PSTAR Communication Flashcards
When making initial contact with a Canadian ATC unit, the pilot of aircraft C-GFLU should transmit the registration as:
Answer: Golf, Foxtrot, Lima, Uniform.
- (pilot of plane should usually call out 4 letters)
- (the particular aircraft in the example has the ident C (Charlie) for Canada.)
In initial contact it’s good to include your aircraft type:
Example: “Winnipeg terminal. This is: Diamond DA40, GFLU”
Initial Contact should include aircraft type so that:
the controller will handle you based on your speed, maneuverability and appearance of the type of aircraft.
If an air traffic controller ATC abbreviates your call sign:
you may do that too, but don’t do it until the controller does first.
Controlled airspace is broken up into 2 areas:
1) Control Zone (bottom)
2) Control Area (or Terminal)
What must you do before entering a Terminal Area:
-You must contact the controllers 5 minutes before entering.
What must you do before entering a Control Zone area:
You must contact controllers 5 minutes before entering.
What are typically the dimensions of a Control Zone:
Usually 3000 ft AGL and often a tower.
What Class control zones have towers?
- Class B
- Class C
- Class D
(Class E control zones do not)
If your are entering a Terminal Zone at Edmonton, what will your Initial Contact be like:
“Edmonton Terminal, This is Piper Cheeroki, FWBD, 25 miles to west of the airport, 4500 ft inbound for the full stop information E(echo)”
If you are at the Edmonton airport on the ground:
-Contact ground controller
“Edmonton Ground, this is Piper Cheeroki, FWBD, on a VFR Flight Plan direct to Calgary, Springbank, 6500 ft VFR, information E(echo)”
A pilot is cleared to taxi to the runway in use without a hold short clearance. To get there, the aircraft must cross two taxiways and one runway. This authorizes the pilot to taxi to:
the runway in use, but further clearance is required to cross the other runway.
(This question mentions NO hold short, but it also does NOT specify what to do at the runway you need to cross to get to the active runway.
A specific authorization (which is what a clearance is) has to be given, and there is nothing in the question that says what to do at the other runway. So a clearance is needed. )
Example of Pilot told to hold short by Ground Control Authorizes:
“GOLF, ALPHA, BRAVO, CHARLIE, taxi runway 29, Hold short of runway 04”
(means you can cross runway 29, but must hold short of runway 04)
Ground control authorizes “GOLF ALPHA BRAVO CHARLIE TAXI RUNWAY 29 HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY 04”. The pilot should acknowledge this by replying “GOLF ALPHA BRAVO CHARLIE TO
HOLD SHORT OF 04”.
pilot needs to read back his hold short clearance
Immediate Take-Off
Example:
Controller: “FWBD, you are clear for Immediate take-off from runway 29”
When a clearance for an “immediate take-off” is accepted, the pilot shall:
taxi onto the runway and take off in one continuous movement.
Say you get to runway 29, what are the (5) procedures you need to follow?
1) Stop before active runway
2) Switch from GROUND CONTROLLER to TOWER Controller.
3) Once switched, read to TC “ This is Piper Cheeroki, FWBD, now holding short of runway 29 for take-off”
4) Controller will say: “FWBD, line-up runway 29”
5) Wait for controller to say “clear for take-off”
Unverified Altitude
Usually controller will tell you the altitude of the traffic, if unknown, and if the altitude is “unverified” or based only on the transponder reply of the aircraft.
Unverified Altitude Situation:
A pilot flying a heading of 270°, receives the following message from ATC, “Traffic 2 o’clock, 5 miles, eastbound”.
This information indicates the traffic is: 60° to the right, altitude unknown.
Unverified Altitude= signifies that the controller is not talking to the other aircraft.
What is the VFR en-Route Frequency?
126.7
(Also known as the Reporting & Listening Frequency)
-this is the frequency when while cross-country flying, airplane to airplane you will report with each other about your position)
Whenever practicable, pilots operating VFR en route in uncontrolled airspace should continuously monitor:
frequency 126.7 MHz.
Emergency Frequency is:
frequency 121.5 MHz
En route aircraft should, whenever possible, maintain a listening watch for aircraft in distress on:
frequency 121.5 MHz on the aircraft receiver.
What are the standard UNICOM (Universal Communications) frequencies?
1) UNICOM 1 is 122.8 MHz
2) UNICOM 2 is 122.7 MHz
3) UNICOM 3 is 123.0 MHz
(listed in Canadian Flight Supplement CFS)
What do you know if you see an airport that lists a UNICOM?
I know now that there is NO TOWER, but rather some sort of base station.
Pilots operating in VMC and intending to land at aerodromes where no UNICOM exists, should broadcast their intentions on the ATF of
frequency 123.2 MHz.
this is in case there’s no published info about what frequency to use at that airport
A radio equipped aircraft has been cleared to land at a controlled airport. The pilot should acknowledge the clearance by:
transmitting the aircraft call sign.
eg. FGWS- “Foxtrot, Golf, Whiskey, Sierra
ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service)
is normally provided to:
relieve frequency congection
ATIS usually consist of:
- info like (winds, Altitude setting, Cloud heights, temperatures…)
- sometimes can also add important NOTAMs
ATIS messages throughout the day are classified by:
Alphanumeric identifiers to indicate the different ATIS messages.
(The first ATIS of the day would be Alpha, second Bravo, third Delta)
(Example of message from ATIS: “Cleveland Hopkins Information INDIA {so 9th ATIS of the day})
What way can you quickly write down the information given by the ATIS?
Use WARM: example W-260 (Winds) A- 2999 (Altimeter) R- 23 left (Runway) N- India ( Number or Identifier)
After contacting the ATC unit, the pilot should indicate they have the information given in the ATIS, so when ATIS is available, the information which should be included on first contact with ATC is the:
ATIS phonetic identifier (eg. Information India)
(FIC) Flight Information Centres are NOT:
Controllers. They are not controllers
FIC’s (Flight Information Centres)
are centralized Air Traffic Services (ATS) units responsible for providing toll- free access like
- pre-flight, en route flight information
- VFR alerting service.
- weather information while you are flying
- flight planning services
- amending flight plans
- retrieving frequency that you forgot
FSS (Flight Service Station)
refers to an ATS (Air Traffic Services) unit providing services pertaining to the arrival & departure phases of flight at uncontrolled aerodromes and for transit through a MF (Mandatory Frequency) area.
During FSS operating hours, FSS can:
provide pilots with:
- Ability to obtain + pass information
- report emergencies if they arise
If you want to talk to people at FSS/FIC:
you’d have to look on the map, where the frequencies typically tend to be 123. something MHz
A responsibility of a flight service specialist is to provide:
flight planning service.
An initial call to eg. Timmins FSS should be:
“Timmins radio this is…”
example 2: “ Winnipeg radio, this is…”
-FSS/FIC stations are often referred to as radios
NOTAMS are available at:
- available at all FSS/FICs.
- available on the internet
MF (Mandatory Frequencies)
Standard size of a MF are: 5NM, extending up to 3000ft above the airport.
The specific frequency, distance and altitude within which MF procedures are to be followed are given in the:
Canada Flight Supplement (CFS)
The specific frequency of a MF at an airport will be listed on the airport on the map
WHile operating in the MF area:
pilots must report position, indicate intentions & monitor the Mandatory Frequency.
Why are MFs usually established?
they are established when there’s some sort of schedule passenger service or if the airport is reasonably busy, BUT not busy enough to warrant a control tower.
MF’s will sometimes have a ground station (or FSS) BUT IF NOT…
Pilots broadcasting on a MF where no ground station is in operation should direct their transmission to the:
closest ATC unit.(aerodrome traffic)
If a MF is in use, pilots departing VFR shall monitor that frequency until:
beyond the specified distance or altitude.
You advise ATC that you are on the downwind leg. If there is other traffic in the circuit, ATC will then:
inform you of your number in the approach sequence or other appropriate instructions.
Control Zones are established to:
protect the air traffic operating to & from that airport.
(Towered airports) You advise ATC that you are on the downwind leg. If there is other traffic in the circuit, ATC will then:
inform you of your number in the approach sequence or other appropriate instructions.
Class E Control Zones won’t have a Tower, BUT they will have:
a FSS that overseas and controls that airport
Remember that FSS is like a little branch off of the FIC
A departing flight will normally remain on tower frequency until:
clear of the Control Zone.
Approaching a Class E, Control Zone:
pilot in a non-towered will need to report before entering the zone, before on the downwind, before on final, and when clear of the runway.
Control Area (or Terminal Control Area) describes:
- a volume of controlled airspace existing in the vicinity of an airport.
- has a specified upper and lower level.
- usually sits on top of and around a Control Zone.
Control Areas provides:
protection to aircraft climbing out from the airport by joining the low-level zone to the nearest airways.
Aerodrome Traffic Frequency (ATF)
busy, Uncontrolled airports have an ATF.
- these are listed in CFS (Canadian Flight Supplement)
ATF’s may have ground station, UNICOM 1, 2 or 3.
If not:
then frequency 123.2 is used.
The radiotelephone distress signal to indicate grave and/or imminent danger requiring immediate assistance is:
“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”
When radioing a distress call include:
1) your position
2) altitude
3) Aircraft type
4) Nature of Emergency
5) Your intended action
Distress call should be made first to:
whatever air-ground frequency you happen to be on.
(!I communication can’t be established on the first, the distress call should be repeated on the general emergency frequency: 121.5 MHz)!!
What should be included along with the call sign of the aircraft and time, to indicate cancellation of a distress message?
“MAYDAY, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, SILENCE FINISHED, OUT.”
(it lets everyone know on the frequency that they can continue with normal communication and talk)
The radiotelephone urgency signal to indicate a condition concerning the safety of an aircraft, vehicle or of some person on board which does not require immediate assistance is:
” PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN.”
example of urgency: lost, low on fuel, aircraft system problem
Acknowledging Radio Calls:
When talking on the radio with another station, all calls should be acknowledged with:
your aircraft call sign:
Example:
- ATC says: “FEIN, turn left 250)
- You say: “Foxtrox, Echo, India, November”
Example: A radio equipped aircraft has been cleared to land at a controlled airport. The pilot should acknowledge the clearance by:
transmitting the aircraft call sign.
NOTAM CODES:
available at all FIC/ FSS
1) NOTAMN - New NOTAM
2) NOTAMR - Replacing NOTAM
3) NOTAMC - Cancelled NOTAM
4) NOTAMJ - NOTAM that’s giving us a Runway Friction Index.
A new or replacing NOTAM without the term “APRX” is valid:
until the time quoted in the NOTAM.
The term “APRX” when contained in a new or replacing NOTAM means the NOTAM is valid:
until a cancelling or replacing NOTAM is issued.
Your radio transmissions are reported READABILITY THREE. This means that your transmissions are:
readable with difficulty.