Communications Flashcards
Message priority
Distress
Urgency
Direction finding
Flight safety
Meteorological
Flight regularity
Main distress vs urgency difference
Distress: require immediate assistance
Urgency: don’t!
Q codes
QDM: Magnetic TO
QTE: True FROM
QDR: Magnetic FROM
QUJ: True TO
Flight safety messages
Basically covers almost all messages between ATC and aircraft
Also includes meteorological messages which are of immediate concern to an aircraft in flight or about to depart. So those messages higher priority than other meteorological messages.
Position report elements (AIREP) (3, 3)
- Aircraft Identification
- Position
- Time (minutes usually)
Last 3 can be omitted ONLY WITH A regional air navigation agreement - Level
- Next position and time
- Meteorological report
Initial actions on radio failure
Try again
Try a different (previous frequency)
Try 121.500 emergency frequency.
Actions if communications lost
- VMC
Stay in VMC
Land at nearest aerodrome, looking out for visual signals
Report to ATC ASAP
Actions if communications lost
- IMC no radar or surveillance
Maintain last assigned speed & level (or MSA if higher) for 20 mins following failure to communication, then continue with filed flight plan.
[“Unless otherwise prescribed in air navigation agreement”]
Actions if communications lost
- IMC with radar CONTROL or SURVEILLANCE
Maintain last assigned speed & level (or MSA if higher) for 7 mins following LATEST of 7600, reaching last assigned level or failure to make compulsory position report. Then rejoin filed flight plan.
Actions if communications lost
- IMC with radar VECTORS
Squawk 7600 and re-join flight plan in most direct method available.
[This INCLUDES departing flights, look out for “RADAR VECTORS”]
Actions if communications lost
- IMC approach, regardless of radar
Follow flight plan to the destination and hold at the navaid.
Commence approach at the last advised Estimated Approach Time (EAT), or flight plan ETA if no EAT.
Complete instrument approach.
Try to land within 30 mins of EAT or flight plan ETA (whichever is later).
ATIS
AUTOMATIC terminal information SERVICE
When must ATIS include cloud cover?
When clouds below 5,000ft or the highest MSA (whichever is greater).
Time abbreviations
- HS
- HX
- SR
- SS
- HJ
- HN
HS: Hours of Scheduled service
HX: No specific working hours#
SR: Sunrise
SS: Sunset
HJ: Sunrise to sunset
HN: Sunset to sunrise
Wind direction in METAR
TRUE
Abbreviations that can’t be used
Q codes
TTT
SOS
XXX
PAN
Message to request vectors to establish on localiser at 8nm
“Request 8nm final”
