Legislation Flashcards
How is the world’s airspace divided?
Flight Information Regions (FIRs)
These are administered by the countries which they overfly.
What percentage of the world’s airspace is Australia’s FIR?
11%
How is the Australian FIR divided?
Two sub FIRs administered from Melbourne and Brisbane respectively.
What is controlled airspace?
Areas of the greatest need - where traffic levels warrant the greatest level of protection.
To operate in controlled airspace pilots will require an airways clearance specifying the route and altitude the aircraft is allowed to fly.
What is uncontrolled airspace?
Airspace that does not require clearance to operate in.
Air Traffic Control provides an advisory service to uncontrolled airspace.
The majority of light aircraft and helicopters operate outside or underneath controlled airspace.
In uncontrolled airspace, pilots are often not visible to air traffic control but must still follow visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR).
In uncontrolled airspace controllers do not provide separation but provide a Flight Information Service and Traffic Information Service to aircraft flying on IFR and an on-request service to aircraft flying on VFR.
What is Class A airspace?
High-level en-route controlled airspace is used predominately by commercial and passenger jets.
Only IFR flights are permitted and they require an ATC clearance.
All flights are provided with an air traffic control service and are positively separated from each other.
What is Class C airspace?
Controlled airspace surrounding major airports.
Both IFR and VFR flights are permitted and must communicate with air traffic control.
IFR aircraft are positively separated from both IFR and VFR aircraft.
VFR aircraft are provided traffic information on other VFR aircraft.
Class C airspace has been established, starting from ground level, and extending in control area (CTA) ‘steps’.
What is Class D airspace?
Controlled airspace that surrounds general aviation and regional airports equipped with a control tower from sea level to 4500 feet.
All flights require ATC clearance.
What is Class E airspace?
Usually sits in a band beneath Class A to provide services for IFR aircraft but allow VFR aircraft to transit the airspace with only an on request service.
What is Class G airspace?
Uncontrolled airspace.
In a non radar environment, what changes to airspace class altitudes are there?
Class G - up to 18000ft
Class E - 18000 - 24500 ft (except where class C steps exist)
Class A - 24500 - 60000 ft
In a radar environment, what altitudes do various airspace classes cover?
Class A - 18000 - 60000 ft
Class D - ground to 4500 ft
Class E - 8500 - 12500 ft
Class G - ground to 8500 ft
What is a prohibited area?
Airspace within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited.
What is a restricted area?
Airspace within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with specified conditions.
In restricted airspace, aircraft movements are reduced to those with certain specified permissions.
E.g. airspace around military installations, high-density flying operations at an air show or other large public event.
Danger Area
Airspace within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may exist at specified times.
E.g. civil flying training areas and gliding and parachuting areas.
If the PIC of an aircraft finds that the aircraft has entered a prohibited or restricted area what steps must they take?
− immediately have the aircraft flown to a position where it is not over the area; and
− when the aircraft reaches a position where it is not over the area, report the circumstances to air traffic control; and
− land at such aerodrome as is designated by air traffic control and, for that purpose, obey any instructions given by air traffic control as to the movement of the aircraft.
What airspace classes are controlled aerodromes located in?
Class C and Class D
What services do aerodromes in Class C airspace have?
Approach control service – arrival and departure service from a controlled aerodrome provided within a Terminal Control Area (TMA)
Aerodrome control service – controls landing and take-off clearances and surface movements.
What is a Terminal Control Area (TMA)?
A control area normally at the confluence of Air Traffic Service routes around major aerodromes where air traffic services are provided by Approach and Departures control.
A Terminal Control Unit (TCU) provides the Air Traffic Service within the TMA.
What must a PIC do at a controlled aerodrome?
- maintain a lookout for other aerodrome traffic to avoid a collision;
- maintain a continuous watch on the radio frequency for the aerodrome control service; and
- obtain clearance by radio, or visual signals, prior to carrying out any taxiing, landing or take-off operations.
What class of airspace are uncontrolled aerodromes found in?
Class G
How do pilots advise of their intentions at an uncontrolled aerodrome?
Using the Common Terminal Advisory Frequency (CTAF)
What rules shall a PIC abide by at an uncontrolled aerodrome?
- maintain a look out for other aerodrome traffic to avoid collision; and
- ensure that the aircraft does not cause a danger to other aircraft in the vicinity of the aerodrome; and
- conform with, or avoid, the circuit pattern; and
- when approaching the aerodrome to land, join the circuit pattern for the direction in which landing is to be undertaken on the upwind, crosswind or downwind leg; and
- after joining the circuit pattern for a landing or after taking off make all turns to the left unless stated otherwise.
- to the extent practicable, land and take off into the wind; and
- before landing, descend in a straight line starting at least 500 metres from the threshold of the landing runway and at a distance common to the ordinary course of navigation for the aircraft type; and
- after take off, maintain the same track from the take off until the aircraft is 500 feet above the terrain unless a change to the track is necessary for terrain avoidance.
- The PIC of an aircraft must not take the aircraft off from, or land the aircraft on, a part of a non controlled aerodrome outside the landing area of the aerodrome.
What are the separation minima for an uncontrolled aerodrome?
An aircraft must not commence take off until a preceding departing aircraft (using the same runway) has:
- crossed the upwind end of the runway or
- commenced a turn or
- become airborne and passed a point 1800 metres from the proposed lift off point (for runways longer than 1800 metres)
- if both aircraft have a Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) less than 2000KG, become airborne and passed a point 600M from the proposed lift off point.
An aircraft must not commence take off until:
- A preceding landing aircraft using the same runway, has vacated and is taxiing away from the runway.
- A preceding aircraft, using another runway has crossed or stopped short of the take-off aircraft’s runway.
What convention established the ICAO?
The Convention on International Civil Aviation, Chicago 1944
When did ICAO become a permanent entity?
1947
How many contracting states does ICAO have?
Approx. 191
What are the current strategic objectives of ICAO?
- Enhance global civil aviation safety
- Increase the capacity and improve the efficiency of the global civil aviation system
- Enhance global civil aviation security and facilitation. This Strategic Objective reflects the need for ICAO’s leadership in aviation security, facilitation and related border security matters
- Foster the development of a sound and economically-viable civil aviation system
- Minimise the adverse environmental effects of civil aviation activities.
What was the first international convention for aerial navigation?
The Paris Convention for the Regulation of Aerial Navigation 1919.
This established the International Commission for Air Navigation (the precursor to ICAO)
Which convention addresses the liability of air carriers?
Warsaw Convention 1929
Which convention addresses damage caused by aircraft to third parties?
Rome Convention 1933
What is addressed by the Rome Convention 1952?
Damage to third parties on the ground
What is addressed by the Tokyo Convention 1963?
Offences committed onboard aircraft
Which convention addresses the suppression of unlawful seizure of aircraft?
Hijack Convention, The Hague 1970
Other than establishing ICAO, what are the other four significant agreements within the Chicago Convention 1944?
− The Final Act – standardisation of practice in aerial navigation and the transfer of title to aircraft
− The Interim Agreement on International Civil Aviation – established the PICAO
− The International Air Services Transit Agreement – The Two Freedoms of the air
− The International Air Transport Agreement – The Five Freedoms (including the original two freedoms)
What is the structure of ICAO?
An Assembly comprising representatives from all contracting states.
A Council of 36 members elected by and reporting to the Assembly
Standing Committees
Air Navigation Commission
What does the Air Navigation Commission do?
Develops Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP) and Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS)
Advises the Council and recommends modifications to technical annexes. Also establishes technical sub-committees
How many people make up the Air Navigation Commission?
19
Which convention and articles outline the composition and duties of the Air Navigation Commission
Articles 56 and 57 of the Chicago Convention 1944
Who provides technical and administrative assistance to the Council?
The Bureau of the ICAO Secretariat, overseen by a Secretary-General
What does the Committee on Joint Support of Air Navigation Services do?
Negotiates joint financing arrangement for countries that are unable to afford to pay for facilities and services and for navigation facilities and services that are required in international territories such as over oceans.
What is Article 6 of the Chicago Convention 1944?
“No scheduled international air service may be operated over or into the territory of a contracting state, except with the special permission or other authorization of that State.”
What are the five freedoms of the air?
- The privilege to transit sovereign territory without landing.
- The privilege to land on sovereign territory for non-traffic purposes. Examples of non-traffic purposes are refuelling, taking on provisions and emergency or weather related.
- The privilege to disembark passengers, mail and cargo taken on in the home territory of the State (country) in which the aircraft is registered.
- The privilege to board passengers, mail and cargo destined for the home territory of any other State (country) in which the aircraft is registered.
- The privilege to board passengers, mail and cargo destined for, or coming from, the territory of any other State (country) in which the aircraft is not registered.