point to join at it.
What should you note when arriving at an airway beacon/reporting point?
Time
Time to go and ETA for next turning point
Displayed at the top of the NAV display and TSD.
If ATC vector you within an airway, what AoB should you use?
45 deg. AoB
What speed should you fly in airways?
240 KTAS
Approx. 210 KIAS/0.38M
How should you anticipate turning points in airways?
Aim to turn with sufficient anticipation so as to roll out on the airway centreline for the next route leg.
FMS cse bar to assist.
Also note turn angle and therefore approx. anticipation. E.g. 45 deg. turn = approx 0.5nm anticipation for Rate 1 turn
What should you do with any ‘spare’ time in airways?
Think ahead - communicate and cockpit admin as required + prepare for next event.
E.g. set up cockpit for and brief an approach, FOEL checks, pre-recovery checks, nearest in case of emergency, weather check, etc.
How should you plan to leave an airway?
Normally leave at a beacon or reporting point at 90 deg. to the airway centreline.
Anticipate clearance for the descent and complete the recovery checks.
Maintain the assigned flight level until clear of controlled airspace. Report clear and reset the transponder as required/directed.
