Flight Rules

Question 1

Describe IFR

Answer 1

Instrument Flight Rules

Electronic equipment based Navigation
GPS and Other equipment
Can still see out of the window

Question 2

Describe VFR

Answer 2

Visual Flight Rules

Look out of the wndow
Use maps and charts to fix location
Keep out of cloud

Question 3

Define Night

Answer 3

The hours between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight

Question 4

What does the choice of Flight Rules depend on?

Answer 4

Type of Airspace
Weather
Pilot Qualifications

Question 5

What is VMC?

Answer 5

Visual Meteorological Conditions

Question 6

What are the VMC minima at and above 10,000ft?

Answer 6

8km flight visibility
1500m horizontally and 300m vertically from cloud

Question 7

What are the VMC minima below 10,000ft but above 3,000ft?

Answer 7

5km flight visibility
1500m horizontally and 300m vertically from cloud

Question 8

What are the VMC minima at and below 3,000ft?

Answer 8

In Controlled Airspace
5km flight visibility
1500m horizontally and 300m vertically from cloud

By day in Uncontrolled Airspace
5km flight visibility
Clear of cloud and surface in sight

If 140kts or less and the probability of encounters with other traffic is low
1500m visibility
Clear of cloud and surface in sight

Question 9

What are the VMC minima for helicopters below 3,000ft?

Answer 9

In uncontrolled airspace
1500m visibility
Clear of cloud and surface in sight

But 800m flight visibility if speed is such to allow see and avoid.

Less than 800m may be permitted for special cases such as medical and rescue.

Question 10

When should VFR flights be refused at a controlled aerodrome?

Answer 10

When the reported meteorological conditions (METAR) are below

5km ground visibility
1500ft ceiling

Except when SVFR

Question 11

When the ceiling is less than 1500ft and/or the ground visibility is less than 5km, what can VFR flights not do?

Answer 11

Take off or land at an aerodrome within a CTR
Enter the ATZ or aerodrome traffic circuit

Unless Special VFR

Question 12

When is VFR at night permitted?

Answer 12

CAA Permission
Flight Plan when leaving vicinity
Radio Comms maintained with ATS when available

Question 13

What are VMC at night?

Answer 13

As per day, except
Minimum cloud ceiling 1500ft
Minimum 5km Visibilty
Maintain continuous sight of surface when below 3000ft or 1000ft above terrain, whichever is higher

Question 14

What are the minimum altitudes for night VFR?

Answer 14

Over high/mountainous terrain
2000ft above the highest obstacle within 8km

Elsewhere, 1000ft above the highest obstacle within 8km

Question 15

What are the max height and max speed restrictions attached to VFR?

Answer 15

Unless authorised, VFR flights shall not operate above FL195 or at transonic or supersonic speeds

Question 16

When must a pilot fly IFR?

Answer 16

Airspace is notified as Class A
Met conditions preclude VFR

Question 17

How can a VFR flight change to IFR?

Answer 17

Submit a flight plan to the appropriate ATSU as soon as practicable and obtain a clearance prior to proceeding IFR when in controlled airspace.

If a flight plan was submitted, communicate the necessary changes to be effected.

Question 18

How is an IFR flight plan cancelled?

Answer 18

Only at the request of a pilot

Question 19

Define a Special VFR flight

Answer 19

SVFR is a VFR flight cleared by air traffic control to operate within a control zone with met conditions below VMC

Question 20

Can SVFR flights be conducted day and night?

Answer 20

Day only unless authorised by the competent authority.

Question 21

What must the met conditions be for SVFR?

Answer 21

Clear of cloud and surface in sight
Flight visibility not less than 1500m or 800m for helicopters
Speed 140kt or less

Unless permitted by the CAA

Question 22

With what met conditions must ATC refuse an SVFR clearance?

Answer 22

ATC must refuse SVFR when the met conditions are below:

Ground visibility 1500m or 800m for helicopters
Ceiling less than 600ft

Unless permitted by the CAA

Question 23

Who is responsible for determining whether VMC meet VFR?

Answer 23

The pilot of an aircraft is responsible for determining whether or not the VMC permit VFR.

Question 24

What are the westbound tracks available above FL400?

Answer 24

FL400
FL430
Then every 4000ft

Question 25

What are the eastbound tracks available above FL400?

Answer 25

FL410
Then every 4000ft

Question 26

What separation is provided between aircraft flying on notified SVFR routes or areas?

Answer 26

None, because they are established routes that will keep aircraft separated.

However, vertical separation can be achieved by assigning a ‘not above’ level.

Question 27

What are the responsibilities of a pilot flying SVFR?

Answer 27

Compliance with ATC
Clear of cloud and in sight of surface
Terrain Clearance
Licence Limitations
Low Flying Rules
Avoiding ATZs
Remain below 140kts IAS

Question 28

What are the responsibilities of ATC to SVFR?

Answer 28

Separation
Traffic Integration
Route Clearance
Wx Appreciation

Question 29

SVFR will be separated from which other traffic?

Answer 29

Standard Separation will be applied between

IFR - SVFR
SVFR - SVFR