MATS Flashcards
What should you do if you encounter a situation not covered by MATS
Exercise best judgement.
Be conservative.
What action shall you take when a pilot declares MINIMUM FUEL?
Acknowledge the call
Advise expected delay, if any, or no delay expected
No priority need be provided
If the aircraft will subsequently enter another sector/unit verbally advise next controller. Receiving controller shall acknowledge receipt and advise any anticipated delays and, on first contact, acknowledge MIN FUEL
Under what circumstances is a controller able to modify the vertical and horizontal boundaries of controlled airspace?
None (only CAA may modify airspace)
What are a controller’s responsibilities when a pilot reports a TA or RA in uncontrolled airspace?
Pass known traffic information
For an outbound Oceanic flight, who is responsible for detecting conflictions and separating it from other flights entering/leaving Oceanic airspace? Why?
The last controller handling an outbound flight prior to AA OCS boundary shall be responsible for detecting confliction and providing separation.
OCA probes do not display conflict for aircraft in Domestic airspace.
Unless otherwise co-ordinated, when is an appropriate time for the transferring controller to issue instructions to contact the accepting controller in Radar/non-radar environments?
Radar – 15 NM
Non-Radar – 5 minutes
…prior to crossing the transfer of control/RTF contact point and all expected calls have been received from the aircraft
In what airspace are gliders permitted to operate in IMC?
In class G or airspace specifically designated by the Director for cloud flying, subject to:
Pilot responsible for obstacle clearance
Glider capable of 2-way communication with ATC when operating in Class G airspace
Pilot is required to contact ATS before entering IMC in Class G airspace to ensure no IFR aircraft in or near the proposed area of cloud flying within 15 minutes
Pilot required to update this information every 15 minutes or vacate cloud
How is radar separation achieved between IFR/VFR aircraft and parachute descents in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace?
In Class C&D airspace
IFR flights shall be kept clear of an active PDA or PDS unless visual separation can be applied.
Traffic information shall be passed to known VFR flights in respect to PDA, except that VFR shall be kept clear of an active PDA when a clearance to drop through cloud has been given.
Radar control provided: minimum 3nm radius protection area applied around the drop aircraft
Radar control not provided: traffic kept clear vertically, laterally or visually
Class G airspace
Traffic information to IFR and VFR in accordance with RAC 10
If an aircraft has both Mode A/C and Mode S but it’s ALT is not operating, what alerts (TA/RA) will it generate to an ACAS equipped aircraft?
When an aircraft is operating with ALT mode OFF, ACAS will provide a TA but not an RA
May an aircraft without an operable transponder be permitted to enter TM airspace?
Under certain conditions: In an emergency Transponder failure Approval sought from all sectors through whose airspace the flight will enter/operate Specific Approval from GM ATS
What are a controllers responsibilities when a pilot reports an RA?
Pass (Essential) Traffic Information
Control instructions shall not be issued to RA aircraft or any others involved with RA
Once RA aircraft has begun a manoeuvre, the controller is not responsible for separation
Traffic avoidance advice may be issued to non-transponder aircraft if necessary
When pilot advises “clear of conflict” and separation is still in jeopardy, the controller shall make every effort to restore separation
Controller’s responsibility for separation resumes once re-established
What is the clearance limit for an aircraft that intends to leave controlled airspace, and for what portion of the flight shall the clearance apply?
Clearance limit is the aerodrome of first intended landing
Clearance applies to that portion of flight within controlled airspace
Traffic information shall be provided outside controlled airspace
What ACAS events are required to be reported?
TA shall be entered into ATS Log
RA shall be reported (ASI filed) and entered into ATS Log
What figures are entered into the CFL field of a VFR flight plan?
In controlled airspace and subject to level restrictions:
The cleared level
In controlled airspace and NOT subject to level restrictions/uncontrolled airspace:
000
What actions/considerations are required when approving an aircraft to operate at a non-standard level?
When clearing an aircraft to a non-standard level, the words “NON-STANDARD” shall prefix the level
Prior to reaching the boundary on an ATS sector, verbal approval shall be obtained
Standard levels have priority over non-standard levels.
What provisos must be met before approving flights on unevaluated routes?
Pilot requests or agrees to controller proposal
Pilot is responsible for navigation unless being vectored
Separation from SUA/GAA provided where necessary
Irrespective of strip posting direct routing/deviation requires co-ordination either verbally or in accordance with LOA/LUO
When under control but pilot navigation, the controller shall monitor the track and advise the pilot any observed deviation greater than 5nm
When direct routing to an RNAV or GNSS fix, the specified fix shall be no later than FAF or Final Approach point
When direct routing for an RNP fix, the specific fix shall be no later than the fix prior to FAF and not on or at the start of a constant radius arc to a fix leg
When direct routing for a a fix on an instrument approach, the aircraft must be able to intercept the VPA or glide path at an altitude that will enable a normal descent
What are the transponder requirements for aircraft operating in controlled airspace?
All NZ controlled airspace is designated transponder mandatory.
Below F245 aircraft must operate Mode A/C/S or transmit ADS-B data
At F245 or above aircraft must transmit ADS-B data
What elements of ATC instructions are pilots required to read back? (excluding aerodrome specific readbacks)
ATC route clearances Runway in use Altimeter settings SSR codes Level instructions Heading instructions Frequency after frequency change instructions
What does RDR in the remark field of a domestic flight plan indicate, and what restriction does it impose on co-ordination?
ROUTE DESCRIPTION REQUIRED
If this appears in the RMK section of the FPL or it is known or suspected that there is a discrepancy then “FPR” may not be used.
Standard route clearances and reporting points shall be used during co-ordination to clearly identify the route
What are the controller’s responsibilities when a pilot reports a TA?
Reiterate traffic information
Advise the pilot of measures already in place to ensure separation
Where no traffic information has been passed or separation exists, immediate action shall be taken to provide such
Give the times prior to which a CPL or EST message shall be passed between the following sectors:
AREA to AREA – 20 MINUTES
AREA to APPROACH – 15 MINUTES
Following an early release, describe what factors the accepting controller must consider before climbing, descending or turning a released aircraft.
Verbal co-ordination is required prior to:
Climbing an arrival
Descending a departure
Instructing an aircraft to hold
…while still in the transferring controller’s airspace
What are the accepting controllers responsibilities with regard to establishing radio communication at the RTF contact point?
The accepting controller is responsible for ensuring radio communication is established.
If the aircraft does not establish comms at the RTF contact point, efforts shall be made to establish communication no later than 3 minutes after the anticipated initial contact.
When does an enroute flight require a clearance to leave controlled airspace
When it is intended the flight will leave controlled airspace on other than its currently cleared route; or
When the flight will leave controlled airspace via descent.
