OMA Section 8.1

Question 1

What are the differences between a Primary and Secondary alternate aerodrome?

Answer 1

Unlike Primary alternates, Secondary alternates have only basic ground handling facilities and passenger handling is not assured.

Question 2

What is the relevance of seeing an alternate aerodrome on the aircraft specific LIDO en-route chart?

Answer 2

This aerodrome is an approved alternate.

Question 3

How is it possible to determine if a runway is approved for use by BA aircraft?

Answer 3

Operations Manual Part B (Dispatch Performance Data Manual) lists runways approved for use for non EFB fleets.

For EFB fleets, runways listed in the application performance database are approved.

Question 4

When is a take-off alternate required?

Answer 4

When it would not be possible to return to the aerodrome of departure for met or performance reasons based on the weather conditions at the time of departure.

Question 5

Where must the alternate departure aerodrome be located?

Answer 5

Within:

• For 2 engined aeroplanes - 60 minutes
• For 3/4 engined aeroplanes - 120 minutes
• For ETOPS aeroplanes - 120 minutes or the ETOPS rule time if less (except the USA and Saudia Arabia)

Question 6

When is a destination alternate not required?

Answer 6

• The flight duration does not exceed 6 hours
• The destination has 2 separate runways available and useable with met conditions +/-1 hour of ETA

1. Ceiling 2000ft agl or circling minima + 500ft
2. Ground visibility is at least 5K

Question 7

When does BA plan for a destination alternate?

Answer 7

It is BA policy to always plan for a destination alternate.

Question 8

When are two destination alternates planned?

Answer 8

1. When there is no met data available for the destination.
2. When the appropriate forecasts for ETA +/- 1 hour are below planning minima.

Question 9

What are the differences between a fuel alternate and a commercial alternate?

Answer 9

• A fuel alternate is nominated when the conditions at destination are such that a diversion is considered unlikely. It may have limited facilities.
• A commercial alternate is considered at the flight planning stage. It has better facilities including those to handle passengers.

Question 10

What is the application time period for the initial part of a TAF?

Answer 10

From the start of the initial part of the validity period to the applicable time of the first FM or BCMG. If there is no FM or BCMG then until the end of the TAF validity.

Question 11

How is the TAF forecast applied?

Answer 11

The initial part of the forecast is fully applied (time period) except for ‘mean wind’ or gusts.

Question 12

In a TAF, what changes are considered from the beginning of a change period?

Answer 12

If these changes are within +/- 1 hour of ETA of the considered aerodrome then consider:

• FM
• BECM AT
• BECMG (deterioration)
• BECMG FM (deterioration)
• BEMG TL(deterioration)
• BECMG FM…..TL(deterioration)

Mean wind applied

Gusts disregarded

Question 13

In a TAF, which changes are considered from the end of a change time range?

Answer 13

If these changes are within +/- 1 hour of ETA of the considered aerodrome then consider:

• BCMG (improvement)
• BCMG FM (improvement)
• BCMG TL (improvement)
• BCMG FM-TL (improvement)

Mean wind applied

Gusts disregarded

Question 14

In a TAF, how are transient/change conditions considered? (e.g. thunderstorms, showers)

Answer 14

• TEMPO
• TEMPO FM
• TEMPO FM - TL
• PROB 30/40

These changes are not applicable to deteriorating conditions.

Mean wind and gusts: exceeding required limits may be disregarded.

Question 15

In a TAF, how are persistent conditions considered? (e.g. haze, mist, fog, dust/sandstorm continuous precipitations)

Answer 15

• TEMPO
• TEMPO FM - TIL
• TEMPO FM
• PROB 30/40

These conditions are applicable to deteriorating conditions.

Mean wind should be within limits.

Gusts may be disregarded.

Question 16

In a TAF, how are the following change notifiers considered with respect to an improvement in conditions?

• TEMPO
• TEMPO FM - TL
• TEMPO FM
• PROB 30/40

Answer 16

They should be disregarded.

Question 17

In a TAF, how are the changes notified as ‘PROB’ and ‘TEMPO’ considered?

Answer 17

For deteriorating conditions, changes may be disregarded.

For improving conditions, changes should be disregarded.

Question 18

How does TAF application change with respect to an ETOPS en-route alternate?

Answer 18

Mean winds should be within required limits.

Gusts exceeding cross wind limits should be fully applied.

Question 19

What is the bandwidth used for calculatinfg the MSA along flight plan tracks?

Answer 19

Generally 20nm on each side of track but potentially 10nm and 5nm can be used.

Question 20

What is the minimum MSA published on CIRRUS flight plans?

Answer 20

2000ft

Question 21

What does MGA indicate?

Answer 21

Minimum Grid Altitude (MGA). MGA shows the lowest safe altitude which may be flown off-track. MGA is calculated by LIDO by rounding up the elevation of the highest obstruction within the respective grid area and adding an increment of:

• 1000 ft for terrain or obstructions up to 6000 ft; or
• 2000 ft for terrain or obstructions above 6000 ft.

Question 22

When is indicated by an MGA in purple?

Answer 22

MGAs in purple are those below 10,000ft.

Question 23

What is indicated by an MGA in red?

Answer 23

MGS in red appear when they are at or above 10000ft

Question 24

What are MTCAs and what do they mean?

Answer 24

Minimum Terrain Clearance Altitude (MTCA). MTCA covers, exclusively, terrain and obstacles relevant for air navigation. For SIDs and STARs, the MTCA is calculated by LIDO for an area 5 NM either side of the procedure centreline, and around a NAVAID or waypoint. For airways the buffering extends to 10 NM either side of the centreline. MTCA is calculated by rounding up the elevation of the highest obstruction within the respective area and adding an increment of:

1000 ft for terrain or obstructions up to 6000 ft; or

2000 ft for terrain or obstructions above 6000 ft.

Question 25

What is an MEA and what does it mean?

Answer 25

Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA). MEA is shown only if published by the relevant state. It represents the lowest altitude, or lowest usable IFR flight level, for a given route segment. As noted above, MEA may, occasionally, be lower than MTCA for the same segment as a consequence of the different assumptions used in calculating the two parameters. If that is the case, flight crew should consider the MTCA value to be the minimum usable altitude.

MEA, if published, is shown in black text below the relevant route segment, to the left of (or above) the MTCA value.

MEAs may be found on Enroute, SID, STAR and IAC charts.

Question 26

What is an MSA and what does it mean?

Answer 26

The Minimum Sector Altitude provides obstacle clearance of at least 300 m/1000 ft. The sectors and altitudes are published by states.

The Minimum Sector Altitude Limiting Circle is shown centred on a reference NAVAID or the Aerodrome Reference Point; if no other information is shown, the radius is 25 NM. A Minimum Sector Altitude Pictogram is used when the chart plan view is only able to show partial Minimum Sector Altitude sector information.

Minimum Sector Altitudes may be found on SID, STAR, IAC, MRC and AFC charts.

Question 27

What is a TAA and what does it mean?

Answer 27

Terminal Arrival Altitude (TAA). TAA sectors and altitudes are only depicted for RNAV/RNP approaches, replacing Minimum Sector Altitude on some charts (but not all: TAA information is only depicted if officially published by states).

Similarly to Minimum Sector Altitude information, a TAA pictogram is shown if the full sector information is not clearly visible on the chart plan view; and the TAA provides obstacle clearance of at least 300 m/1000 ft.

Question 28

When are BA aircraft required to have an IFR flight plan?

Answer 28

IFR flight plans are required for every flight undertaken by BA aircraft.

Question 29

How is forecast CAT allowed for in BA flight planning policy?

Answer 29

BA flight planning policy does not take into account forecast turbulence.

Areas of CAT on WAFC (World Area Forecast Centre Charts) charts.

Question 30

When is a flight plan considered legal?

Answer 30

An OFP is considered legal when collected from CrewLink kiosk, Loreto Lite or from Station staff at the point of report.

If a route change is required, positive contact with a member of the operating flight crew must be made by NOFP.

Question 31

When should flight plans be available?

Answer 31

The Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Flight Operations and Network Operations is for all Flight Plans to be available to Flight Crew at -120 mins before ETD.

Ref. 8.2.12.j

Question 32

What are the requirements for the handling of the fuel system in flight?

Answer 32

Both pilots must be involved.

Question 33

Who is normally responsible for initiating altimeter changes?

Answer 33

PF

Question 34

8.5

Question 35

What are the visability requirements to conduct a visual approach?

Answer 35

5k

Reduces to 800m RVR when established on the runway centreline and visual with the runway.

Question 36

What is the visability requirement in the USA for a visual approach?

Answer 36

3 Statute Miles

Question 37

What is the lowest permissible minima for circling?

Answer 37

1000ft agl

Question 38

What is the lowest minima for conductiing a circling approach in the USA?

Answer 38

Circling approaches are not permitted in the USA.

Question 39

For approaches to American runways, what constitutes a straight in approach?

Answer 39

1. Final approach course within 30° of runway alignment (15° for GPS approaches)
2. A normal descent can be made from the IFR altitude shown on the IAP to the runway surface.
3. For approaches not complying with these requirements then there no straight in minima published.

Question 40

If an RNAV approach has no minimum temperature specified on the chart, what is the default minimum temperature assumed?

Answer 40

ISA-25°C

Question 41

RNAV approaches are renamed as what?

Answer 41

• RNAV (GNSS)
• RNAV (GPS)
• RNP
• GLS (approved fleets only)

From 2022 RNP is the universal term.

Question 42

How does an approach chart notify that the approach type is RNP?

Answer 42

The Navigation Specification box at the top right of the chart contains the RNP designation.

Question 43

What do these annotations mean in the Navigation Specification box?

Answer 43

Identification of PBN Approach Procedures Using SBAS

Some RNP approaches (especially in the USA and France) have both conventional minima and minima predicated on the use of Satellite-Based Augmentation of the accuracy of the GPS.

The Navigation Specification box on the relevant LIDO IAC will contain information about the SBAS constellation which is used to support LPV or LP minima

1 European example

2 American example