Part A Chapter 8 Flashcards
Minimum altitude requirements
• Vertical Separation:
- 1,000 ft for terrain/obstacle up to 5,000 ft AMSL
- 2,000 ft if terrain/obstacle is higher than 5,000 ft AMSL
• Lateral Separation:
- Track defined by 2 separate navaids, separation within
. 10nm either side of track
. 10nm beyond checkpoints
- Tracks not meeting previous criteria, separation within:
. 20nm either side of track
. 20nm beyond checkpoints
• En Route chart MOCA (Magenta color) provides:
- 1,500 ft separation for terrain up to 5,000 ft AMSL
- 2,000 ft separation if terrain higher than 5,000 ft AMSL
Cold weather altitude corrections
• Corrections to MSA, aerodrome temperature :
- ISA-15 or above, No correction
- Less than ISA -15°C add 10% to MSA
- Less than ISA -30°C add 20% to MSA
- Less than ISA -50°C add 25% to MSA
• Corrections for altitudes at or below MSA:
- Aerodrome temperature above 0°C, no corrrection
- Aerodrome at or below 0°C, use table in Part A or QRH
RNAV (GNSS) / GPS approaches, meaning of temperature limitation
• Actual temperature above chart temperature limit:
- Fly either
. FINAL APP mode to LNAV/VNAV DA
. NAV-FPA to LNAV MDA
- Temperature corrections are not required
• Actual temperature below chart temperature limit:
- Fly vertically selected NAV-FPA to LNAV MDA
- Cold weather corrections required, table in Part A/QRH
Precautions to avoid mountain waves and associated turbulence
- Do not fly through or close to rotor clouds adjacent to mountain ranges
- Overfly mountains by at least
- 5,000 ft for mountains up to 5,000 ft
- The height of the mountain if higher than 5,000 ft
• If mountain wave conditions are suspected, be prepared for turbulence even in clear air
• On routes within 20nm of terrain having a maximum elevation exceeding 2,000ft, increase safe altitude by: Elevation of Terrain Windspeed in knots
0-30 31-50 51-70 over 70
2,000-8000 ft 500ft 1,000ft 1,500ft 2,000ft Above 8000 ft 1,000ft 1,500ft 2,000ft 2,500ft
Lowest circling minima for Dragonair aircraft
Highest of:
- MDA 1,000 ft AAL / Visibility 4,600m
- Chart published minima
Precision Approach Light system guidance principle
Precision Approach Light System provides guidance from 300m before the runway threshold to 900m into the runway
Category X airport
• Airports that may not be nominated as a destination or alternate on the ATS Flight Plan but considered suitable for a non-scheduled landing
• Crew members may operate to Category X airports on the basis of self-briefing from appropriate charts
Example Subic Bay
Colors of airport taxiway lights
- Runway exits lights, alternate green and yellow until clear of ILS sensitive area
- Centerline lights, Green
- Edge lights, Blue
Planning stage, weather and fuel requirements for an isolated destination airport (no alternate within 1 hour 45 minutes flight time of the destination)
• Weather forecast from 30’ before to 2 hours after ETA:
- Visibility and ceiling above Company Minima for Filing as an Alternate
- Crosswind at or below aircraft and crew operating limit
• Fuel,
Alternate and Reserve Fuel is substituted by 2h holding fuel overhead destination at cruise consumption
• CFP, additional information provided:
- Critical Point (both 1 engine inop and depressurised)
- Point of No Return (1 engine inop)
NOTE: Use of this policy requires authorisation from Duty Operations Manager or Line Operations
Maximum distance from landing threshold where the ILS beam is protected (LOC/GS)
• Localiser:
- 25NM within 10° of LLZ course
- 17NM within 35° of LLZ course
• Glidepath:
- 10NM within 8° of RWY centreline
Alternate fuel
• Alternate fuel accounts for:
- 1 missed approach from minima at destination
- Fly to an alternate airport plus 5% contingency at CI 0
- 1 approach and landing at alternate airport
Minimum acceptable Rescue and Fire Fighting (RFF) level for the A320/321
• Minimum RFF category for A320 / 321
- Departure and destination 6(4) / 7(5)
- Alternate except ETOPS 4/5
(Takeoff, Destination, Critical Point Alternate)
- ETOPS Alternate 4
• Figures in brackets may be used for temporary downgrades not exceeding 72 hours
Planning stage, weather minima for En route alternates others than the ones nominated on the CFP for depressurization, Engine Out and ETOPS
1h before to 1h after Alternate ETA:
- Weather forecast at or above published landing minima
- Crosswind forecast at or below aircraft and crew limits
Planning stage, destination weather forecast indicates Low Visibility Operations in use
• Destination alternate must permit Cat 1 operations to protect against aircraft or airport systems downgrades
It means, airport with Non Precision Approach only is not acceptable!
Effect on operations of lightning warnings
• AMBER warning: Ramp activities continue as normal
• RED warning:
- Passenger Terminal Building:
. Passenger boarding/disembarkation is normal
. Cargo and baggage, loading/unloading is suspended
. Refueling operations are suspended
. Security staff operations are suspended
- Remote stands
. Crew transportation is suspended, if already at the stand crew stay in the bus until red warning is cancelled
. Passenger boarding/disembarkation is stopped
. Cargo and baggage loading/unloading is suspended
. Refueling operations are suspended
. Security staff operations are suspended - Pushback:
. Groundcrew disconnect their headsets and the ensuing engine start will be without ground support
. Pushback is suspended, however if the pushback has already commenced it continues until completed - Parking:
. Preferential Stand Allocation System suspended, aircraft are assigned in order of priority frontal then remote stands
. When all stands are occupied, aircraft hold on taxiway
. Marshalling:
Continues at the PTB
Suspended at remote stands
. Chocks not inserted, a crew member must remain on board to monitor brake pressure until ground crew contact is established
. If APU is inoperative:
Leave right-hand engine running
At a frontal stand contact Apron Control on 121.775 to advise park brake set, left engine shutdown and aircraft ready for passenger disembarkation
Planning stage, weather minima for destination alternate airport
• 1h before to 1h after Alternate ETA:
- Forecast visibility and cloud ceiling at or above Company specified Minima for Filing as an Alternate
- Crosswind forecast at or below aircraft and crew limits
• Provided they are at or above the applicable landing minima, the following forecast weather conditions may be ignored:
- PROB of any value
- TEMPO (changes for periods less than 60 minutes)
- INTER (changes for periods less than 30 minutes)
Planning stage, weather minima for a Take off alternate airport
At time of intended use:
- Weather conditions at take-off alternate must be at or above CAT 1 landing minima or the minima for the approach in use if no ILS available (visibility and ceiling required for a NPA)
- Crosswind forecast at or below aircraft and crew limits
Planning stage, weather requirements for En-Route Alternate airports nominated on the CFP for mandatory fuel and ETOPS Alternate airports
1h before to 1h after Alternate ETA:
- Forecast visibility and cloud ceiling at or above Company specified Minima for Filing as an Alternate
- Crosswind forecast at or below aircraft and crew limits
Planning stage, destination weather below landing minima or no forecast is available
• 2 destination alternate airports meeting the following requirements must be selected:
- Weather criteria for destination alternate
- Fuel planned to the most distant alternate
- Both destination alternates specified on ATS flight plan
Planning stage, weather minima for destination airport
• At time of intended use:
- Weather forecast at or above published landing minima
- Crosswind forecast at or below aircraft and crew limits
• Visibility:
- Forecast visibility can be converted to an equivalent RVR using Part A
- LVO minima may be used if the aircraft is appropriately equipped, crew qualified, and LVO approach available
- Following weather conditions may be ignored:
. PROB Visibility of any value
. TEMPO Visibility of any value
. INTER Visibility of any value
• Cloud ceiling:
- Evaluated for a precision approach
- Above appropriate MDH for a NPA
• Freezing Rain or Freezing Drizzle:
- Arrival can be planned during a forecast of Light Freezing Rain/Drizzle (-FZRA/-FZDZ)
- If destination forecast indicates Moderate or Heavy Freezing Rain/Drizzle nominated alternate shall not forecast any sort of Freezing Rain/Drizzle from 1 h before to 1 h after time of intended use
Reserve fuel
- Reserve Fuel is equal to 30 minutes holding at 1,500 ft based on aircraft planned landing weight at the alternate
- In the absence of available data the A320/321 will use 1,200/1,500kg
- Reserve Fuel is the company defined minimum fuel with which the aircraft must land
Depressurization fuel
• Sufficient fuel must be carried at any point on route to permit in case of loss of pressurization, failure of an engine or both:
- Continued flight to the nearest suitable ERA
- Hold at 1,500ft over that ERA for 30’
- Carry out 1 approach and landing
• If route analysis shows that above requirement is limiting a Route Brief will be published to indicate required minimum Diversion Fuel
Total Fuel
Total fuel is the sum of:
- Fuel Required
- Recommended Extra Fuel
Operational halt procedure
• IOC initiates the Operational Halt Procedure if:
- Flight is on the ground preparing for takeoff
- Loading variance exceeds Maximum ZFW, breaks a structural limitation or any other limit
• IOC shall immediately:
- Send ACARS message to the aircraft
“DO NOT TAKEOFF – LOADSHEET DATA ERROR”
- Call Station or ATC to stop the aircraft until data is verified and confirmed by a new Loadsheet
Maximum distance from an alternate airport on a non ETOPS flight
- Twin engine aircraft must remain within 60 minutes flying time of an adequate airport unless operating in accordance with Dragonair ETOPS Policy
- A320 424nm, A321 404nm, A330 434nm
Standard weight for checked in baggage
There is no standard weight, the actual baggage weight is used
Taxi Fuel
• Taxi Fuel accounts for:
- APU usage
- Engine start
- Taxi for departure
• A320/321 use 200 kg as standard but at airports where taxi time is above average a higher fuel may be planned
Standard weights used for crew on the loadsheet
Flight Crew and Cabin Crew
81kg (including 6kg Cabin bagage)
Recommended Extra Fuel
• Recommended Extra Fuel is fuel additional to Fuel Required to cover:
- Known or suspected weather avoidance requirements
- En-route air traffic constraints
- Destination holding delays
- Impact from NOTAMs
- Other conditions that cause increased consumption
- When STA plus diversion time falls close to opening time of a preferred Destination Alternate, Recommended Extra Fuel may be planned to avoid the use of a more distant alternate
- Sum of:
- Contingency, Mandatory and Recommended Extra is not less than 600/800kg on A320/321
- Alternate, Mandatory and Recommended Extra Fuel is not less than Reserve Fuel, ensuring 1h fuel at destination
- When ATC restrictions or delays are anticipated, the reason to carry extra fuel will be stated in CFP special navigation notes
- If a Commander is very familiar with a route he may reduce the amount of Recommended Extra Fuel
Minimum Diversion Fuel
- Minimum diversion fuel is the sum of Alternate and Reserve Fuel
- When a quantity of fuel is determined to be unusable, the Minimum Diversion Fuel entered in the FM shall be increased by the amount of unusable fuel
Weather and fuel requirements for Re-clearance Operations In-flight
Following criteria must be met until revised destination is communicated to ATC:
- Weather:
Destination and Alternate above planning minima
- Fuel:
FOB> Trip + Contingency (5% from over/abeam last ERA) + Diversion Fuel
Mandatory fuel
• On certain routes additional fuel must be carried to support the following requirements:
- Sufficient fuel must be available at all times to allow the flight to be continued to the nearest suitable airport, hold for 30 minutes at 1,500ft, carry out an approach and land
- Loss of pressurisation and failure of 1 engine must be considered
• Depressurisation with all engines operating is normally the most fuel critical scenario
Contingency fuel
- Contingency Fuel allows for errors in forecast winds or temperatures, restrictions on altitude, minor route changes and extended taxi times
- On most flights Contingency Fuel is planned as 5% of Trip Fuel from departure to destination with a minimum of 130 kg for the A320/321
- Minimum Contingency fuel is 5% of Trip Fuel from over/abeam last suitable en-route airport to destination
Documents that must be carried on board for each flight to meet the requirements of the AN(HK)O:
- Radio Station Licence
- Certificate of Airworthiness
- Certificate of Maintenance Review
- Certificate of Registration
- Maintenance Log
- Copy of the Load Sheet
- Flight Crew Licences (by individual Crew members)
- Operations Manual
Centralized Load Control (CLC) time frame
- ETD - 6 h, Estimated ZFW issued to Dispatch for CFP
- ETD - 60’, Traffic staff gives an updated ZFW
- ETD - 30’, CLC sends Final ZFW to Flight Crew
- ETD - 25’, Flight Crew sends Final Fuel Figures to CLC
- ETD - 15’, CLC sends Loadsheet to Flight Crew
- ETD, Aircraft off-blocks (Loadsheet acknowledged)
Maximum fuel temperature for JET A and JET A1 fuel
55 degrees
Ice contamination acceptable for take off without de-icing
• Take-off is permissible with:
- Light coatings of frost (white color) less than 3mm thick on lower wing surfaces due to cold fuel
- Thin hoar frost on the upper surface of the fuselage provided all vents and ports are clear (white deposit of fine crystalline texture)
• Lower wing surface ice ridges of any size are not acceptable, all leading edge devices, control surfaces and upper wing surfaces must be free of ice and snow
Unusable fuel during cockpit preparation
• After refuelling:
- Note usable fuel quantity in each tank and send it to CLC using ACARS Fuel Distribution page
- Send location and quantity of unusable fuel to OPS (Attention CLC) via ACARS free text or the Traffic Officer
If ACARS is not available, a “Non-Standard Fuel Order Confirmation Sheet”, in the Flight Deck Document wallet must be sent to CLC via the Traffic Officer
Non standard fuel distribution after refueling
- After refuelling, note usable fuel quantity in each tank and send it to CLC using ACARS Fuel Distribution page
- If ACARS is not available, a “Non-Standard Fuel Order Confirmation Sheet”, in the Flight Deck Document wallet must be sent to CLC via the Traffic Officer
Livestock
On A320/A321 aircraft, Livestock other than live fish (AVP/PES) and cold-blooded animals (AVC) and shall not be carried as cargo
Hot cabin procedure
- Passenger boarding should not commence until a cabin temperature of 28°C or below is achieved
- HAECO is responsible for the Hot Cabin procedure
Maximum correction of Trip Fuel on the CFP that you can accept before you have to amend the Trip Fuel
200 kg
Holdover Time values given in Part A
- Lower HOT value in a cell which contains a range of times presents information for moderate precipitation
- Higher HOT value is representative of fluid performance for light precipitation
Definition of an isolated destination
Airport where no alternate airport is available within 1h45 flight time
Door opening policy
- Aircraft doors shall only be opened by persons who are trained and competent to do so
- In NORMAL circumstances aircraft doors shall be opened from the outside of the aircraft
- Doors are allowed to be opened from inside the aircraft under ABNORMAL or EMERGENCY conditions
RVSM airspace, situations that must be reported on an ASR
• ASR must be filled in if:
- Flight deviates by 300ft or more from cleared flight level
- Wake Turbulence is encountered
• ASR is sent to Dragonair Corporate Safety & Quality department and Line Ops must be notified via CAR
Type of Deicing fluid approved by Dragonair
- Type I,II and IV fluids
* Type III are not approved on Dragonair aircraft
After a diversion, Ground staff not available to prepare a loadsheet
Contact CLC and fill in a “No Change to Traffic Load” form stored in the Spare Document Wallet
Documents that must be left on ground for each departure
- Load Sheet signed by Commander
- Trim Sheet, if not using computer Loadsheet
- Dangerous Good documents including copy of NOTOC
- Maintenance Log Station page signed by Commander
Colors of the De/anti-icing fluids
- Type I: Orange
- Type II: Colourless, or pale straw
- Type III: Light yellow
- Type IV: Emerald green
Door closing policy
- Aircraft doors may be closed only by suitably trained personnel
- Doors shall be closed from inside the aircraft by the cabin crew, the Airport staff may assist by pushing on the physical structure of the door but under no circumstances should they interfere or participate in the locking process
- Once closed, doors shall not be re-opened without the Captain’s approval
Error in the Navigation Data Base
All errors and omissions in the Navigation Data Base must be reported to Operations by entering the details on the CAR for the attention of Line Operations
Color of fuel acceptable for uplift
- Fuel shall be bright, clear and within a range of White Water to Light Amber or Straw color
- Fuels colored Blue, Red or Green are not to be uplifted
Restrictions on defueled fuel uplift
• Defuelled fuel may be uplifted if:
- Defuelled from a CX / AHK / KA aircraft
- Not been held in a tanker for longer than 24 hours
- Water contamination check is performed
- Wide-cut fuel contains an anti-static additive
• Once fuel is returned to the fuel farm it is considered contaminated and must not be reloaded
Intermittent precipitations and holdover time (HOT)
- HOT credit cannot be given due to the fact that the precipitation has temporarily stopped
- As precipitation falls on the aircraft, the anti-icing fluid is diluted and flows off the aircraft. There is no practical way to determine how much residual anti-icing fluid is on the wing under these circumstances
CORR LNDG and CORR RAMP figures on CFP
• Allows to adjust TRIP Fuel for changes in Take-off weight whatever the reason for that change is:
- CORR LNDG, used if TOTAL Fuel is adjusted as it contains a fuel allowance required to carry that extra fuel
- CORR RAMP, used if TOTAL Fuel remains the same and the crew decides to use fuel that is already on board, as REC EXTRA or CONT Fuel
Freezing point of a de/anti-icing fluid
• The freezing point of a fluid is function of the glycol concentration and is assessed in the field.
A temperature buffer is applied to cater for:
- Absorption of precipitation
- Errors in application
- Variations in weather conditions
• The Lowest Operational Use Temperature for a given fluid is the higher of:
- The lowest temperature at which the fluid meets the aerodynamic acceptance test for a given aircraft type
- The freezing point of the fluid plus its buffer (10°C for a Type I fluid, 7°C for a Type II, III, or IV fluid)
Highest CI that can be used
- CI 150
- Due to the significant fuel penalty, a greater CI should only be used to guarantee an arrival before a published Airport Curfew or when Crew duty hours are critical
Spillage of fuel during refueling
• Stop refuelling • Inform: - Ground Engineer - Airport authorities and fire services • Passenger boarding: - Delay - Disembark, assess if it is required - Continue, in that case passengers must be kept as far as possible from the fuel spillage
What part of the aircraft should the de/anti-icing procedure start with
- Aircraft wings must be sprayed first, therefore the wings become the most critical surface and if they are clean when a Pre Take off Inspection is required, it can be assumed that the rest of the aircraft is clean.
- De/anti-icing fluids must be applied close to the skin of the aircraft to minimise heat loss
Holdover time expired
If an aircraft has to be re-protected prior to a flight:
External surfaces must be de-iced with hot mixed fluid before a further application of anti-ice fluid is made
Tech log entry for de/anti-icing procedure
• When the aircraft is de/anti-iced, Engineering should complete the relevant de/anti-icing field in the Aircraft Maintenance Logbook
• Along with refueling and oil quantity columns, the de/anti-icing field is not part of the Certificate of Release.
Therefeore the Commander is approved to fill-in the tech log in the absence of a qualified engineer on the flight deck saving the need to re-open aircraft doors after the de/anti-icing procedure
Delays due to technical reasons and passengers boarding
• Engine run-up at higher than idle power required, or maintenance taking place in the Flight Deck preventing crews from pre-flight preparation, delay boarding
• For other cases:
- Check estimated rectification time with Maintenance Control or the engineer in charge
- Maintenance takes:
. Less than 30’, Board passengers
. More than 30’, Board passengers when it is estimated to be within 30 minutes of completion
Restrictions for carrying out an engine ground run with passengers on board
- If the engineer carries out the engine run-up, the Captain must be in a control seat
- Captain is responsible for the safety of passengers on board and for ordering an emergency evacuation if required. He must monitor the run-up until completion and all other duties such as flight deck preparation should be deferred
Microburst alert
Dragonair aircraft receiving a Microburst alert are to delay take off or go around as appropriate
Visual inspection required before take off if aircraft has been anti-iced
- Lower (more limiting) time in the HOT cell is not exceeded, no inspection required
- Time within the range of time given in the HOT cell for the conditions present, Flight Crew must do a Pre-take-off Contamination Inspection
- Higher (less limiting) time in the HOT cell is exceeded, the Ground Crew must perform a Pre Take-off Contamination Check and take-off within 5 minutes of conducting the check
ATC has reported that the aircraft position was inaccurate during the flight, what should the cew do after landing
Whenever ATC notifies that the aircraft position is in error, the Captain shall report the notification with all relevant details by Air Safety Report (ASR)
Restrictions on flights in Schedule 8 navigation area
• It is prohibited to operate a flight of over 500nm through any part of a Schedule 8 Navigation Area unless article 18(4) of the AN(HK)O is complied with
• Procedure FCOM/PRO-SPO-52:
- Applicable route: HKG – XIY – HKG
- Following equipments serviceable:
. 2 FMS
. 2 GPS or 2 MMR (as installed)
. 2 DME
. 2 VOR
. 1 ADF (2 ADF for any route with NDB only segments)
. 1 Weather radar
- If navigation equipment becomes unserviceable to the extent that it affects navigation accuracy, the aircraft is to be navigated to an area where normal navigation can be resumed as expeditiously as possible.
In practice this may include continuing on the flight planned route provided ATC can confirm appropriate navigation by radar
VFR / Uncontrolled airspace Flights
- All commercial flights are to be conducted under an IFR Flight Plan
- Flights into and out of uncontrolled airspace and airports are generally prohibited but may be required on a charter flight after:
- Appraisal showing that the flight can be safely operated
- Approval of the General Manager Operations
Take-off Alternate airport and GPS approach procedure
Where a takeoff alternate is required at least one non-GPS approach must be available
Fuel requirements in flight
• Continuous assessment of fuel on board must ensure that there is sufficient fuel available to:
- Proceed from present position to destination
- Make an approach
- Divert to an alternate airport, with 5% Contingency Fuel
- Hold 30’ at 1,500ft and carry out an approach and land
ILS approach, below 1000 ft RVR reduces below minima
Continue the approach and land if visual
Inoperative TCAS
- Operating with an inoperative TCAS is permitted (including RVSM) in accordance with the MEL
- TCAS must be serviceable ex-HKG; At Outports it may be inoperative subject to Time and Sector constraints detailed in the MEL
- TCAS is required in Chinese RVSM airspace
Criteria for In Flight reduction of normal fuel
• En-route and Prior to descent for destination airport:
- Airport has 2 independent runways suitable for landing, i.e. not crossing or reciprocal
- Actual and forecast visibility and cloud ceiling for destination airport at ETA at or above Non-Precision Alternate Planning minima and crosswind within limits
- No known or probable ATC delays
- Fuel remaining sufficient to continue to destination, plus 5% contingency fuel from overhead or abeam the last suitable en-route airport, plus 30 minutes holding at 1,500ft and carry out an approach and landing
• After Commencing Descent, if a delay or unforeseen situation develops and landing is anticipated with less than Minimum Diversion Fuel, the flight may continue to destination provided that fuel on landing will be at least equal to Reserve Fuel.
The Commander must consider all relevant factors with particular reference to the reason for the delay, weather deterioration, and runway availability at the destination and alternate before electing to continue rather than diverting to the alternate.
Standard aircraft separation used in HKG for arrivals
Hong Kong ATC normally provides a separation of:
- 4NM for a “HEAVY” aircraft following another “HEAVY” - 5NM for a “MEDIUM” aircraft following a “HEAVY”
- Separation increases to 6NM/7NM following an A380
ATC calls for minimum fuel condition
- “MINIMUM FUEL”, when after having committed to land at a specific aerodrome the Commander calculates that any change to existing clearance may result in landing with less than planned final Reserve Fuel
- “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY FUEL”, when usable fuel on nearest aerodrome where a safe landing can be made is predicted to be less than final Reserve Fuel
Sterile flight deck procedure
- From engine start to Cruise Altitude (or approximately 30min after take off), and from the “30min to landing” call until the aircraft is parked
- Flight Crew shall only be disturbed for urgent operational issues and access to the Flight Deck is not permitted unless initiated by the Flight Crew
Duty Operations Manager (DOM)
- The Duty Operations Manager (DOM) is available at any time for advice on operational and technical matters
- All communications between the Commander and the DOM will be coordinated through IOC
RVR pilot assessment for take off
- When RVR is not reported, the Commander may assess the RVR by noting the number of visible runway lights
- ICAO standard spacing for runway edge lighting is 60m