PT1

Question 1

Define an Air Traffic Control Clearance

Answer 1

Authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an air traffic control unit

Question 2

Define Approach Control Service

Answer 2

An air traffic control service for arriving or departing controlled flights

Question 3

Define Visual Departure

Answer 3

A departure by an IFR flight when either part or all of an instrument departure procedure is not completed and the departure is executed in visual reference to terrain

Question 4

What are the objectives of Air Traffic Services? (5)

Answer 4

Prevent collisions between aircraft
Prevent collisions between aircraft 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 aircraft in need of search and rescue aid, and assist such organisations as required

Question 5

How much must an estimate change by in order for a revision message to be given to the next unit?

Answer 5

Area, Approach or Flight Information sector - 2 minutes
A radar sector - 3 minutes
An aerodrome control or aerodrome flight information unit - 5minutes

Question 6

When can an ATC clearance be denied or withheld? (2)

Answer 6

For traffic reasons, when ATC cannot accommodate traffic additional to that already accepted due to traffic congestion, limitations of equipment, procedures, weather or environmental conditions, emergencies or other similar factors; or
When instructed by the General Manager Air Traffic Services

Question 7

What are the elements of an ATC clearance? (7+7)

Answer 7

Aircraft ID as shown on the flight plan
If appropriate, notification and reason for unavailability of requested route and/or cruising level
Authorisation to operate in controlled airspace in accordance with instructions issued
Clearance limit
Route instructions
Level instructions
Any other instructions or information as required:
- departure and diversionary climb instructions
- oceanic transition
- separation or reporting instructions
- SSR code allocations
- any special instructions
- frequency change instructions
- release instructions
- delivery instructions

Question 8

What is the phraseology for the unavailability of route and/or cruise level?

Answer 8

“(route and/or cruise level) NOT AVAILABLE DUE (reason) [ALTERNATE(S) IS/ARE (route(s) and/or level(s)) ADVISE”

Question 9

Standard route clearances detail what? (3)

Answer 9

The ATS preferred route between aerodrome of departure and aerodrome of destination
Primary, alternate and secondary routes available
Route specified for special or restricted use

Question 10

Pilots shall be informed of obstacle clearance reference whenever..? (4)

Answer 10

A climb or descent instruction is issued that is based on the use of enroute descent (distance) steps, VORSEC/VORTAC chart steps, Terminal Arrival Altitudes, 25 NM Minimum Sector Altitude diagram or visual terrain clearance; or
A climb or descent instruction is issued by a radar controller that is based on the use of radar terrain map; or
A descent instruction is issued that is based on the use of DME arcs; or
Where the reference on which instructions are based is changed or may not be obvious

Question 11

Should aircraft on non-standard levels be afforded priority over aircraft on standard levels?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

Departure instructions shall be issued to all IFR flights from controlled aerodromes and take the form of one or more of the following: (6)

Answer 12

Published instrument departure procedure i.e. SID including SID transition where applicable or other AIPNZ departure procedure
Radar SID
Visual departure (by day only)
Specified track or heading within an evaluated climb sector of an omnidirectional departure procedure
Climb above en route descent (distance) steps or VORSEC chart steps
Specified local procedure provided by ATS Policy and Standards

Question 13

What is required from ATC with regard to departure and diversionary climb instructions?

Answer 13

Where published instrument departure procedures do not intercept the cleared route, instructions shall be
issued to clearly define how the route is to be joined.

Question 14

Prior to leaving a climb sector the aircraft shall be: (5)

Answer 14

Established on an evaluated route contained within the radials/tracks defining the sector; or
Established on a climb above VORSEC chart steps; or
Required to set heading overhead an aid contained in the sector at the MSA or climbing above en route descent (distance) steps for an evaluated route; or
Established under radar control at or above the minimum radar terrain map level; or
Expected to be established under radar control en route, and at or above 13000ft or an approved area MSA

Question 15

What are the provisos for the use of Rate of Climb separation? (7)

Answer 15

For rates of climb take-off, confirmation is obtained from both pilots that the specified rates of climb are acceptable and can be sustained to MSA. In all other cases, pilot readback may be taken as acceptance
An alternative method of separation can be applied in a timely manner if required
At least 2000ft exists between the aircraft at the commencement of the application
The specified rates will not allow separation to decrease below the minimum
Separation is checked at intervals of not more than 5000ft or 5 minutes, whichever is the more frequent
Forecast/observed/reported mountain wave activity or turbulence that might affect aircraft performance is not present
The aircraft are at or below FL290

Question 16

If informed that an aircraft is responding to an RA what shall the controller do?

Answer 16

Pass essential traffic information or traffic information (as applicable) to the aircraft reporting the RA and to all other aircraft that may be affected by the manoeuvre.

Question 17

Separation of flights within controlled airspace vs outside of controlled airspace (2)

Answer 17

Flights operating outside controlled airspace are considered to be separated from flights within controlled
airspace. Clearances issued to flights entering controlled airspace shall ensure that separation from flights
already operating within controlled airspace is achieved by the controlled airspace entry point

Question 18

Vertical or horizontal separation standards may be reduced under what circumstances? (3)

Answer 18

When visual (including composite visual) separation is applied; or
When military separation is being applied; or
Between aircraft in formation, providing notice of the formation flight has been given to ATC or the formation consists of an aircraft in distress and its escort

Question 19

MILSEP may only be applied..? (3)

Answer 19

In accordance with an agreement from the appropriate military organisation
When agreed to by the pilots of the aircraft involved
Between military aircraft

Question 20

An IFR flight may be cleared to fly subject to maintaining own separation from one other IFR flight and remaining in VMC provided that..? (9)

Answer 20

A specific request is made by the pilot
The pilot of the other IFR flight agrees with the application of the procedure
The aircraft remains in class D airspace
It is daylight
The flights concerned remain on the same ATC frequency
The affected aircraft are not subject to a radar control service
The clearance is for a specified portion of the flight at or below 10000ft AMSL during climb or descent to a clearly defined separation level, position or time
Essential traffic is passed
If there is a possibility that flight in VMC may become impractical this procedure shall not be used

Question 21

Vertical separation table

Answer 21

500ft - M or L wake turbulence and the lower aircraft is VFR or SVFR and operating at 4500ft or below - 5000ft and below
1000ft - All aircraft - FL290 and below
2000ft - All aircraft except* - Above FL290
*1000ft - RVSM approved aircraft - between FL290 and FL410

Question 22

Describe a crossing track

Answer 22

Any track which intersects another at 45 degrees or more from a particular direction of flight and from its reciprocal

Question 23

Longitudinal separation minima based on time may be established by requiring aircraft to..? (3+2)

Answer 23

Depart at a specified time
Lose or gain time
Hold over a location until a specified time

When a speed differential or comparison is required
- the same speed reference, applicable to the phase of flight, shall be used
- if IAS is used then the aircraft must be within 4000ft of one another

Question 24

What are the longitudinal time minima between aircraft cruising at the same level on the same track?

Answer 24

T10
T5 20
T3 40

Question 25

What are the longitudinal time minima between aircraft climbing or descending on the same track?

Answer 25

T10
T5 - level change commenced withing 10 minutes of the second aircraft reporting over a common point

Question 26

What are the longitudinal time minima between aircraft climbing or descending on the same track?

Answer 26

T10
T5 - the level change is commenced within 10 minutes of the second aircraft reporting over a common point

Question 27

What are the longitudinal time minima between aircraft on crossing tracks?

Answer 27

T10

Question 28

Longitudinal separation based on distance using DME and/or GNSS can be applied between..? (3)

Answer 28

2 aircraft using DME
2 aircraft using GNSS
1 aircraft using DME and 1 aircraft using GNSS

Question 29

What are the conditions for the use of longitudinal separation based on distance? (4)

Answer 29

Direct controller/pilot VHF voice communication being maintained
The aircraft are flying either directly outbound from the same DME station and/or collated waypoint or the same waypoint
When applying these separation minima between any aircraft with area navigation capability, controllers shall specifically request GNSS derived distance
The aircraft to which a GNSS distance is being applied specifies “G” in item 10 of the flight plan

Question 30

Can radar be used to determine the distance of an aircraft from a DME station?

Answer 30

Yes

Question 31

Longitudinal separation minima based on distance using DME and/or GNSS between aircraft climbing or descending on the same track

Answer 31

D20
D10 - the leading aircraft maintains a speed of at least 20kts faster

Question 32

Longitudinal separation minima based on distance using DME and/or GNSS between aircraft climbing or descending on reciprocal tracks (5)

Answer 32

D10 - vertical separation shall be applied until it is positively established that the aircraft have passed each other by not less than 10NM
OR
- both aircraft having reported crossing a common ground-based navigation aid
- T1 after the second aircraft has reported crossing a common significant point
- mutual sighting, provided that there is no possibility of incorrect identification
- another separation standard

Question 33

What are the restrictions on using D10 separations? (FL150/290)

Answer 33

D10 is valid up to and including FL150 when both aircraft are on opposite sides of a DME station
D10 is valid up to and including FL290 when both aircraft are on the same side of a DME station

Question 34

An approach controller is responsible to the unit manager through the watch supervisor, if applicable, for: (11)

Answer 34

• Providing an air traffic control service in accordance with the procedures and minima in this manual
• The control of air traffic within the airspace designated in the LUO so as to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of air traffic in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed in the appropriate regulations and instructions
• Rendering all possible assistance to an aircraft in emergency or distress
• Providing, as necessary, navigational assistance, altimeter settings and information on meteorological conditions, aerodrome and approach facilities
• Maintaining a continuous watch on the designated approach control frequencies
• Maintaining in the approved manner a flight progress display of all aircraft for which responsibility has been designated
• Initiating facility serviceability reports and navigational warnings for NOTAM action as required
• Compliance with procedures detailed in LUO
• Remaining at the operating position during the period of watch unless properly relived of duties
• Maintaining such records as may be required
• Accepting flight plans and briefing aircrew on NOTAM, meteorological information and ATS procedures as required