Regulations Flashcards
Under what FAR section do dispatchers study?
Part 65
Who is eligible to be a dispatcher?
65.53 - One who is at least 23 years of age, able to read, write and understand the English language, pass the required knowledge test, and pass the required practical test.
How long can a dispatcher be scheduled to work?
No more than 10 consecutive hours.
What does a dispatcher have to do to remain current?
Pass their company’s recurrency check and observe 5 hours in the flight deck.
Why do airlines need dispatchers?
To maintain operational control through joint responsibility.
What is operational control?
The legal authority to initiate, conduct, and terminate a flight.
Who initiates a flight?
The dispatcher.
Who conducts the flight?
The dispatcher and PIC.
When does conducting begin?
When the PIC signs the release.
When does the dispatcher sign?
When they file with ATC.
What is an ops specs?
Operation Specification – an agreement between the airline and the FAA, states how, what, when, and where an airline can operate.
How many parts are there in an ops specs?
5 - A, B, C, D, E.
What are the parts of ops specs?
- A – Definitions
- B – Procedures
- C – Airports
- D – Maintenance
- E – Weight and Balance
How many types of 121 operations are there?
Three – domestic, flag, and supplemental.
What is a domestic operation?
Operations within the 48 contiguous United States.
What is a flag operation?
Operations outside of the 48 contiguous United States.
What is a supplemental operation?
On-demand, charter, unscheduled operations.
Which parts of 121 require dispatchers?
Domestic and Flag.
Who is responsible for supplemental flights?
PIC and Director of Ops (they can delegate to a Flight Follower).
When the PIC of a domestic or flag operation signs the flight plan, what does it become?
A Dispatch Release.
When the PIC signs the flight plan of a supplemental operation, what does it become?
A flight release.
What items are required to be on a dispatch release?
FATWIVS
What does FATWIVS stand for?
- F – minimum fuel requirements
- A – airports
- T – trip/tail #
- W – weather packet
- I – IFR
- V – VFR
- S – signature of both the PIC and dispatcher
What does a flight release need to contain?
FATWIVS + Company name, crew names, and load manifest.
What must a pilot carry at all times?
Flight Plan, Dispatch Release, and Load Manifest.
What is the minimum fuel requirement for a domestic operation?
Origin –> Destination + to the most distant alternate (if required) + 45 minutes at cruise.
What is the minimum fuel requirement for flag?
Origin –> Destination + 10% + to the most distant alternate + 30 minutes holding speed at 1500’.
What is an MEL?
Minimum Equipment List.
What does the MEL tell us?
What equipment is allowed to be inoperative inside the aircraft and what procedures to follow.
When do we refer to the MEL?
When the plane is on the ground.
What is a CDL?
Configurations Deviations List.
What does the CDL tell us?
What equipment is allowed to be inoperative on the outside of the aircraft.
What documents can we refer to if something breaks in the air?
AFM (Airplane Flight Manual) or QRH (Quick Reference Handbook).
Who can declare an emergency?
PIC, ATC, or a Dispatcher.
What does the FAR say about communication?
121.99 - The Dispatcher and PIC must be able to communicate throughout the entire route.
Is it an emergency if you lose communications with the PIC?
Yes.
What is the NTSB?
National Transportation Safety Board.
What does the NTSB do?
Investigates accidents to determine why accidents happen and try to prevent those accidents.
What does FAR part 121 say about dispatchers being familiar with the weather?
The flight dispatcher must be thoroughly familiar with weather actual and forecast conditions at airports along the route of flight.
What is the visibility requirement for takeoff for 2-engine aircraft?
1SM
What is the visibility requirement for takeoff for 3-engine (or more) aircraft?
½ SM
When must a takeoff alternate be planned and listed on the dispatch release?
When the ceiling/visibility is less than the landing minima at the takeoff airport.
How far away can the departure alternate be located for 2-engine aircraft?
Within 1 hour, in still air with 1 engine inop.
How far away can the departure alternate be located for 3-engine (or more) aircraft?
Within 2 hours, in still air with 1 engine inop.
When is a destination alternate required to be planned and listed on the dispatch release?
1-2-3 Rule: 1 hour before or after ETA, ceilings less than 2,000ft, visibility less than 3SM.
Is there a limit to how far away the destination alternate can be?
No limit, aside from fuel.
What weather must an airport report to be listed as an alternate on the dispatch release?
Precision – 600’-2 SM, Non-Precision – 800’-2 SM.
If a flight must divert to its alternate, what weather minimums apply?
Approach plate minimums.
What must be considered for a flight crossing the Rocky Mountains?
The flight may need a drift-down alternate based on route and weight.
Who do you file a flight plan with?
ATC.
How early can you file a flight plan?
At least 30 minutes prior to flight.
How long will ATC keep the flight plan in their system?
2 hours.
If your aircraft is delayed on the ground for more than two hours, what do you do?
Amend the flight plan for a new departure airport.
Does the dispatcher have to create a new dispatch release if a flight must turn back for a medical emergency?
Yes.
Who is considered a High Minimum Captain?
A Captain with less than 100 hours in type.
What are the landing minimums for a High Minimum Captain at origin and destination airports?
Add 100 feet to the ceiling and ½ mile to the visibility of the approach plate minimums.
What are the landing minimums for a High Minimum Captain at an alternate destination?
Approach Plate Minimums, BUT no less than 300 ft + 1SM.
