Flight Planning

Question 1

Minimum Ramp Fuel Required

Answer 1

Taxy + Trip + Contingency + Alternate + Final Reserve Fuel

Question 2

Ramp Fuel

Answer 2

Taxy Fuel.

Trip Fuel - runway to runway.

Reserve Fuel:

• Contingency Fuel (either A or B).
• Alternate Fuel (if a destination alternate is required).
• Final Reserve Fuel - 45 mins (piston) or 30 mins at holding speed (turbines) at 1500ft above alternate/destination (+15 mins if no alternate).
• Additional Fuel (if required by the type of operation, e.g. for flight at 10k ft after depressurisation).

Extra Fuel (if required by the commander, for weather, ATC, etc).

Question 3

Contingency Fuel (either A or B).

Answer 3

A:

5% of planned trip fuel or fuel for remainder of flight.

3% as above if an en-route alternate is available.

20 mins flying time. Statistically derived amount

B.

5 mins at holding speed 1500ft above the destination aerodrome.

Question 4

Specific Air Range (SAR)

Answer 4

SAR = TAS/Fuel Flow = (NAM/hr)/(lb/hr) = NAM/lb

Question 5

Gross Fuel Flow (GFF)

Answer 5

GFF = Fuel Flow/Groundspeed = (lb/hr)/NGM/hr = lb/NGM

Question 6

Forward CG increases:

Answer 6

Stability

Stalling speed

Drag

Fuel consumption

Question 7

Effect of weight on performance:

Answer 7

EAS for:

• Endurance
• Max range
• LRC

..all decrease with decreasing weight.

Question 8

Calculating NGM:

Answer 8

NGM = NAM x (GS/TAS)

Question 9

Calculating NAM:

Answer 9

NAM = NGM x (TAS/GS)

Question 10

Fuel used in cruise: 3 step process…

Answer 10

1. Find TAS (temp correction)
2. Calc. NAM
3. Extract fuel used from aircraft mass tables.

Question 11

LSS

Mach

Answer 11

LSS = 38.94 √T (Kelvin) (661kts at ISA)

M = TAS/LSS

Question 12

Point of Safe Return (PSR)

Time

Distance

Answer 12

Time to PSR = ExH/(O+H)

E: Endurance

H: GS Homebound

O: GS Outbound

Distance to PSR = Time x O

Question 13

Point of Equal Time (PET)

(aka Critical Point (CP) Distance Time

Answer 13

Distance to PET = DxH/(O+H)

D: Sector Distance

H: GS Homebound

O: GS Onward (from PET)

Time to PET = Distance/O (assuming same as onward GS)

Question 14

Flight Plans

Answer 14

Filing

60 mins prior to departure (EOBT)

3 hrs for flights over North Atlantic and on routes subject to Air Traffic Flow Management

Current flight plan: filed flight plan with amendments and clearances included

Question 15

VFR Flight Plan

Total EET:

Answer 15

TO to overhead

Question 16

IFR Flight Plans

Total EET:

Time allowed before invalid:

Repetitive Flight Plan:

Landing at aerodrome other than filed destination:

Answer 16

TO to IAF

For a controlled flight - amend or cancel if delayed off-blocks > 30 mins

Repetitive Flight Plan - flights must occur on a regular basis on at least 10 occasions.

Landing at aerodrome other than destination - inform ATC at intended destination within 30 mins of landing.

Question 17

Class B (small piston) fuel required

Answer 17

A to A: final reserve of 45 mins flight time.

A to B: as above but without ‘Additional Fuel’

Question 18

Best SAR

Answer 18

The best SAR is where 90% thrust gives
1.32IMD without accelerating: usually ~ 40k ft.

Question 19

Best Endurance/Holding speed

Answer 19

The best Endurance/Holding speed is VIMD

ideally at 90% thrust without accelerating
(= higher than best range).

Question 20

Long Range Cruise (LRC)

Answer 20

Long Range Cruise (LRC) is 4% faster than still air best range speed but gives 99% of the range.

Question 21

Flight Plan/Flight Rules

I

V

Y

Z

Answer 21

Flight Plan/Flight Rules

I IFR

V VFR

Y IFR > VFR

Z VFR > IFR

Question 22

ITEM 15: Route

Distance between points - outside of designated ATS routes

Answer 22

ITEM 15: Route

Distance between points - outside of designated ATS routes

Normally > 30 mins/200 nm (370 km)