Operational Environment

Question 1

Describe how airspace is organised in the UK & Atlantic.

What is UIR, FIR, and OCA?

Answer 1

Near America - Gander Radio
Near Britain - Shanwick Radio
NOTA & SOTA introduced to allow aircraft time to transition between radio areas.
Shannon UIR sits over the ROI.
UIR: Upper Information Region
FIR: Flight Information Region
OCA: Oceanic Control Area

Question 2

Define Height, Altitude, and Flight Level

Answer 2

Height - Distance between you and the ground
Altitude - Distance between you and mean sea level
Flight Level - Distance between you and isobaric pressure line 1013.25hPa

Question 3

Classes of Airspace (in the UK)

Answer 3

A, B, C, D, E, G (no F)
A is most stringent - ATC Clearance, IFR, Instrument rated pilot
G is least stringent - None

Question 4

What are VFR?

Answer 4

FL100 (at or above)
8km visibility, 1.5km from cloud (horizon), 1000ft from cloud (vert)
FL100 (below)
5km visibility, 1.5km from cloud (horizon), 1000ft from cloud (vert)
3000ft (at or below)
As FL100 (below) or for fixed wing aircraft - as above but clear of cloud and visible from surface. Visibility reduced to 1.5km if outside controlled airspace below 140kts.

Question 5

What are IFR?

Answer 5

Used procedurally when separated from other traffic or ATC
Or when under IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions)

A procedure that is followed and allows normal operation of the aircraft using instruments alone.

Question 6

What is precision approach radar?
What is an instrument landing system?
What is a marker beacon?

Answer 6

Allows ATC to talk down aircraft to a decision height. Pilot then chooses to land or carry out missed-approach. Only uses radio-voice comms.
Uses 90Hz and 150Hz radio to create a glideslope and localiser.
Used to understand your distance from the runway.

Question 7

ATM System Modernisation.

Answer 7

NextGen (USA)
SESAR (Europe)

Both aim to succeed current ATM systems. Aim to provide trajectory management, airborne interoperability, information management, and Comms, Navigation & Surveillance.
Drivers are that current systems vary and are complicated.

Question 8

Describe the typical avionics fit-out of an aircraft.

Answer 8

Displays
Comms
Data Entry
Flight Control System
Air Data system
Inertial sensors
Radio Nav
DR Nav
IR Sensors
Radar
Flight Management System
Engine Control
Navigation Management

Question 9

Define Separation

Answer 9

Maintaining a specific distance between aircraft and other aircraft/terrain by flying aircraft at sea levels/bands, set routes/directions, or controlling an aircrafts speed.

Question 10

Define Separation

Answer 10

Maintaining a specific distance between aircraft and other aircraft/terrain by flying aircraft at sea levels/bands, set routes/directions, or controlling an aircrafts speed.

Question 11

Define clearance

Answer 11

Permission given by an ATC for an aircraft to proceed under certain conditions contained within the clearance.

Question 12

Define traffic information

Answer 12

Information given by an ATC on the position and, if known, intentions of other aircraft likely to pose a hazard to flight.

Question 13

Define clearance

Answer 13

Permission given by an ATC for an aircraft to proceed under certain conditions contained within the clearance.

Question 14

Define traffic information

Answer 14

Information given by an ATC on the position and, if known, intentions of other aircraft likely to pose a hazard to flight.