AV28: Position Info to Lost Aircraft - DC

Question 1

If a pilot is unsure of their position and requests the specialist to establish or confirm their position, is that considered an emergency?

Answer 1

No, unless the pilot requests emergency assistance

Question 2

Name 2 types of orientation assistance.

Answer 2

Navigational Assistance - Radar and other NAVAIDS

Geographical Assistance - Visual Reference

Question 3

Types of information to obtain from pilot for orientation service.

Answer 3

Aircraft type, Altitude, VFR/IFR, Departure point, Destination, Route flown, Cruising speed, Last known position, Current heading, Pilot intentions, # of persons on board, Fuel, Weather/flight conditions, Visual references, Aircraft capabilities/equipment, Pilot capabilities, Types of assistance required, Colours of aircraft.

This list is not all encompassing

Question 4

When would you immediately contact ATC about an aircraft requesting orientation service?

Answer 4

If the aircraft is experiencing an emergency situation or, if the aircraft is within an area of known radar coverage.

ATC will likely instruct to have aircraft switch to their frequency, but this may not be possible, in which case, the FSS shall act as a relay.

Question 5

Where would you find Nav Canada ATC Radar coverage.

Answer 5

TC AIM Section SAR 4.5 figure 4.1

Question 6

If the aircraft is inside RADAR coverage but outside ATC radio coverage, what information should the specialist give ATC.

Answer 6

Aircraft Ident, If aircraft is transponder equipped, Fuel, Altitude, point of departure and routing, last known position and time over it, present heading, navigation equipment on board, any visible landmarks, type of assistance already given.

Question 7

Do FSS provide assistance in helping aircraft determining its position in an emergency situation.

Answer 7

NO. Emergency assistance using radar is limited to ATC only

Question 8

Provide Radar position information based on…

Answer 8

Relation to a visual fix and using either compass directions or the 12-hour clock method, plus the distance.

Question 9

Things you should never do with Radar

Answer 9

• Assign or suggest headings or altitudes

- Provide emergency assistance

Question 10

If Radar assistance is not an option and aircraft is equipped with navigational aids, what assistance shall we apply?

Answer 10

Provide assistance by plotting the position of the aircraft on a map using the information derived from NAVAIDS

Question 11

NAVAID Assistance

VDF

Answer 11

determine aircraft’s bearing

Question 12

NAVAID Assistance

VOR

Answer 12

Obtain radial information from pilot

Question 13

NAVAID Assistance

DME

Answer 13

Obtain distance information from pilot

Question 14

NAVAID Assistance

ADF

Answer 14

Ask pilot for bearing information (from 2 NDB’s if possible)

Question 15

If Radar assistance is not an option, and the aircraft has NO navaids on board, what assistance shall we provide?

Answer 15

Geographical assistance (last resort)

Question 16

What is the minimum information needed from pilot to provide geographical assistance?

Answer 16

• Point of origin
• Destination
• Route
• Visual Landmarks

Question 17

Is it advisable to suggest possible landmarks to a pilot?

Answer 17

No, best to use open ended questions requesting pilot to describe his surroundings to produce the most accurate results.

Question 18

What does VDF do?

Answer 18

Provides an azimuth bearing of a radio transmission being received.

Question 19

How long does a pilot need to transmit for a VDF to get a bearing?

Answer 19

about 2 seconds

Question 20

VDF service is only provided on a limited number of pre-selected frequency channels. Name the most common one.

Answer 20

121.5 Mhz (emergency frequency)

Question 21

What are the VDF tolerances?

Answer 21

Equipment tolerance is +/- 2 deg

Flight check bearing tolerance is +/- 6 Deg

Question 22

What does it mean when the local control lamp is on on a VDF?

Answer 22

Means control of system has been transferred to the local DF site for maintenance purposes and is not available for DF services.

Question 23

When an FSS and a control tower are co-located, when would the FSS provide VDF services?

Answer 23

• When the tower requests it
• Aircraft is unable to communicate with tower
• Aircraft will remain outside the control zone

Question 24

When providing VDF position information to SVFR aircraft, what is the information relative too?

Answer 24

The VDF site, not the aerodrome. Pilot must be informed of this.

Question 25

One of these 2 circumstances must be met before providing VDF assistance

Answer 25

• Requested by pilot
• When suggested by FSS and accepted by pilot

don’t just do it automatically

Question 26

When providing VDF services, the pilot must be informed that the information is relative to an off aerodrome facility if the facility is how far from the aerdrome?

Answer 26

Beyond 1 NM of the aerodrome

Question 27

What to pieces of info are issued to pilots who request VDF assistance.

Answer 27

• A bearing from the VDF site

- The aircraft heading to the VDF site

Question 28

Phraseology for instruction a pilot how to transmit for bearing for VDF assistance

Answer 28

“When asked to transmit for bearing, give call sign, hold mike button for two seconds and repeat call sign.”

Question 29

Steps for providing VDF navigation (10 of them)

Answer 29

1. Provide AAS is appropriate
2. Advise aircraft that navigation will be provided to the VDF site
3. Inform aircraft how to transmit for bearing
4. Request a transmission for bearing
5. Instruct pilot to remain VFR
6. Provide current altimeter setting
7. Advise aircraft of any prominent landmarks and obstructions which may affect flight
8. Provide heading
9. Instruct pilot to report aerodrome in sight
10. If necessary, request an update transmission from aircraft for bearing check, and if necessary, provide revised heading

Question 30

What is the suggested threshold of change in bearing of an aircraft before a revised heading is necessitated?

Answer 30

5-10 degrees.