Section 3, Chapter 1 - Aerodrome Control General Flashcards
What are the specific responsibilities of the Aerodrome Controller in addition to those in MATS 1?
- Final Approach Spacing: Agree required spacing on final approach in conjunction with FIN.
- Airfield Coordination: Coordinate with BIAL regarding the airfield state.
- Emergency Services: Inform aircraft of any depletion of the aerodrome emergency services.
- Airfield Lighting: Select appropriate airfield lighting.
- Equipment Monitoring: Monitor the airfield and VCR equipment, reporting any faults.
- Identification and Validation: Identify via the departing aircraft method and validate Mode A for all IFR departures according to MATS Part 1.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs): Instruct all departures to report when airborne unless seen by ADC.
- SSR Only Operations: Use the ‘Squawk ident’ method.
What is the format for handing over the operational position in Aerodrome Control?
The handover format (PRAWNS) includes:
- P - Pressure QNH: Current QNH pressure setting.
- R - Runways: Runway in use and airfield lighting status.
- A - Airspace: Any airspace restrictions, delegations, or day/night time operations.
- W - Weather: Significant weather present or forecast, including windshear and turbulence.
- N - Non-Standard: Non-standard movements, work in progress (WIP), and essential aerodrome information.
- S - Strips: Traffic situation using the strips, ATM, and visual observation.
What relevant information should the Aerodrome Control (ADC) maintain on the Flight Progress Display?
- All relevant movements, both pending and live.
- Vehicle strips.
- Essential Aerodrome information, with details of all relevant operational information and periods of validity.
- Notification of runway obstruction and closure using the appropriate ‘BLOCKER’ or ‘CLOSED’ strip.
- Serviceability of radio and radar facilities.
- Meteorological warnings.
- NOTAMs/SNOTAMs.
- Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs) including generator status.
- LVP/WIP strips as appropriate.
How should arrival traffic to Langford Lodge be managed using strips in the Flight Progress Display?
- Airborne Bay Placement: Place the associated strip of traffic arriving at Langford Lodge into the Airborne Bay to indicate its position in the arrival sequence and/or conflicts with other airborne traffic.
- LAGA to Aldergrove: If the aircraft performs a Low Approach and Go-Around (LAGA) to any runway at Aldergrove before visually positioning to EGAL, move the strip to the priority position at the bottom of the Runway Bay, as with a LAGA.
How should departing traffic from EGAL be managed using strips in the Flight Progress Display?
- Taxi Bay: Place the strip in the Taxi Bay upon startup.
- Runway Bay: Once the aircraft has clearance to enter the CTR, move the strip into the Runway Bay to indicate conflicts with EGAA departures (i.e., below the strip of a departure lined up to which the EGAL aircraft is traffic).
- Airborne Bay: When the aircraft reports airborne, move the strip into the Airborne Bay.
What is the procedure for managing strips when an aircraft is taxiing across an open runway?
- Runway Bay Placement: Place the strip at the bottom of the Runway Bay, along with any appropriate Blocker strips, until the aircraft is clear of the runway.
- Post-Clearance: Once the aircraft is clear, move the strip and any associated Blocker strips back into the appropriate position in the Pushed/Started or Taxi Bay.
Special Note for Runway 17:
- Threshold Crossing: When aircraft are cleared to cross the threshold of runway 17 in either direction, place the “17 North Aircraft Crossing” Blocker strip in the Runway Bay until the aircraft has vacated.
- Other Locations: For all other airfield locations, the strip of an aircraft cleared to cross a runway must be placed in the Runway Bay with the appropriate Blocker strip. The aircraft strip need not be placed in the Runway Bay when crossing the threshold of runway 17.
What are the actions to be taken when a suspicious object or intruder is discovered on the airfield?
Action by Person Discovering Suspicious Object/Intruder:
- Inform the Control Centre on Ext 4444 with details of the location and a brief description of the object/activity.
Action by ATC on Receiving Report or Observing Suspicious Object/Intruder:
- Inform the Control Centre via direct line (IPOS - APRON) with details of the location and a brief description of the object/activity.
- Continue operations unless the intruder is clearly in a position to endanger the safety of the aircraft.
- The ADM will establish contact with ATC as soon as possible and advise if there is any change to the airfield status.
What are the key points regarding the use of frequency 121.500 MHz by D&D and aerodromes?
D&D Order of Priorities:
- Airborne security incidents.
- Aircraft in emergency on 243.0 and 121.500 MHz.
- Aircraft in emergency over which D&D retain executive control.
- Tracing action to ascertain the safe status of an aircraft.
- Helicopters returning with a minor technical malfunction and not declaring an emergency.
- Practice emergencies on 243.0, 245.1, and 121.500 MHz.
- Establishment and notification of ERFs, TDAs, and TMFRs.
- Royal Flight following.
- Other tasks.
Operational Control:
- D&D retains control of an aircraft in an emergency near an aerodrome unless delegated to the aerodrome.
- Permission for the aerodrome to transmit on 121.500 MHz is granted when control is delegated.
Monitoring Responsibility:
- D&D monitors 121.500 MHz subject to equipment capabilities and serviceability.
- Aerodromes must maintain the ability to monitor 121.500 MHz if D&D cannot.
- D&D will inform aerodromes of any planned or unplanned outages affecting their ability to monitor 121.500 MHz.
Equipment and Notifications:
- D&D will not change its 121.500 MHz capability to meet aerodrome requirements.
- Aerodromes must ensure their equipment meets CAP 670 regulatory requirements.
- Aerodromes must keep contact telephone numbers accurate and up to date with D&D.
- D&D will inform affected aerodromes in the event of a catastrophic equipment failure.
What are the procedures for handling UHF Out of Service (OOS) and returning UHF to service?
UHF Out of Service Procedure:
Initial Steps:
- Stop all movements until action 2 is complete.
- Attempt to establish cross coupling on 118.3/UHF 1.
- Advise Tels.
If Cross Coupling Fails:
- Stop all movements until all actions below are completed.
- Inform Tels and deselect VHF/UHF cross coupling.
- Inform APC.
- Inform BIAL Control Centre to notify all relevant third parties and clear their vehicles from the manoeuvring area. Mention availability of limited VHF handsets from ATC.
- Inform RFFS to clear their vehicles from the manoeuvring area and inform them about VHF handsets availability.
- Inform Military operations to clear their vehicles from the manoeuvring area and inform them about VHF handsets availability.
- ADC OSS to make an ATIS broadcast stating UHF communications are unavailable until further notice.
- Inform WM.
- Ensure all vehicles with ATC clearance on the manoeuvring area are accounted for and confirm the area is vacated.
- Confirm with BIAL Control Centre that all relevant third parties are informed.
- Confirm with BIAL Control Centre, RFFS, and Military operations that all their vehicles are clear of the manoeuvring area.
- Only vehicles equipped with VHF radio/handset may operate on the manoeuvring area.
No aircraft movements shall be permitted until all confirmations are received.
UHF Returned to Service:
- Reselect the VHF/UHF cross coupling.
- WM ensures agencies in steps i - xii are informed and the ATIS message is removed from the broadcast.
What are the responsibilities of Ground Movement Control (GMC) and related procedures?
Responsibilities of GMC:
- Issue instructions, including information on obstructions and other aircraft, to:
- Aircraft under its control on the apron.
- Aircraft and vehicles on the manoeuvring area, except active runways, their access points, and instrument strips.
- Inform APC if a runway to be used is different from the duty runway.
- Transfer aircraft/vehicles to TWR frequency for clearance to enter any runway.
Cleared and Graded Areas Treated as Active Runways:
- Foxtrot
- Golf (Disused)
- Hotel (Disused)
- Echo (Disused Portion)
Additional Delegated Areas to TWR:
- Delta taxiway
- ‘E’ Apron
Civil Aircraft Parking and Marshalling:
- Responsibility rests with BIAL Operations Control Centre.
- Stand numbers obtained from Airport 20/20 System or BIAL Operations Control Centre by telephone.
- No estimates required for light aircraft/civilian helicopters on local flights; they self-manoeuvre on the Apron/GAT as required.
Inbound Estimates and Stand Allocation:
- GMC inputs inbound estimates into Airport 20/20 System and annotates the appropriate strip with the allocated stand number before passing it to the TWR ATCO.
Military Helicopter Departures:
- GMC receives book-out details, raises a flight progress strip, and passes relevant information to APC before frequency change to TWR.
GMC Closed:
- ADC assumes all responsibilities and functions of GMC.
- ADC may delegate these duties to the ADC OSS.
What are the procedures for manning and closing Ground Movement Control (GMC)?
Manning and Frequency Cross-Coupling:
- GMC: Permanently cross coupled to UHF1.
- TWR: Permanently cross coupled to UHF8.
Band-Boxing:
- GMC and TWR may be band-boxed at the discretion of the ATC Watch Manager, based on traffic/staffing, and after consultation with ADC and GMC ATCOs.
Handover Procedures:
- GMC will hand over aircraft/vehicular traffic to ADC or vice versa when opening or closing the position.
Notify traffic of the closure of GMC:
* Aircraft on 121.755 MHz will transfer to 118.3 MHz.
* Vehicles on UHF1 will transfer to UHF8.
* Announce GMC closure on ATIS, instructing aircraft to transfer to 118.3 MHz.
* GMC will inform RFFS of the closure of GMC.
What are the operating procedures for surface operations involving GMC and TWR?
- Work Coordination: GMC will inform TWR and vice versa of all work likely to affect the operation of aircraft and/or equipment.
- Work in Progress Strips: Both ADC and TWR controllers will use work in progress strips.
- Runway Blocked Strips: Display ‘Runway Blocked’ strips when appropriate.
What are the operating procedures for arriving aircraft involving GMC?
- Transfer to GMC: After landing, inbound aircraft are normally transferred to GMC when clear of the active runways.
- Taxi Instructions: Issued to ensure separation from other aircraft and vehicles on the manoeuvring area.
- Parking Positions: GMC will notify aircraft of their parking positions.
Where should requests for Customs or Immigration attendance be directed?
Requests should be directed to the BIA Operations Control Centre.
What is the procedure in the event of an evacuation of the BIA Operations Control Centre?
Staff will relocate to the standby control center facility within the RFFS Station.
