Oral Board Revision Flashcards
An Air Traffic Service is a generic term meaning variously…
- Air Traffic Control Service
- Air Traffic Advisory Service
- Flight Information Service
- Alerting Service
N.B. Air Traffic Control Service takes precedence over Flight Information Service
The objectives of the Air Traffic Services shall be to…
- Prevent collisions between ACFT
- Prevent collisions between ACFT on the manoeuvring area and obstructions on that area
- Expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic
- Provide advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights
- Notify appropriate organisations regarding ACFT in need of search and rescue aid, and to assist such organisations as required
Air Traffic Control service shall be provided to…
- All IFR flights in airspace classes A, B, C, D and E
- All VFR flights in airspace classes B, C and D
- All Special VFR flights
- All aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes
Where is an Air Traffic Advisory Service provided?
Within Class F airspace to ensure separation, in so far as practical, between participation IFR flights
N.B. Class F airspace is not currently established in UK FIRs
What shall a Flight Information Service provide information on?
- SIGMET/AIRMET
- Volcanic activity
- Release of toxic/radioactive materials
- Availability of radio navigation services
- Changes in condition at ADs and associated facilities
- Unmanned free balloons
- Space weather phenomena
- Any other information likely to affect flight safety
N.B. The purpose of a flight information service is to provide information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flight
What is the purpose of an Alerting Service?
To notify appropriate organisations regarding ACFT in need of search and rescue aid and assist such organisations as necessary
N.B. All ATC units shall provide an alerting service to ACFT under their jurisdiction
Flight Information Region airspace is below which flight level?
FL245
N.B. At and above FL245 is the Upper Flight Information Region (UIR)
A pilot must fly according to IFR if…
- The airspace has been notified as class A
- The meteorological conditions preclude VFR flight or (within a control zone) SVFR flight
Aerodrome Control Responsibilities
Aerodrome Control shall issue information and instructions to ACFT under its control to achieve a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic with the objective of:
- Preventing collisions between:
(a) ACFT flying in, and in the vicinity of, the ATZ
(b) ACFT taking-off and landing
(c) ACFT and vehicles, obstructions and other ACFT on the manoeuvring area - Assist in preventing collisions between ACFT on the apron
N.B. Pilots and vehicles must also fulfil own responsibilities in prevention of collisions
Aerodrome Specific Responsibilities
- Notifying emergency services as per local instructions
- Informing ACFT under its control of any depletion of the aerodrome emergency services
- Providing an Approach Control Service when carrying out functions delegated by Approach Control
- Supplying the following information to Approach Control and, according to unit instructions, Approach Radar Control:
(a) Pertinent data on IFR, Special VFR and VFR traffic including departures, missed approaches and overdue ACFT
(b) Appropriate items of essential aerodrome information - Informing the Aerodrome Operator when it becomes apparent that there is a deterioration in the state of the aerodrome or associated facilities for which the Aerodrome Operator is responsible
- Initiating overdue action at aerodromes where no Approach Control unit is established
Aerodrome Control shall coordinate what with Approach Control?
- Departing IFR flights
- Arriving ACFT which make their first call on the tower frequency (unless they are transferred to Approach Control
Approach Control will coordinate what with Aerodrome Control?
- ACFT approaching to land; if necessary requesting landing clearance
- Arriving ACFT which are to be cleared to visual holding points
- ACFT routeing through the traffic circuit
Define Coordination
The act of negotiation between two or more parties each vested with the authority to make executive decisions appropriate to the task being discharged
When can coordination be said to be effected?
When all parties have agreed a course of action
Essential Aerodrome Information
Essential aerodrome information shall include:
1. Construction work or maintenance on the manoeuvring area
2. Rough or broken portions of the manoeuvring area and whether marked or not
3. Failure or irregular functioning of the aerodrome lighting system. Defects must be passed to pilots in the form that they have been reported to the controller. Controllers should not make assumptions that a particular defect renders an associated aid unserviceable or not available. The pilot is responsible for deciding his course of action
4. Failure or irregular functioning of approach aids;
5. ACFT parked close to the runways or taxiways and aircraft engaged in ground running of engines
6. Water, snow, slush, ice or frost on a runway, a taxiway or an apron
7. In snow and ice conditions: information concerning anti-icing or de-icing liquid chemicals or other contaminants or sweeping and/or sanding of runways, taxiways and aprons
8. Bird formations or individual large birds reported or observed on or above the manoeuvring area or in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome and the extent of any bird dispersal action being carried out. When flocks of birds or single large ones are
seen, the Aerodrome Operator or Bird Control Unit must be informed
9. Information on the location and operational status of any arrester gear installation
Reduced Separation in the Vicinity of Aerodrome
In the vicinity of ADs, standard separation minima may be reduced if:
1. Adequate separation can be provided by the aerodrome controller when each ACFT is continuously visible to this controller
2. Each ACFT is continuously visible to the pilots of other ACFT concerned and the pilots report that they can maintain their own separation
3. When one ACFT is following another, the pilot of the succeeding ACFT reports the other ACFT is in sight and can maintain their own separation
Flight Priorities
A - Emergency, Police Emergency, Ambulance/Medical/SAR where safety of life involved
B - SAR, Humanitarian, Post Accident Flight Checks, Open Skies Flights, Normal Police Ops
C - Royal Flights, Flights Carrying Visiting Heads of State (Notified by NOTAM)
D - Heads of Government and Senior Ministers
E - HEMS/SAR positioning flights Calibration Flights
Normal Flights and Exam Flights
Z - Training, Non-Standard, Other Flights
Conditions of Multiple Line Ups
Line-up instructions may be issued to more than one ACFT at different points on the same or crossing runways provided that:
1. It is during daylight hours
2. All ACFT are continuously visible to the aerodrome controller
3. All ACFT are on the same RTF frequency
4. Pilots are advised of the number of ACFT ahead in the departure sequence, and the position/runway from which these ACFT will depart
5. The physical characteristics of the runway do not render preceding ACFT in the departure sequence invisible to succeeding ACFT on the same runway
Conditions of Land After
When ACFT are using the same runway, a landing ACFT may be permitted to touch down before a preceding landing ACFT which has landed is clear of the runway provided that:
1. The runway is long enough to allow safe separation between the two ACFT and there is no evidence to indicate that braking may be adversely affected
2. It is during daylight hours;
3. The preceding landing ACFT is not required to backtrack in order to vacate the runway
4. The controller is satisfied that the landing ACFT will be able to see the preceding ACFT which has landed, clearly and continuously, until it has vacated the runway
5. The pilot of the following ACFT is warned. Responsibility for ensuring adequate separation rests with the pilot of the following ACFT
Why is an Aerodrome Traffic Monitor (ATM) provided at some airports and what are it uses?
Assists in achieving maximum runway utilisation and aerodrome capacity
ATM may be used to:
- Determine the landing order, spacing and distance from touchdown of arriving ACFT
- Assist in applying longitudinal separation for departing ACFT
- Enable the controller to confirm that the initial track of a departing ACFT conforms with the clearance issued
- Provide information to ACFT on the position of other ACFT in the circuit or carrying out an instrument approach
Additional uses of ATM when approved by CAA
- Following identification, validate SSR codes of departing ACFT and verify associated Mode C read-outs
- Monitor the progress of overflying ACFT identified by Approach Radar Control to ensure that they do not conflict with the tracks of arriving or departing ACFT
- Establish separation between departing ACFT
- Pass traffic information
- Establish separation in the event of a missed approach
- Assist in taking initial corrective action when the separation between arriving ACFT becomes less than the prescribed minima
Above provided that:
- The controller has undertaken specified training
- The controller is only providing an Air Control Service and a separate Ground Control Service is being provided by another controller on a separate frequency
- The procedures are detailed in MATS Part 2
Runway changes, who is told, coordinated with etc list
Should a change of runway be necessary Aerodrome Control, after consultation with Approach Control, shall inform the following:
1. ACFT under their control
2. Aerodrome Fire Service
3. Contractors working on the aerodrome who will be affected by the change
4. Other agencies according to local instructions
Lighting periods of display
Aerodrome lighting appropriate to the runway a pilot is to use shall be displayed for an appropriate period of time as specified in MATS Part 2, before any ETA and after any ATD as follows:
1. By day: High intensity systems, where installed on the runway to be used, whenever the visibility is less than 5 km and/or the cloud base is less than 700 ft
2. By night: Irrespective of weather conditions
When should aerodrome surface inspections take place?
- At least one regular inspection daily
(a) H24 aerodromes - As soon as practicable after first light
(b) Non H24 aerodromes - Before flying commences - Further inspection before night flying
Additional surface inspections should be made:
- Cessation of work on the manoeuvring area
- Runway not previously inspected brought into use
- Following an ACFT accident
- Following an abandoned TKOF by a turbine engined ACFT due engine malfunction, or by any ACFT due burst tyres
- During snow and ice conditions as frequently as weather conditions warrant
- When considered necessary by ATC or Aerodrome Operator or as detailed in local instructions
ATC Actions - Malicious use of lasers against ACFT
- Acknowledge report from pilot
- Seek as much information as possible from pilot:
(a) Time of attack
(b) Altitude and position at time of attack
(c) Description of laser
(d) Any avoiding action taken
(e) Any impact upon vision/concentration - Anticipate pilot adopting manoeuvres to minimise impact
- Dial 999 - inform police
- Warn other ACFT in vicinity
- Record in watch log and report occurrence in accordance with…
ATC Actions - Malicious use of lasers against ATC
- Look away if possible
- Shield eyes, use blinds if feasible
- Advise ACFT under your control that a laser is illuminating you
- Avoid rubbing eyes to reduce potential corneal abrasion
- Increase ambient light if feasible
- Consider handing over control to a colleague in position not exposed to laser
- Inform supervisor, aerodrome operator and pass information to police
- Ensure laser attack is recorded in watch log and on SRG 1602
Define MOR and when should one be filed?
Mandatory Occurrence Report
After any occurrence which has, or if not corrected would have, endangered an ACFT, its occupants or any other person
VMC exemptions
- Helicopters conducting Police, HEMS (Helimed), SAR including SAR training flights operating in accordance with a LoA
- Helicopters conducting power line, pipeline and rail track inspection flights
Controller Taking-Over Watch (TOW)
- Latest promulgated orders/instructions/notices/signals, serviceability of aerodrome and its facilities and any Royal, Special or NDS flights expected during the period of their watch
- Current weather situation and tendencies for the period of their watch. Accomplished by a study of forecasts and prognostic charts supplied by MET Office and briefing from designated forecast unit
- Serviceability of all equipment under their charge and liable to be used during the period of their watch
- Prevailing air traffic situation, with particular reference to separation standards
Controller Handing-Over Watch (HOW)
- General information, including any variations from routine operations
- Other supplementary information relating to the position
- The detailed traffic situation
What is an ATZ
Aerodrome Traffic Zone
- Airspace of defined dimensions established around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic
- Radius from midpoint of 2NM (RWY less than 1850m) or 2.5NM (RWY longer than 1850m)
- If end of any RWY is less than 1.5nm from the edge of ATZ, radius usually extended to 2.5NM
- From the surface to 2000ft aal
N.B. MATZ (Military ATZ) contains an ATZ which requires permission to enter. Permission not required to enter MATZ