Separation and Traffic Services Flashcards
Below what altitude may pilots be assigned responsibility for separation? What is the pilot’s responsibility?
Below 10000ft, when the pilot of an aircraft reports sighting another aircraft and accepts responsibility to maintain own separation with the aircraft.
It is the pilots responsibility to maintain separation while complying with ATC instructions
When applying visual separation what must you do if there is doubt as to the pilot’s ability to keep the other aircraft in sight?
Issue an alternative instruction to provide separation.
List four possible limitations to a pilot’s ability to comply with instructions.
- The field of vision in the cockpit
- The contrast of aircraft with the background against which it will appear
- Glare of the sun
- Restrictions on atmospheric visibility which may not be currently apparent to the pilot. e.g. loss of forward visibility following descent into a haze layer.
What traffic information should be given to aircraft when passing Directed Traffic Information?
- Aircraft identifications
- Type and description if unfamiliar
- Position information
- Estimated time of passing or closest point of approach
- Direction of flight or route of aircraft
- Level
- Intentions of the pilot, such as:
——Initial departure track and intended cruising level
——inbound track or directions, level and next estimate - Advice that an aircraft is not yet on the appropriate frequency
What is the definition of a state aircraft?
An aircraft of any part of the Defence Force (including any aircraft that is commanded by a member of that force in the course of his/her duties as such a member) and aircraft used in the military, Customs or Police Services of a foreign country.
Which of the following levels should be assigned to an aircraft flying EAST?
FL120
A090
FL230
FL430
FL450
A090
FL230
FL450
Which Flight Levels are not available when the Area QNH is 993 hPa
FL 110
FL 115
At which altitude must an aircraft operating in the Australian FIR change to QNH 1013.2?
10,000ft
What circumstances would warrant the issue of a safety alert according to MATS?
Becoming aware that an aircraft is in a situation that places it in unsafe proximity to:
a) terrain
b) obstructions
c) active Prohibited/Restricted/Military Operating Areas
d) other aircraft
And the pilot has NOT advised that action is being taken to resolve the situation.
When may you discontinue a safety alert?
When the pilot advises that action is being taken to resolve the situation or has reported the other aircraft in sight.
In which classes of airspace may safety alerts be issued?
All
When is the prefix ‘SUGGEST’ used when issuing collision avoidance advice for aircraft in close proximity?
Avoiding actions for uncontrolled aircraft.
What is expected of the controller upon becoming aware of information such that it would be reasonable to conclude that an unsafe situation has occurred, or may occur?
Provide a safety alert.
To which organisation must messages from Customs Surveillance Flights be passed?
Australian Maritime Security Operations Centre
What type of message is sent by Customs Surveillance Flights?
SURVEREP
Give 5 examples of Suspicious Circumstances that ATC must report.
- Aircraft signalling to the ground
- Objects seen to be dropped from aircraft
- Aircraft operating at night without navigation aids
- Unusual activity at aerodromes e.g. operation of aircraft not normally seen in the area, and thefts of aviation fuel
- Recent activity at remote airstrips e.g. fire breaks, recent grading, grass cutting and positioning of fuel drums
What is a holding procedure?
A predetermined manoeuvre which keeps an aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance.
What is a holding fix?
A geographic location that serves as a reference for a holding procedure
Does a holding instruction impose a clearance limit on an aircraft?
Yes
When do you not have to describe a holding pattern at a clearance limit to a pilot?
When it is a published hold.
When a clearance limit is cancelled, this includes a cancellation of holding. What must be issued to the aircraft?
Onwards clearance
What are the five elements of assuring separation?
- Scanning and assessing traffic
- Identifying conflicts
- Planning to resolve conflicts and assure separation
- Executing a plan
- Monitoring the implemented solution to ensure separation is achieved
For the purposes of longitudinal separation how are same/opposite direction tracks defined?
Tracks that intercept at less than 45 degrees.
When applying lateral separation what should be used in preference to manual plotting methods?
a) lateral separation diagrams
b) tables
c) lateral conflict tools
What are the four principle separation standards?
Longitudinal separation
- for aircraft on same or reciprocal tracks (intercept at less than 45 degrees)
- either time (10 minutes) or distance from a common point
Lateral separation
- for tracks that intercept at greater than 45 degrees
- determining the Basic Lateral Separation Point
- Separate using the standard of 1NM between the possible positions of each aircraft.
Vertical separation
- In general, separation standard is 1000ft until RVSM band FL290
- From FL290-FL490 - separation 2000ft unless RVSM approved
Visual separation
- not used in en route
- mostly used by the tower
What is RVSM?
Reduced Vertical Separation Minima
What techniques are used to maintain separation assurance?
- Amended route, or vectoring
- Adjusting speed
- Holding
- Issuing restrictions to
—– reach a level by a time, place or distance
—– depart or set course at a specific time
How is separation assured?
Through the process of assessing traffic, identifying conflicts, planning to ensure separation, executing the plan and monitoring the situation to ensure the standard is not infringed.