Course 3 Section 6 - Routes, Airways and Charts Flashcards
Airways vs Air Routes
Airways are the highways of the sky, used by aircraft to go from one point to another in controlled airspace
Air routes are more like gravel roads, allowing aircraft to move from one point to another, but in uncontrolled airspace, like driving in rural areas
Operation charts are continually updated and published every _____ days?
56
Low Level Airway
a low level airway is a route within controlled low-level airspace
Controlled low-level airways extend from 2200 feet AGL up to, but not including 18,000 feet ASL
Types of Low Level Airways
ATC services are provided in low level airways within specific boundaries
- VHF/UHF airways
- LF/MF airways
- Combination VHF/UHF and LF/MF airways
- T-routes
VHF/UHF Airways
VHF/UHF Airways are airways from one VOR or VORTAC to another
A VORTAC is a VOR that also has a tactical air navigation beacon
On aeronautics charts, VHF/UHF airways are indicated by the letter V. They are therefore known as VICTOR AIRWAYS
VHF/UHF Airway Dimension
A VHF/UHF airway is protected 4 NM on either side of the airway centreline to a distance of 50.8 NM from the VOR, then within lines that diverge at 4.5 degrees from the VOR until they meet similar lines from the adjacent navaid
The extra width (called splay) is required when the distance between the adjacent facilities is too great to rely on the position data to be accurate within 4 NM of the centre line
LF/MF Airways
LF/MF Airway dimension
LF/MF Airways extend from one non-directional beacon (NDB) to another
Dimensions
An LF/MF airways is protected 4.34 NM on either side of the airway centreline to a distance of 49.66 NM from the NDB, and then with lines that diverge at 5 degrees from the NDB until they meet similar lines from the adjacent navaid
Similar to Victor Airways, this splay is required when the distance between the facilities is too great
Combination VHF/UHF LF/MF Airways
Combination VHF/UHF LF/MF Airway dimensions
Combination VHF/UHF and LF/MF airways extend between a VOR/VORTAC and an NDB
Dimensions
Where a Victor airway is established based on a VOR/VORTAC and NDB, the boundaries of that airway will be the same as those of an LF/MF airway
T-Routes
T-routes dimensions
A T-route is a fixed low-level controlled RNAV route that requires GNSS (global navigation satelitte systems) and RNAV (area navigation) systems for use
Dimensions
The protected airspace associated with RNAV T-routes is 10 NM on either side of the centreline. It does not splay because the accuracey of the position data does not diminish between points
Low Level Air Routes
List them as well
A low level air route is a route within low-level UNCONTROLLED airspace
Unlike airways, ATC service is not provided for Air routes
Four types
-VHF/UHF
-LF/MF
-Combination VHF/UHF and LF/MF
-L-Routes - are fixed RNAV routes that require GNSS RNAV systems for use
High Level Airways
a high level airway is a prescribed track between specified fixes in CONTROLLED high-level airspace
On aeronautical charts, high-level airways are indicated by the letter J and are referred to as jet airways
Q-routes
Q-routes are high-level fixed RNAV routes
They require an RNAV system with performance capabilities only met by a GNSS or distance measuring equipment/inertial reference unit (DME/IRU) systems
Designated Areas of Controlled Airspace
Controlled Airspace includes:
- Control Zones
- Terminal Control Areas
- Control Area Extensions
- Transition Areas
View the airpsace around a controlled airport as an upside-down wedding cake. we will go through each layer in order starting from the part that touches the ground
Control Zones
Control Zones are designated areas around certain aerodromes
The purpose of a control zone is to keep IFR aircraft within controlled airspace during approaches and to facilitate the control of VFR and IFR traffic
Control Zone Dimensions
- If there is a civilian control tower within a terminal control area, the radius of a control zone is normally 7 NM
- Other control zones have a 5 NM and sometimes a 3 NM radius
- Military control zones usually have a 10 NM radius
Control zones are usually capped 3000 feet AAE (ABOVE AERODROME ELEVATION) unless otherwise specified
Military control zones are capped at 6000 feet AAE
Terminal Control Area Dimensions
A TCA generally has the following dimensions:
INNER CIRCLE: 12 NM RADIUS based at 1200 feet AGL
INTERMEDIATE CIRCLE: 35 NM RADIUS based at 2200 feet AGL
OUTER LIMIT: 45 NM RADIUS based at 9500 feet agl
Control Area Extensions
Control Area Extensions (CAEs) are established at some busy airports where controlled airspace is insufficient to permit required separation between IFR arrivals and departures
Control Area Extensions Dimensions
CAEs extend from 2200 feet AGL (unless otherwise specified) up to, BUT NOT INCLUDING, 18,000 feet ASL
Transition Areas
Transition areas are established when it is considered advantageous or necessary to provide additional controlled airspace for the containment of IFR operations
Transition Areas Dimensions
Transition areas extend from 700 feet AGL (unless otherwise specified) to the base of the overlying controlled airspace
The radius is usually 15 NM from the aerodrome coordinates, but it must be large enough to contain all of the aerodrome published instrument approach procedures
Define Navaid
Any visual or electronic device, airborne or on the surface of the earth, that provides point to point guidance information or position data to aircraft in flight
Define RNAV
Area navigation RNAV
a method of navigation that permits operation of aircraft on any desired flight path within the coverage of ground or space based navigational aids
Define TACAN
Tactical air navigation beacon
Navigation aids used by the military that provide bearing and distance to a ground or ship bourne station
A TACAN is a more accurate version of the VOR/DME system
Define ILS
A radio navigation system that provides aircraft with horizontal and vertical guidance to the runway during a precision final approach
Define GNSS
Global navigation satellite system
Global civilian aviation system that uses a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth to determine position
How are airways and air routes identified on radio?
phonetic alphabet is used mostly. Numbers are pronounced individually
Airway
Airway letter designator + airway number
G1 GOLF ONE
V5 VICTOR FIVE
Air route
route letter designator + route number
RR3 ROMEO ROMEO THREE
BR4 BRAVO ROMEO FOUR
Jet airways
(JET + airway number)
J500 JET FIVE ZERO ZERO
RNAV Low altitude (T-routes)
(TANGO + route number)
T210 TANGO TWO ONE ZERO
RNAV High altitude (Q-routes)
**(Q (CUE) + route number)
Q145 Q ONE FOUR FIVE
Minimum IFR Altitude
Minimum IFR altitude is the lowest IFR altitude established for use in a specified airspace
Depending on the airspace involved, the minimum IFR altitude may be one of the following
- Minimum obstacle clearance altitude
- Minimum enroute altitude
- Minimum sector altitude
- Minimum vectoring altitude
- Safe altitude 100 NM
- Area minimum altitude
- Transition altitude
- Minimum reception altitude
The minimum IFR altitude provides obstacle clearance but may or may not be within controlled airspace
Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitutde
The minimum obstacle clearance altitude (MOCA) is the altitude above sea level between specified fixes on airways or air routes that meets IFR obstacle clearance requirements for the route segment in question
published on aeronautical charts
Minimum Enroute Altitude
The minimum enroute altitude MEA is the altitude above sea level between specified fixes on airways and air routes that allows reception of an acceptable navigational signal from a NAVAID and provides terrain clearance
It is published on navigation charts
Minimum Sector Altitude
The minimum sector altitude (MSA) is the lowest altitude that provides a minimum clearance of 1000 feet under conditions of standard temperature and pressure above all objects located in an area contained within a sector of a circle with a 25 NM radius centred on a radio aid to navigation or a specified point
This is published on aeronautical charts
According to the canada air pilot CAP chart, the minimum sector altitude in the northwest quadrant of deer lake regional airport YDF is 3600 feet
Minimum vectoring altitude
the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA) is the lowest altitude for vectoring aircraft by ATC that meets obstacle clearance requirements and radio coverage requirements in the airspace provided.
These altitudes are used by controllers to ensure that while providing surveillance control service, they are providing ground clearance and radio coverage as well
These altitudes are usually published in the Unit Operations Manual (UOM)
Safe Altitude 100 NM
Safe altitude 100 NM is the lowest altitude that provides a minimum clearance of 1000 feet above all obstacles within 100 NM of an aerodrome
In a designated mountainous region, safe altitude 100 NM provides a minimum clearance of 1500 or 2000 feet as appropriate
Safe altitutude 100 NM applies under conditions of standard temperature and pressure. To ensure terrain clearance in cold conditions, pilots must use an altitude correction chart to account for instrument error
This altitude is published on aeronautical charts
According to the Canada Air Pilot CAP chart, the safe altitude 100NM at the north battleford airport YQW is 4600 feet
Area minimum altitude
Area minimum altitude (AMA) is the lowest altitude that provides a minimum clearance of of 1000 feet above all obstacles located in the area specified
In designated mountainous regions, AMA provides a minimum clearance of 2000 feet
Clearance is rounded up to the next 100 foot increment
This altitude may be used under instrument meteorological conditions IMC and under conditions of standard pressure and temperature
Transition Altitude
Transition altitude is the highest altitude at which the vertical position of the aricraft is expressed in feet. Above it, the vertical position is expressed as a flight level
Minimum reception altitude
When applied to a specific VHF/UHF intersection, the minimum reception altitude (MRA) is the lowest altitude above sea level (ASL) at which acceptable navigational coverage is received.
IFR Airport Routing SIDs and STARs
Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and standard terminal arrival routes (STARs) are three dimensional IFR routes produced with the objective of expediting the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. They are different for every airport
SIDs and STARs aim to separate traffic by using specific routings, levels and speed restrictions. They are published in the CANADA AIR PILOT (CAP) for pilot and controller use
There can be multiple SIDs and STARs for a given aerodrome depending on the number of runways, the type of aircraft departing and arriving, destination, point of departure and other factors. Bigger airports tend to have more published SIDs and STARs. Small airports might not have any
Depending on the flight plan filed by the pilot, ATC will issue a SID and STAR as required
Standard Instrument Departure
SIDs are meant to help aircraft transition form the departure to the enroute phase of flight
SIDs may be either:
- Pilot Navigation SIDs
The pilot is required to use the applicable SID chart as reference for navigation to the enroute phase - Vector SIDs
ATC will provide navigational guidance (vectors) to a filed or assigned route, or to a fix depicted on the applicable SID chart. Pilots are expected to use the SID chart as a reference for navigation until the controller issues vectors
Name the six types of charts
VFR Aeronautical charts
Canada Air Pilot
Terminal Charts
Enroute Low Altitude Charts
Enroute High Altitude Charts
Canada Flight Supplement
VFR Aeronautical Charts (three key sources)
VFR Terminal Area Charts
VFR Navigation Charts
World Aeronautical Charts
VFR Terminal Area Charts
VFR terminal area charts (VTAs) provide detailed information to VFR pilots OPERATING IN BUSY TERMINAL AREAS
VTAs allow VFR pilots to navigate more precisely in a terminal area
VFR Navigation Charts
The purpose of VFR navigation charts (VNCs) is to provide navigation information to pilots DURING THE ENROUTE PORTION OF A VFR FLIGHT
VNCs including information on
- hydrography
- airports
- navigation aids
- airways and other controlled airspace
- enroute hazards such as restricted areas, advisory areas and obstructions
World Aeronautical Charts
World Aeronautical charts (WACs) are used for flight planning and in-flight navigation ON EXTENDED CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHTS AT LOW-TO-MEDIUM ALTITUDES AND MEDIUM-TO-HIGH AIRSPEED
WACs cover a larger area than VNCs and are useful for longer range VFR flights. However, they lack the detail of VNCs
Canada Air Pilot
Terminal Charts
Terminal Charts are enroute charts that provide IFR pilots with navigational information in BUSY TERMINAL ENVIRONMENTS such as vancouver, edmonton, calgary, ottawa, toronto and montreal
Enroute Low Altitude Charts
Enroute low altitude charts (LO charts) provide navigation information for IFR flights in LOW LEVEL AIRSPACE
LO charts are intended for use up to, but not including, 18,000 feet ASL within the Canadian domestic airspace (CDA)
They also cover airspace over international waters and foreign territory where Canada has the rsponsibility to provide ATC services
LO charts provide the following information:
- Airways and route data, minimum altitudes, headings and distances
- Flight information boundaries
- Limited airport information
- Radio Aids and frequencies
- Reporting points
- Special use airspace dimensions
Enroute High Altitude Charts
Enroute high altitude charts (HI charts) provide pilots with navigational information required to navigate and HIGHER ALTITUDES
Hi charts consist of four (SIX) charts that depict the airspace over Canada and the North atlantic at 18,000 ASL and above
Hi charts provide the following inormation:
- All radio navigation, such as airways and NAVAIDs
- reporting points and frequencies
- Limited topographical features
Canada Flight Supplement
Methods of representing chart scales (three types - list them)
In words
As a fraction
As a graduated line
Methods of representing chart scales: In words
Methods of representing chart scales: As a fraction
Methods of representing chart scales: As a graduated line
Spotlight on VNC Charts: The upside down V
Spotlight on VNC charts: control zones
Spotlight on VNC charts: NDB Frequencies
Spotlight on VNC charts: restricted airports
The blank circle indicates a land aerodrome in the “other aerodrome” category. If it has an H in it, its a heliport. the (R) in the field name indicates that it is a restricted use aerodrome
Spotlight on VNC charts: ATIS, Unlit Tower, FIC RADIO
Spotlight on VNC charts: Victor Airways
Spotlight on VNC charts: VOR/DME
Spotlight on LO charts: Airport info
Spotlight on LO charts: NDB Frequencies
Spotlight on LO charts: Air routes
Spotlight on LO charts: Minimum Reception Altitude
Spotlight on LO charts: Distance between fixes
