Flight Planning Flashcards

1
Q

Island reserve

A

Additional fuel required for arrival at island or other isolated airfield

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2
Q

Final reserve

A

An amount of fuel that should always be left on the aircraft on landing
Turbine: 30 min holding @ 1,500ft
Piston: 45 min cruise fuel flow (or economical speed)
[Use mass at destination ALTERNATE, not destination]

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3
Q

Block fuel

A

AKA ramp fuel: the total fuel loaded
- Taxy fuel
- Trip fuel
Reserve fuel
+ Contingency fuel
+ Alternate fuel
+ Final reserve fuel
+ Additional fuel (if required)
- Extra fuel (at discretion)

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4
Q

Basic Empty Mass (BEM)

A

Airframe, oil, unusable fuel and necessary equipment for all roles of the aeroplane.

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5
Q

Variable load (VL)

A

Weight of crew, their equipment and baggage, food etc.

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6
Q

Dry operating mass (DOM)

A

Sum of BEM and VL
Total mass of aeroplane excluding useable fuel and traffic load

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7
Q

Traffic Load

A

Payload plus non-revenue load

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8
Q

Zero-fuel mass (ZFM)

A

DOM + traffic load
Mass of aircraft at start of take off run

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9
Q

LSS

A

38.94 x sqrt(K)

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10
Q

Conversion
- imperial gallons
- US gallons
- litres

A

1 imperial gallon =
1.2 US gallons =
4.54 litres

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11
Q

Conversion
- kilograms
- lbs

A

1kg =
4.54lb

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12
Q

Impact of specific gravity on fuel burn

A

Change in specific gravity affects the number of litres burned, but not the mass which needs to remain constant

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13
Q

Minimum IFR Obstacle Clearance

A

At least 1000ft above any obstacle within 8km
High terrain: increase to 2000ft

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14
Q

3 types of RNAV route

A
  • Fixed RNAV routes (RNP-5 required)
  • Contingency RNAV routes (RNP-5)
  • Random navigation routes (Random RNAV) for aircraft own preferred route (between the established RNAV waypoints)
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15
Q

Conditional routes

A

Cat 1: Permanently plannable (within times in the AIP)
Cat 2: Only at designated times (published daily)
Cat 3: Not to be planned on, only allocated by ATC

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16
Q

Conditional Route Availability Message (CRAM)

A

Gives times at which cat 2 conditional routes are designated available.
Published at 1500 UTC to cover 24 hours from 0600 UTC the next day.

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17
Q

ATS route identifier designation

A

5 or 6 characters
Optional prefix K - kopter, U - upper, S - supersonic.
Letter indicating type of route.
number from 1 to 999.
Last character sometimes not displayed, F - advisory on portion of route, G - only FIS on part of route

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18
Q

Airway markings:
- First FL or number
- Number followed by “a”
- Number followed by “t”
- “MAA” then number

A

First number or FL is Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA)
1500a: Minimum Off-route altitude (MORA)
4000t: Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA)
MAA4000: Maximum Authorised Altitude

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19
Q

MOCA definition

A

Based on terrain elevation
<3000ft: 300m (1000ft)
3000 - 5000ft: 450m (1500ft)
>5000ft: 600m (2000ft)

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20
Q

Standard Instrument Departure (SID)

A

An IFR route linking an aerodrome or runway with a specified significant point, usually on an ATS route (where en-route segment begins).

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21
Q

Standard Instrument Arrival (STAR)

A

An IFR route linking a significant point (normally on an ATS route) with a point from which a published IAP can be commenced.
[In UK ends at a holding point from which ATC vector you to IAP or follow an Arrival Transition]

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22
Q

RNAV Transition

A

A PBN flight segment linking the STAR to the final approach segment.

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23
Q

RNAV SID/STAR

A

Design of an RNAV or RNP procedure that follows as close as possible the ground track of the conventional procedure, using waypoints.
These can then be followed by FMS, but may be issues with noise preferential routings as routing won’t match the conventional procedure exactly.

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24
Q

Approach stages and points

A

En-route phase
- Arrival segment (usually STAR)
Initial Approach Fix (IAF)
- Initial approach segment
Intermediate Fix (IF) [within 30 deg of CL]
- Intermediate approach segment
Final Approach Fix/Point (FAF/FAP)
- Final approach segment
Missed Approach Point (MAPt)
- Missed approach segment
Specified point (NDB/radial & DME)

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25
Q

Non-precision vs precision approaches

A

Precision have minima below 250ft
Non-precision is 2D only.
Note: Use of DA (instead of MDA) in RNAV terminology doesn’t imply precision approach.

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26
Q

ILS categories

A

Cat I: DH>200ft, RVR > 550m
CAT II: DH 100ft-200ft, RVR > 300m
CAT IIIA: DH <100ft, RVR > 200m
CAT IIIB: DH <50ft, RVR > 75m
CAT IIIC: No DH, No RVR
[Cat I can use barometric altimeter, Cat II and above need radio altimeter]

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27
Q

RNAV approach

A

Any kind of approach using on board area navigation system (as opposed to conventional ground aids like ILS). Uses waypoints which create a route overlaying the conventional route.

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28
Q

RNP approach

A

RNP APCH
This is a PBN navigation specification based on GNSS.
Include non-precision approaches and approaches with vertical guidance, depending on equipment.

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29
Q

APV

A

Approaches with Vertical Guidance
[not precision or non-precision]
Type of RNAV approach (and RNP APCH) which has vertical guidance.
Either uses barometric info (called VNAV/LNAV) or SBAS (called LPV - Localiser Performance Vertical).

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30
Q

RNAV non-precision approaches
- 2 types

A

RNAV approaches without vertical guidance are non-precision approaches.
If SBAS supported they are LP (Localiser Performance), otherwise just LNAV.

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31
Q

SBAS

A

Satellite Based Augmentation System
Used in addition to barometric information on aircraft for vertical guidance.
Converts LNAV to LP (Localiser Performance) and LNAV/VNAV to LPV (Localiser Performance Vertical).
Area or regional info from ground stations sent to satellites to improve positional info.

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32
Q

GBAS

A

Ground Based Augmentation System
Provides correctional data within 23NM of an aerodrome to improve positional info.

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33
Q

Minimum satellites for RAIM

A

5

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34
Q

Fault Detection and Exclusion

A

Uses an extra satellite compared to RAIM (so 6 total) to perform predictive checks and exclude failed satellites.

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35
Q

RVSM

A

Reduced Vertical Separation Minima
Instead of going to 2000 gaps at FL290 (Easterly), maintain 1000 gaps to FL410 (Easterly).
2000ft gaps remain above FL410. Need criteria specific authorisation to enter this flight area.

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36
Q

Action if communication lost
- VMC
- IMC no radar
- IMC radar
- IMC no clearance
- IMC radar climb

A

VMC - Stay in VMC, land at nearest aerodrome and report to ATC.

IMC & no radar service - Maintain last cleared speed & level for 20 mins beyond failed reporting point, then follow flight plan.

IMC & radar service - Maintain cleared speed & level for 7 mins beyond failed reporting point (or 7600 setting time or time reaching last assigned level if later) then re-join flight plan.

IMC no clearance (inc. offset RNAV) - Proceed to flight plan before next significant point.

IMC radar climb - Climb to and maintain cleared level for 3 mins then continue with flight plan.

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37
Q

Requirement for flight plan

A
  • Crossing international borders
  • Any portion to be provided with ATC
  • IFR within advisory airspace
  • Flight includes designated route or area where ATS require a flight plan to:
    + provide FIS & alerting service; or
    + coordinate with military or neighbouring states to prevent interception
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38
Q

Flight plan “departure time”

A

Estimated Off-Block Time (EOBT)
[i.e. pushback from gate]

39
Q

Flight Plan time submission rules

A

If before the flight, at least 60 minutes before departure time (EOBT).
If in flight, at least 10 mins before point of entry to control/advisory area or point of crossing airway/advisory route

40
Q

Air Traffic Flow Management special flight plan rules

A

Needs to be submitted at least 3 hours in advance.

41
Q

Flight plan amendment/re-submission rules

A

Delay of 30 minutes for controlled flight.
Delay of 60 minutes for uncontrolled flight.

42
Q

Requirement before taking off relating to flight plans

A

If flight requires control need clearance before taking off.
If only advisory service required, only need acknowledgement of receipt.

43
Q

Reporting of inadvertent changes to flight plan

A

For CONTROLLED flight:
- If aircraft is off-track, regain track
- If mach/TAS varies by 0.02 MN or 10kt TAS, advise ATS
- If ETA changes by 2 mins or more, advise ATS

44
Q

Request to flight plan changes in flight

A

Give aircraft identification, cruising speed, level and updated time estimates along with the requested change (e.g. flight level, route, destination AD).
To go to VFR from IFR state “CANCELLING MY IFR FLIGHT”.
For change in destination AD, must let original AD know within 30 mins of landing.

45
Q

Flight plan - Estimated Elapsed Time (EET)

A

Timed from take-off
In the “18: other information” section write “EET/” & location & EET
e.g. “EET/LFFF0020” for arriving 20 minutes after takeoff at LFFF

Time until IAF (IFR) or overhead (VFR)

46
Q

Repetitive Flight Plan requirement

A
  • Flights take place on same day of the week; or
  • 10 flights on 10 consecutive days.
47
Q

Changes to Repetitive Flight Plans

A

If change is permanent, amendment is required.
For changes to aircraft ID, aerodromes (dep or dest) or route - cancel RPL for the day and re-file.
For changes to aircraft type, wake turb, speed or level - let ATC know at least 30 mins before departure.

48
Q

Assumptions for Repetitive Flight Plans

A

All flights IFR.
All are scheduled flights.
All aeroplanes fitted with mode A & C.

49
Q

Flight plan part 8
- Codes for IFR, VFR and changing between

A

I: IFR
V: VFR
Y: IFR to VFR
Z: VFR to IFR [remember VIZ]

50
Q

Flight plan emergency equipment

A

Cross out the items not carried

51
Q

Endurance to be entered on flight plan

A

Total fuel on board (including ALL reserves)

52
Q

Fuel requirements general

A

1) Taxy fuel (inc. APU useage)
2) Trip fuel
3) Reserve fuel:
i) Contingency fuel
ii) Alternate fuel
iii) Final reserve fuel
iv) Additional fuel
4) Extra fuel

53
Q

Contingency Fuel

A

Greater of A or B, where A is one of:
i) 5% of trip fuel
ii) 3% of trip (or remaining trip) fuel if there is an en-route alternate
iii) 20 mins flying time if operator has a fuel consumption monitoring programme for individual aircraft
iv) Amount based on statistical (city pair/aircraft combination) analysis approved by authority.

B - 5 mins @ holding speed at 1500ft above destination aerodrome

54
Q

Alternate Fuel

A

Fuel from missed approach at MDA/DA at destination, up to cruising altitude, to top of descent, approach and landing (to furthest of the destination alternates).

No alternate required if all of:
- Trip < 6hrs
- Destination has 2 hours
- Destination weather 1hr either side of ETA is cloud base over 2000ft & 5km visibility
BUT need an extra 15 mins final reserve
[CAA - extra 15 mins NOT for piston]

55
Q

Final Reserve Fuel

A

Must always be left in the tank, emergency if you expect to use any of it.
Reciprocating engines: 45 mins
Turbine engines: 30 mins @ holding speed 1500ft over destination ALTERNATE aerodrome, based on estimated mass at arrival

56
Q

Additional fuel

A

Depends on the operation, for special items like mid Atlantic depressurisation.
If no alternate is nominated additional fuel must have 15 mins @ holding speed, 1500ft over destination.
If existing fuel covers requirements, no additional required.

57
Q

Class B (small SEP or MEP) special fuel rules

A

A to A: Operator specifies minimum final reserve, but must not be less than 45 mins.
A to B: Contingency = 5% trip fuel
Final Reserve = 45 mins
Alternate = destination to alternate fuel [not required for VFR, but include if they give it]

58
Q

Specific Air Range

A

SAR = TAS / Fuel flow
= (NAM/hr) / (lb fuel/hr)
= NAM / lb fuel

59
Q

Ground Fuel Flow

A

Version of SAR based on ground speed rather than TAS (more useful)
GFF = Fuel flow / GS
= (lb fuel/hr) / (NGM/hr)
= lb fuel / NGM

60
Q

SAR vs GFF

A

SAR is a range, we want it to be big.
GFF is the fuel used, we want it to be small.

61
Q

Effect of forward CoG

A

Increased stability, but:
Reduced control
Increased fuel consumption
Increased drag
Increased stall speed

Due to down force required from elevator to offset moment.

62
Q

Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC)

A

For jet aircraft
SFC = fuel flow / thrust

63
Q

Rearranging SAR for jet aircraft

A

Fuel flow = SFC * thrust
SAR = TAS / fuel flow
= TAS / (SFC * thrust)
= TAS / (SFC * drag)

Thus we want:
- Minimum SFC
- Best TAS/drag ratio

64
Q

V(MD) chart

A

Best TAS/drag ratio @ 1.32 x minimum drag speed V(MD)

65
Q

Jet optimal range speed with altitude

A

Best range speed is 1.32 x V(MD), but also need best SFC, which will be at 90% thrust.
There is a given altitude (usually around FL400) where 90% thrust coincides with 1.32 x V(MD), which will give optimal SAR.

66
Q

Jet optimal endurance

A

Best endurance speed is V(MD), so now looking for 90% thrust and V(MD) [instead of 1.32xV(MD) for best range/SAR].
This will be at a higher altitude than optimal range/SAR.
May choose a speed slightly higher than V(MD) for increased stability for minimal efficiency loss.

67
Q

Four FMS cruise speed profile settings

A

ECON
LRC (long range cruise)
Manual
RTA (required time of arrival)

68
Q

Long Range Cruise

A

4% faster than max range speed with 99% of the range

69
Q

Effect of weight on optimal speeds

A

Lighter weight implies lower optimal speeds.
Explanation: Fuel being burned to offset mass (as opposed to creating thrust) is a dead loss. As the dead loss increases it becomes more important to progress faster.
[Note: Mach numbers not affected by weight]

70
Q

Cost index

A

Fuel is denominator.
So 0 cost index means expensive fuel, fly at maximum range speed.
High number (usually 100 or 200 max) means cheap fuel, fastest speed.

71
Q

FMS Optimal altitude

A

Expected to fly within 2000ft of the FMS calculated optimal altitude.
As fuel is burned optimal altitude will increase.
Explanation: Higher altitude makes thrust more efficient but opposition of weight less efficient, due to thin air. As weight decreases the weight effect has less importance than thrust effect, so higher altitude optimal.

72
Q

Buffet boundary limit

A

Affected by two buffet limits, mach buffet at high speed and stall buffet at low speed.
These two change with weight and altitude and at high altitude close in on each other, greatly limiting available speeds and eventually creating an operating ceiling (coffin corner)

73
Q

FMS Max altitude

A

FMS displays the altitude limit due to “cruise buffet boundary”.
This is usually the limiting factor, but might also need to consider:
- CofA limit when weight is low
- Absolute ceiling when weight is high

74
Q

Critical fuel reserve

A

Fuel required for diversion following depressurisation.

75
Q

Fuel Tankering fuel penalties

A

Get a TOM and LDM fuel penalty, which is additional amount of fuel burned per 1000kg extra fuel carried.
These are both used to calculate the extra amount burned in flight, but one is based on the additional fuel you started with, one based on the additional fuel you end with.

76
Q

Reduced Contingency Fuel procedure

A

Define a decision point (DP) and a “destination 2” refuelling aerodrome. Minimum fuel then the greater of 2 fuel calculations:
1) Normal fuel to destination 1, but contingency fuel is 5% of fuel from DP to destination 1.
2) Normal fuel to destination 2.
[NOT the biggest contingency figure, the biggest TOTAL figure, even if contingency is smaller]

77
Q

En-route alternate fuel planning

A

By designating an en-route alternate we can reduce contingency fuel from 5% to 3%.
En-route alternative needs to be within 1 circle with radius = 20% of flight plan distance.
Centre of circle must be max( 25% flight plan distance, 20% flight plan distance + 50NM) from the destination.

78
Q

Pre-determined point procedure

A

Used if route to destination alternate needs to be via a pre-determined point, not from MAPt.
Max of 2 fuel calcs based on trips to the destination and destination alternate, each via the PDP.
The destination fuel calc needs additional fuel to include 2 hours cruise above destination.

79
Q

Isolated Aerodrome Procedure

A

Nominate a point of no return (PNR) (or determined point procedure PDP) where you decide whether to go to destination or destination alternate.

Additional fuel: Need 2 hours cruise fuel on arrival at destination INCLUDING final fuel reserve for jet.
Piston? See screenshot.

80
Q

LRJT calcs lookout

A

Consider whether you need to adjust for climb + descent.

81
Q

Point of Safe Return (PSR)

A

Last point on a route where it is possible to turn around and land at departure airfield with fuel reserves still in tanks on the ground.

82
Q

Calculation for time to reach PSR

A

(E x H) / (O + H)

E = Endurance based on fuel on board
H = GS towards home
O = GS outbound

83
Q

PSR with engine failure

A

Need GS home and outbound and fuel flow home (engine failure) and outbound (all engines).
Calculate fuel per ground mile home and outbound (=fuel flow / GS).
Add these together to find fuel to travel 1 mile out and back, which tells you furthest distance you can travel.

84
Q

Point of Equal Time (PET)

A

AKA Critical Time.
This is the point at which it is as quick to go to destination as to turn back home.

85
Q

Calculation for distance to PET

A

(D x H) / (O + H)

D = Total distance to destination
H = GS towards home
O = GS outbound

86
Q

PET with engine failure

A

Same as normal version

87
Q

In flight fuel management

A

This means ensuring you land with minimum of final reserve fuel + (if alternate is required) alternate fuel.

88
Q

Actions if fuel expected to be low on landing

A

If no alternate is required this means expected landing fuel < final reserve, so declare an emergency. Proceed to an adequate aerodrome to perform a safe landing (ideally with more than final reserve fuel).

If an alternate is required but will land with < alternate + final reserve fuel, need to consider traffic and conditions at destination, alternate and any other aerodromes and make a decision to ensure landing with at least final reserve fuel.
In essence, this allows you to discard the requirement for alternate fuel.

89
Q

Fuel required figures in flight plan

A

Include final reserve and alternate fuel, but not contingency. This is because you can use the contingency at any time, starting to use it would not push you into making a diversion (for example).

90
Q

LRJ questions lookout

A

Check adjustments

91
Q

Minimum fuel ATC call

A

Planned aerodrome options have been reduced to the specific aerodrome.
This is not yet an emergency.

92
Q

Safe landing definition

A

Landing with fuel reserve intact

93
Q

IFR chart airfield info

A

First number is airfield elevation
Second is runway length in feet with two 00s missing!

Blue circles - IFR airfields
Green circles - VFR airfields

Asterix’s - Not 24 hours

94
Q

Radar vectoring - terrain responsibility

A

Minimum radar vectoring altitude may be below MSA, can follow instructions if get told to descend below MSA.