International Ops Flashcards
When are fuel freeze point temperatures provided?
From US departure stations when:
Long range flag flights above 78 degrees
Polar routes October 1 thru April 30
Whenever a route temps forecast -65 degrees
When can 207 minute ETOPS be used?
Available only for North Pacific north of 40 degrees N
May be used on flight by flight exception, only when weather or other conditions restrict use of 180 minute ETOPS
Dispatch must notify the Captain and provide rationale
When can 240 minute ETOPS be used?
Use limited to South Pacific
Time based on fire extinguishing and other system limitations
What is the relationship between hectopascals and millibars?
Millimeters of mercury?
Hectopascals and millibars are equal.
Millimeters, used in some regions, ARE NOT equal, and ATC should provide hectopascals upon request. If not, a conversion table is available in the FOM
QNH setting in the UK?
When cleared to descend from a flight level to an altitude, ATC will provide the airport QNH.
IMMEDIATELY set QNH value on all altimeters
What is QFE?
Not used at destinations served by United, but QFE is simply an altimeter indicating height above the runway. At touchdown, the barometric altimeter would read “0”
NEVER fly QFE heights. Always request QNH and fly an altitude
If A3008 on a METAR indicates an altimeter setting of 30.08 inches of Mercury, what does Q1008 indicate?
An altimeter setting of 1008 hectopascals, or 1008 millibars of pressure
When should you apply COLD WEATHER ALTIMETER CORRECTIONS?
Outside the U.S. and its territories and the OAT is colder than 0 degrees C (787 only)
Within the U.S., apply corrections only if directed by 10-7 page or notes on IAP page
Altimeter corrections apply IAF through MAP
What constitutes a Flag Operation?
Any flight that does not begin and end in the 48 contiguous United States
What is NAT HLA?
North Atlantic High Level Airspace
What is NAT OTS?
North Atlantic Organized Track System
Built twice daily
Between FL290 and FL410, with 1,000 foot vertical separation
Majority of tracks separated by 1 degree of latitude (60 nm)
What are PBCS tracks?
What is the separation?
What altitude?
Performance Based Communication and Surveillance
PBCS tracks are 1/2 degree of latitude, or 30nm
Operate FL350 to FL390
What is NAT DLM?
Requirements?
Altitudes?
North Atlantic Datalink Mandate
Requires aircraft in NAT DLM airspace to have additional CNS equipment such as CPDLC, RNP 4 capability and ADS-C
NAT DLM airspace exists FL350 - FL390
What are NARs?
North American Routes
Routes used between major airports in North America and the Atlantic Oceanic Control Area
Designated by number
What is CMNPS?
Canadian Minimum Navigation Performance Specification
What are the Canadian airspace designations?
SCA - Southern Control Area
NCA - Northern Control Area
ACA - Arctic Control Area
What is NOR OTS?
Who is it for?
Where is it located?
Northern Organized Track System
For aircraft operating westbound between Europe and Western North America.
Begins at Edmonton/Reykjavik border between 66 and 78 degrees North and covers northern portion of Edmonton FIR
ATS routes vs. PACOT routes?
ATS routes are published on charts and are a standing route system, eg NOPAC and CEP routes.
PACOT routes are flexible routes that are published daily
TCDPs?
Terrain Critical Depressurization Procedures
Developed where the aircraft cannot rapidly descend to 10,000 feet due to mountainous terrain
CNS?
Communication, Navigation and Survellance
How do we choose an LDOC station?
Call GP, and ask for a dedicated LDOC frequency. Those listed on the chart may not be monitored
What is the rule of thumb for HF frequency choice?
High sun equals high frequency
When must you contact ARC with a revised ETA?
When must you advise variation in airspeed?
When the ETA for the next reporting point is incorrect by three minutes or more*
*except for NAT, with ADS-C
When the TRUE AIRSPEED varies in excess of 5 percent from true airspeed filed in flight plan
AIREP Special?
Severe turbulence
Severe icing
Volcanic ash
Any other condition that would affect the safety of another aircraft
An unforecast condition that could significantly affect efficiency of another aircraft
If working with GP, precede the message with the phrase “AIREP Special.” The report will go to ATC and company
What ETOPS rules do Polar routes utilize?
They are all on 180 minute ETOPS.
207 minute ETOPS are not allowed.
240 minute ETOPS may be permitted on a case-by-case basis
In polar operations, what two times are controlling and listed on the OFP?
Wheels up time and Russian FIR time.
What is the allowable time window for Russian FIR entry?
A ten minute window
Which satellite communication service is available on Polar routes?
INMARSAT SATCOM is not available above 82 degrees North.
Iridium Satlink is available along the entire route
Difference between North Polar Operation per dispatch and FMS Polar Operations?
North Polar per dispatch means anything north of 78N is considered Polar for dispatch purposes
The FMS automatically switches to polar operations (magnetic to true) when operating in an area above 82N except for the “keyhole area” between 80W and 130W above 70N
What are the PBCF basics?
Fly to and land at destination
Account for PBCF value of not less than 5 minutes, or if unavailable a minimum of 5% enroute
Fly to the most distant alternate
30 minutes holding at 1,500 feet
What are the additional factors that must be accounted for when using PBCF?
Winds and other weather conditions forecast
Anticipated traffic delays
One instrument approach and possible missed approach at destination
Any other conditions that may delay landing of the aircraft
