Section 2 Flashcards
What type of service can an Aerodrome Controller provide?
Aerodrome Control Service
Basic service
Alerting service
Who does an Aerodrome Control Unit provide service for?
An Aerodrome Control Unit provides services principally to aircraft flying with visual reference to the surface in, and in the vicinity of, the ATZ and operating on the manoeuvring area.
What is an Aerodrome Controllers responsibility?
Aerodrome control shall issue information and instruction to aircraft under its control to achieve a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic with the objective to-
Prevent collisions between-
1- Aircraft flying in, and in the vicinity of the ATZ
2- Aircraft taking off and landing
3- Aircraft and vehicles, obstructions and other aircraft on the manoeuvring area
4- And assist in preventing collisions between aircraft on the apron
Is an Aerodrome controllers solely responsible for the prevention of collisions?
No, pilots and vehicle drivers must fulfil their own responsibility in accordance with rules of the air
Aerodrome control can be divided into 2 roles, what are there?
Air control and Ground movement control
Air control does 1 and 2 of the responsibilities and ground control does 3 and 4
In addition to the aerodrome controllers responsibilities, what are the specific responsibilities?
1- Notify emergency services as per local instructions
2- Inform aircraft under their control of any depletion of the aerodrome emergency services
3- Provide an Approach Control Service when carrying out functions delegated by Approach Control
4- Supply the following information to Approach Control and according to unit instructions, Approach Radar Control-
4a- pertinent data on IFR, SVFR and VFR traffic including departures, missed approaches and overdue aircraft
4b- appropriate items of essential aerodrome information
5- Inform the aerodrome operator when it becomes apparent that there is deterioration in the state of the aerodrome or associated facilities for which the aerodrome operator is responsible
6- Initiating overdue action at aerodromes when no Approach Control unit is established
What shall aerodrome control co-ordinate with approach control?
Departing IFR flights
Arriving aircraft which have made their first call on the tower frequency (unless they are transferred to approach control)
What shall approach control co-ordinate with aerodrome control?
Aircraft approaching to land, if necessary requesting landing clearance
Arriving aircraft which are to be cleared to visual holding points
Aircraft routeing through the traffic circuit
When shall the responsibility of a departing aircraft be transferred from aerodrome control to approach control ?
1- in VMC, prior to the aircraft leaving the vicinity of the aerodrome, or prior to the aircraft entering IMC
2- in IMC, immediately after the aircraft is airborne
When the reported met visibility consists of two values which value shall be used?
The lowest one
What is the VFR minima criteria in class D airspace ? Who is exempt from this ?
Ground visibility of 5km and/or a cloud ceiling of 1500ft, by day and night.
If the weather is below this then request the intentions off the pilot
Helicopters operating under police, helimed, rescue, power line, grid, pipeline callsigns or SAR training flight
When does the VFR minima in class D apply ?
If an aircraft is wanting to operate in accordance with VFR to or from the aerodrome, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone, or aerodrome traffic circuit, of an aerodrome within class D airspace when the ground vis is less than 5km and/or cloud ceiling 1500ft by day or night
What is the VFR minima for aircraft transiting and remaining outside the ATZ of class D airspace ?
FLIGHT visibility and/or cloud ceiling 1500ft except power line, etc
When shall traffic information be passed to an aircraft?
On any occasion that a controller considers it necessary in the interests of safety, or when requested by a pilot.
What type of traffic information and instructions should be passed by an aerodrome controller?
1- generic traffic information to enable VFR pilot to safely integrate their flight with other aircraft
2- specific traffic information appropriate to the stage of flight and risk of collision
3- timely instructions as necessary to prevent collisions and enable safe, orderly and expeditious flight within and in the vicinity of the ATZ
What information should ATC pass to aircraft under their control of any subsequent changes?
1- significant changes in meteorological and runway conditions
2- changes in essential aerodrome information
3- changes in the notified operational status of approach and landing aids
What is essential aerodrome information?
Essential aerodrome information is that concerning the state of the manoeuvring area and it’s associated facilities that may constitute a hazard to a particular aircraft
List the 11 essential aerodrome aspects
1- construction work or maintenance on the manoeuvring area
2- rough portions of the manoeuvring area and whether marked or not
3- failure or irregular functioning of the aerodrome light system. Defects must be passed to pilots in the form they have reported to the controller. ATCO should not make any assumptions that a particular defect renders an associated aid unserviceable or not available. The pilot is responsible for his course of action
4- failure or irregular functioning of approach aids
5- aircraft parked close to the runways or taxiways and aircraft engaged in ground runway of engines.
6- depth of snow layers on runways and taxiways, snow piled or drifted on the manoeuvring area, melting snow and slush, rutted ice and snow
7- in snow and ice conditions- information concerning sweeping and/or sanding of runways and taxiways
8- reports on the estimated braking action determined either by the equipment, or reports by pilots which have already landed. Including a description of the prevailing conditions (standing water, snow settling)
9- bird formations or individual large birds reported or observed on or above the manoeuvring area or in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome. Also any bird dispersal action being carried out.
10- warnings of the presence of water on runways
11- information on the location and operational status of any arrester gear installation
What is the aerodrome controller responsibility regarding the apron?
To provide advice and instructions to assist the prevention of collisions between moving aircraft
What 3 aspects of control of surface traffic can a controller use?
1- an aircraft is cleared to taxi. A second aircraft may be given taxi clearance plus information on the first aircraft and their intentions with a clear ‘follow’ or ‘give way’ to it
2- an aircraft is cleared to taxi and all further requests for aircraft movements are refused the first aircraft comes into sight of the controller.
3- an aircraft is cleared to taxi and asked to report when clear of the apron or passing an easily identifiable reference point
Should vehicles give way to aircraft at all times?
Yes other those in an emergency
Can you use the phrase ‘give way’ to vehicles to resolve conflictions between vehicles and aircraft ?
No
When issuing a crossing instruction of a runway in use to a taxiing aircraft, controllers shall ensure that the crossing instruction is issued on the same frequency, True or False?
True
What is a runway incursion?
A runway incursion is any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of surface designated for aircraft taking off and landing
What should a vehicle or aircraft do if lost on the aerodrome?
Should stop, notify ATC on their last known position. If the vehicle or pilot recognises that they’re on the runway, they should vacate ASAP unless stated by ATC otherwise
What information should be passed to an aircraft requesting start up or taxi clearance ?
Runway in use
Surface wind/ direction and speed including any significant variations
Aerodrome QNH
Outside air temp (turbine engine aircraft only)
Significant metrological conditions (RVR)
When can red illuminated red stop bars be deselected ?
Only to be de-selected when clearance has been given for an aircraft or vehicle to enter the runway
If a conditional clearance has been issued when should the stop bars be de-selected ?
Until the landing aircraft has gone passed the holding point, can the red stop bars be de-selected
If the stop bars are un-serviceable and it is not possible to de-select etc, when may an aircraft be instructed to cross such a illuminated stop bar?
The affected runway or intermediate holding point and the aircraft are visible to the controller. (This can be used for SMR) and risk assessed
The phraseology used is to leave the pilot or driver in no doubt that the crossing instruction only applies to the particular inoperable stop bar.
Conditional clearance shall not be used!
Additional MATS 2 procedures may be required where local risk assessments have identified that further mitigation measures may be necessary
What is a clearance limit?
In addition to providing instructions about the route to be followed, all taxi clearances are to contain a specific clearance limit. This clearance limit should be a location on the manoeuvring area or apron
Why should controllers be cautious with the phrase ‘follow the….’ when giving taxi instructions ?
As it could lead the following aircraft into the active runway or passed a holding point
If an aircraft is at a holding point or taxiing to a holding point, and departure instructions need to be passed what should the controller empathise?
Hold at A1, D2 etc then go on with the departure instructions
Should conditional clearances be used for movements affecting the active runway? Yes or no?
If so except when?
No
Except, when the aircraft or vehicles concerned can be seen by both controller and pilot or driver
What is the criteria for multi line up clearances?
1- During daylight hours
2- all aircraft are continuously visible to the aerodrome controller
3- all aircraft on the same frequency
4- pilots are advised of the number of aircraft ahead in the departure sequence, and the position/runway from which these aircraft will depart
5- the physical characteristics of the runway do not render preceding aircraft in the departing sequence invisible to succeeding aircraft on the same runway
What information should be passed to the aircraft when passing a line up clearance regarding multiple line ups?
The intermediate holding position designator shall be included in the line up instruction
Who is responsible for issuing take off clearances and advising pilots of any variations to the surface wind?
Aerodrome controller
When the pilot requests instantaneous surface wind, what word is to be inserted at the start?
‘Instant’ wind 250 degrees 5 knots
When passing pilots wind checks what time scale is this?
Two minute average
When can a take off clearance be issued?
Should be passed separately from any other message.
Aircraft is at or approaching the holding position for the runway in use or when an aircraft is lined up on or entering the runway in use
A departing aircraft shall not be given instructions which would require it to make a turn before it has reached what height?
500ft
This does not apply to light aircraft
When passing departure instructions to an aircraft what words can be put before the clearance to prevent the aircraft taking off or to be confused with a ground movement ?
‘ After departure ‘
