Airways

Question 1

In the UK, what class of airspace are airways?

Answer 1

Class A

Question 2

What is Class A airspace?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Typically, how wide is an airway?

Answer 3

10nm

Question 4

How is the structure/route of an airway defined?

Answer 4

By a series of reporting points (name and position). These are stored in aircraft navigation databases.

Question 5

What will be expected of you if you plan to fly an airways route?

Answer 5

File a full flight plan

Obtain clearance for the flight

Obey ATC clearances and instructions

Question 6

What are the 3 categories of flight plan?

Answer 6

Full flight plan

Repetitive flight plans

Abbreviated flight plans

Question 7

What is a full flight plan?

Answer 7

Information filed in written form on Form CA48/RAF Form 2919, or filed through an approved electronic flight planning system.

Question 8

What is a repetitive flight plan?

Answer 8

Used for operators flying the same route on a regular basis, e.g. civil airliner.

Question 9

What is an abbreviated flight plan?

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

When can you find detailed information on how to complete a flight plan?

Answer 10

FIH

Question 11

What charts should you use for airways navigation?

Answer 11

ERC UK(L) 2 or UK(L)1

Question 12

How is the airways structure designed to be navigated?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

If the flight time from take-off to joining CAS is less than 10 minutes, what should you do before departure?

Answer 13

Obtain your airways clearance before departure.

In all other cases, ATC will pass the clearance when you are airborne.

Question 14

If you have filed a flight plan, but have not received your airborne clearance yet, can you enter controlled airspace?

Answer 14

No

You must receive a positive clearance to enter controlled airspace.

Question 15

What should you check prior to joining an airway?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

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?

Answer 16

FATSIC

Question 17

Where do you typically join and airway and how?

Answer 17

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).

Question 18

How should you join an airway at a VOR if it is being used as the primary navigation source?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

What should you note when arriving at an airway beacon/reporting point?

Answer 19

Time
Time to go and ETA for next turning point

Displayed at the top of the NAV display and TSD.

Question 20

If ATC vector you within an airway, what AoB should you use?

Answer 20

45 deg. AoB

Question 21

What speed should you fly in airways?

Answer 21

240 KTAS
Approx. 210 KIAS/0.38M

Question 22

How should you anticipate turning points in airways?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What should you do with any ‘spare’ time in airways?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

How should you plan to leave an airway?

Answer 24

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.