Seperation and Technology Flashcards
What is seperation?
Internationally agreed standards that are used to ensure aircraft are kept at a safe distance from each other.
How is seperation maintained?
By keeping aircraft at different heights, or where not possible, at a safe distance from each other horizontally by issuing headings (vectors).
In London Terminal Control Area (LTCA), under radar control, what seperation must be maintained?
Aircraft under radar control must be seperated by 3 nautical miles from other aircraft at the same height, if they are less than 3 miles apart, they must be seperated by a minimum of 1000ft.
Outside of London Terminal Control airspace, under radar control, what seperation must be maintained?
Aircraft under radar control must be seperated by 5 nautical miles from other aircraft at the same height, or 1000ft vertically up to FL290 (29,000ft). Above FL290, 1000ft may be continued up to FL410 (41,000ft) subject to the aircraft being equipped to comply with Reduced Vertical Seperation Minima (RVSM) rules, otherwise 2000ft must be applied.
What is Reduced Vertical Seperation Minima (RVSM)?
Rules that allow aircraft with altimeters checked to a high degree of accuracy to fly across the atlantic structure and within controlled airspace at a seperation of only 1000ft above FL290 (29,000ft), and below FL410 (41,000ft).
What is Medium Term Confliction Detection (MTCD)?
A tool that predicts where aircraft will be 20 minutes in the future, based on their heading, level, and speed. It allows controllers to perform ‘what-if’ analysis, allowing them to visually see the outcome of actions that have not yet been committed to.
What is Time Based Seperation (TBS)?
Using time rather than the historically used distance to determine the gap between aircraft cleared for final approach. This takes into account the wake turbulence of each craft, and wind levels.
What is Primary Radar?
Primary Radar provides only very basic information on the position of aircraft relative to the radar, it will also show high terrain, certain weather, and large flocks of birds.
What is Secondary Radar?
Secondary Radar is selective, only showing information from aircraft with transponders. The controller can view dsplays of maps, airways, and upper air routes (UARs) as well as coastlines and danger areas on the display.
What is required of an aircraft and ATC for secondary radar to function?
Before an aircraft departs, or before it enters an airway system, it is provided a personal four digit code that is dialed into the transponder (called Mode A)
Once secondary radar picks up the transponder with a personal code (Mode A) what information is available to ATC?
Once the code is recognised, the height information (called Mode C) and callsign is displayed to the controller on their display.
What is the limitatons of Mode A and Mode C technology.
Limited information, and the garbling of information if too many aircraft are in close proximity (i.e. Heathrow Holds)
What is Mode S?
Mode S is a system in development to supersede Mode A and C technology. It targets individual aircraft rather than attempting to resolve all replies, avoiding garbling. Mode S provides the controller with information entered by the pilot to their cockpit such as:
Selected Flight Level
Indicated Air speed
Heading
What is Conformance monitoring?
The use of electonic data to record ATC instructions given by a controller, and combining it with radar information such that a system can track deviations from the instructions, and alert the controller.
