FAA Dispatch Question Bank Flashcards
What is operational control?
With respect to a flight, means the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight.
What is the standard temperature lapse rate?
2 degrees C per 1000 FT
Explain the 3 types of icing?
Rime
Clear
Mixed
What does RVSM stand for?
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum
What does RNP stand for?
Required Navigational Performance
What does MNPS stand for?
Minimum Navigation Performance Specifications
What does NATS stand for?
North Atlantic Track System
routes between eastern United States and Europe
What does PACOTS stand for?
Pacific Oceanic Track System
routes between western United States and Pacific Asia
All company communications should be kept on file and recorded for how long?
30 days
FAR 121.711
What are the four forces of flight?
lift, weight, drag, thrust
Who’s responsible for operational control? (domestic, flag, supplemental)
FAR 121.533 domestic: aircraft dispatcher and PIC
FAR 121.535 flag: aircraft dispatcher and PIC
FAR 121.537 supplemental: director of operations and PIC (DO can delegate is authority but not his responsibility)
Two engine airplanes. What’s the standard minimum visibility required for takeoff?
1 SM
FAR 91.175
Three or more engine airplanes. What’s the standard minimum visibility required for takeoff?
1/2 SM
FAR 91.175
When do you need a takeoff alternate?
When the weather at your departure airport is below the landing minimums listed in the Operation Specifications
FAR 121.617
What are the rules for listing a takeoff alternate?
2 engine or less: the takeoff alternate cannot be more than 1 hour in still air, one engine inop, at normal cruise speed
3 engine or more the takeoff alternate cannot be more than 2 hours in still air, one engine inop, at normal cruise speed
FAR 121.617
What must the weather be at that alternate airport to file as takeoff alternate?
Weather must meet the alternate minimums listed in the Ops Specs for that airport at the time of arrival.
FAR 121.617
What does VOR stand for?
VHF Omnidirectional Range
Is the dispatcher required by regulation to be familiar with weather along the planned route?
Yes, the dispatcher should monitor the weather during for the entire flight.
FAR 121.465
What are the approach minimums for Category I aircraft?
200 foot ceiling and 1/2 mile
What is squawk 7500?
Air piracy
What is squawk 7600?
Loss communications
What is squawk 7700?
Emergency or distressed aircraft
When do you require a destination alternate for a domestic flight?
1-2-3 rule
If one hour before or one hour after the ETA the weather is below 2000 ft ceiling or 3 SM then an alternate airport must be listed.
FAR 121 .619
If the weather at the destination and first alternate are marginal what must you do?
Must list a second alternate airport if the first destination and alternate is marginal.
FAR 121.619
To which alternate must you have fuel on board?
Must have enough fuel to the most distant alternate.
FAR 121.639
If listing a takeoff alternate for your departure airport, what is the weather to legally list it as a takeoff alternate airport?
Weather must be greater than the landing minimums listed in the Ops Specs for that airport at the time of arrival and meet alternate weather minimums.
FAR 121.617
What are the regulatory standards for the weather minimums for filing a Destination Alternate?
600-2 for Precision approach
800-2 for Non- precision approach
FAR 91.169
What is a TAF?
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
How often are TAF’s update?
TAF’s are updated every 6 hours.
What is a “high minimums” captain?
A PIC who has not served 100 hours in that type of aircraft
FAR 121.652
What’s the minimum fuel required to be on board a domestic flight?
No person may dispatch or takeoff an airplane unless it has enough fuel-
(a) to fly to the airport to which it is dispatched;
(b) thereafter, to fly to and land at the most distant alternate; and
(c) thereafter, to fly for 45 minutes at normal cruising fuel
FAR 121.639
Where do you find the general operating rules that apply to all flights?
14 CFR Part 91
You have a high mins captain, what special rules apply?
Must add 100-1/2 to destination minimums.
Do not need to add 100-1/2 to alternate but can never be less than 300-1
FAR 121.652
What kind of information will you find in your company’s Ops Specs?
Company address Company officers Approved equipment (aircraft) Approved routing system Approved destination, alternate, and provisional airports
Does each airline have its own Ops Specs or do all airlines share one Ops Specs?
Each airline has their own Ops Specs.
An Operation Specifications is unique to each airline.
What does MEL stand for and what does it contain?
Minimum Equipment List and contains the aircraft systems that may be inoperative and still be legally dispatched.
What does CDL stand for and what does it contain?
Configuration Deviation List and contains external items of an aircraft that may be missing or inoperative and still be legally dispatched.
What is a NOTAM?
Notice to Airman which is very time critical information that must be checked before each flight is dispatched.
What does ATIS stand for?
Automated Terminal Information Service
What information is provided in an ATIS?
Station weather, runway in use, NOTAM, other airport remarks.
What does FSS stand for? AFSS?
Flight Service Station. Automated Flight Service Station.
What does ARTCC stand for?
Air Route Traffic Control Center.
What does TCAS stand for?
Traffic Collision Avoidance System
Mode C provides what type of information for Air Traffic Controllers?
altitude information
Define a Mid-Air collision?
An incident within the proximity of two aircraft of 500 ft or less or: a pilot reports a near mid air collision.
What are the dimensions of Class A airspace?
FL180 to FL600
What is the maximum speed below 10,000 ft and/or in Class B airspace?
250 KIAS
What is an MOA?
Military Operating Area
What is a MORA?
Minimum Off-Route Altitude
What does ADIZ stand for?
Air Defense Identification Zone.
What is a TFR?
Temporary Flight Restriction
What is an ILS?
Instrument Landing System- provides both vertical and horizontal guidance information
What is a VASI?
Vertical Approach Slope Indicator
What is a PAPI?
Precision Approach Path Indicator
What is a SID/DP?
Standard Instrument Departure Procedure or Departure Procedure-provides a smooth transition from the terminal environment to the enroute phase of flight.
What is a LAHSO?
Land and Hold Short Operations
What are the four categories of Braking Action?
good, fair, poor nil
Describe advection fog
When warm air moves over a cold surface.
Looking at a METAR when can you recognize a good chance of fog in the area?
When temperature/dewpoint spread is 3 degree C or less.
Is a high pressure system more dense or less dense than a low pressure system?
A high pressure system is more dense than a low pressure system.
High pressure is more stable than a low pressure system.
Who writes the Operation Specifications? Who approves the Operation Specifications?
Each airline writes their own Operation Specifications and FAA approves them.
How many NOTAM classifications are there in the new “Super D” formant?
There are 12 different classifications in the “Super D” format.
Name two ways that NOTAMs are retrieved by Dispatchers?
Flight Service Station (FSS), Company approved Flight Planning System
What is an AFM?
Aircraft Flight Manual
What does PIREP stand for?
Pilot Report
Read the following PIREP?
DEN UUA/OV FQF 220040/TM 1914/FL160/TP B1900/TB SEV/RM ZDV
Who writes an AFM? Who approves it?
Aircraft Manufacture writes the AFM and approved by the governing state.
What is 14 CFR Part25 and what types of information are used in the AFM?
Part 25 - Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes (Certification)
1-Limitations
2-Performance Data
What is the regulation for Hazmat and Dangerous Goods?
49 CFR 172 and 175
What is 14 CFR Part 121?
Part 121- Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations
What are the requirements to become an aircraft dispatcher?
To be eligible for an aircraft dispatcher certificate, a person must–
(1) Be at least 23 years of age;
(2) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language;
(3) Pass the required knowledge test
(4) Pass the required practical test
(5) Statement of Graduation
What is 14 CFR Part 65? What does subpart C deal with under 14 CFR Part 65?
Part 65 - Certification: Airmen other than flight crewmembers.
Subpart C-Aircraft Dispatchers
What is V1? During manual flight planning do we round up or down on V1 and why?
V1 is take off decision speed (go or no-go). Round V1 down to allow a longer area for a rejected takeoff(RTO).
What is BEW? What component make up the BEW?
Basic Empty Weight: Aircraft alone with unusable fluids.