SERA definitions Flashcards
aerodrome
a defined area (including any buildings, installations and equipment) on land or water or on a fixed, fixed off-shore or floating structure intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft
aerodrome control service
air traffic control service for aerodrome traffic
aerodrome traffic
all traffic on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome and all aircraft flying in the vicinity of an aerodrome. An aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aerodrome includes but is not limited to aircraft entering or leaving an aerodrome traffic circuit.
Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
a publication issued by or with the authority of a State and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation
aeroplane
a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft, deriving its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight
airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS)
an aircraft system based on secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder signals which operates independently of ground-based equipment to provide advise to the pilot on potential conflicting aircraft that are equipped with SSR transponders
aircraft
any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface
aircraft address
unique combination of 24 bits available for assignment to an aircraft for the purpose of air-ground communications, navigation and surveillance
AIRMET information
information issued by a meteorological watch office concerning the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified en-route weather phenomena which may affect the safety of low-level aircraft operations and which was not already included in the forecast issued for low-level flights in the flight information region concerned or sub-area thereof
air-taxiing
movement of a helicopter/vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) above the surface of an aerodrome, normally in ground effect and at a ground speed normally less than 37 km/h (20 kts)
air traffic
all aircraft in flight or operating on the operating on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome
air traffic advisory service
a service provided within advisory airspace to ensure separation, in so far as practical, between aircraft which are operating on IFR flight plans
air traffic control (ATC) clearance
authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an air traffic control unit
- Identification
- Clearance limit
- Route
- FL
- Extra
air traffic control instructions
directives issued by air traffic control for the purpose of requiring a pilot to take a specific action
air traffic control service
a service provided for the purpose of:
a. preventing collisions: 1. between aircraft; and 2. on the manoevring area between aircraft and obstructions
b. expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of air traffic
air traffic control unit
generic term meaning variously, area control centre, approach control unit or aerodrome control tower
air traffic service (ATS)
a generic term meaning variously, flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advisory service, air traffic control service (area control service, approach control service, aerodrome control service)
air traffic services (ATS) reporting office (ARO)
unit established for the purpose of receiving reports concerning air traffic services and flight plans submitted before departure
alerting service
a service provided to notify appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid, and assist such organisations as required
altitude
the vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from mean sea level (MSL)
apron
a defined area, intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fueling, parking or maintenance
area navigation (RNAV)
a method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the coverage of ground- or space-based navigation aid or within the limits of the capability of self-contained aids, or a combination of these
automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B)
a means by which aircraft, aerodrome vehicles and other objects can automatically transmit and/or receive data such as identification, position and additional data, as appropriate, in a broadcast mode via a data link
automatic dependent surveillance - contract (ADS-C)
a means by which the terms of an ADS-C agreement will be exchanged between the ground system and the aircraft, via a data link, specifying under what conditions ADS-C reports would be initiated, and what data would be contained in the reports
automatic terminal information service (ATIS)
the automatic provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft throughout 24 hours of a specified portion thereof:
a. Data link-automatic terminal information service (D-ATIS), the provision of ATIS via data link
b. Voice-automatic terminal information service (Voice-ATIS), the provision of ATIS by means of continuous and repetitive voice broadcasts
ceiling
the height above the ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 6000m (20 000 ft) covering more than half the sky
change-over point
the point at which an aircraft navigating on an ATS route segment defined by reference to very high frequency omnidirectional radio (VOR) ranges is expected to transfer its primary navigational reference from the facility behind the aircraft to the next facility ahead of the aircraft
clearance limit
the point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance
code (SSR)
the number assigned to a particular multiple pulse reply signal transmitted by a transponder in Mode A or Mode C
controlled flight
any flight which is subject to an air traffic control clearance
controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC)
a means of communication between controller and pilot, using data link for ATC communications
control zone
a controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface of the earth to a specified upper limit
cruise climb
an aeroplane cruising technique resulting in a net increase in altitude as the aeroplane mass decreases
cruising level
a level maintained during a significant portion of a flight
current flight plan (CPL)
the flight plan, including changes, if any, brought about by subsequent clearances
danger area
an airspace of defined dimensions within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may exist at specified times
data link communications
a form of communication intended for the exchange of messages via a data link
downstream clearance
a clearance issued to an aircraft by an air traffic control unit that is not the current controlling authority of that aircraft
estimated elapsed time
the estimated time required to proceed from one significant point to another
estimated off-block time (EOBT)
the estimated time at which the aircraft will commence movement associated with departure
expected approach time
the time at which ATC expects that an arriving aircraft, following a delay, will leave the holding fix to complete its approach for a landing. The actual time of leaving the holding fix will depend upon the approach clearance
filed flight plan (FPL)
the flight plan as filed with an ATS unit by the pilot or a designated representative, without any subsequent changes
flight information centre
a unit established to provide flight information service and alerting service
flight information region
an airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information service and alerting service are provided
flight information service
a service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights
flight level (FL)
a surface of constant atmospheric pressure which is related to a specific pressure datum, 1013,25 hPa and is separated from other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals
flight plan
specific information provided to air traffic services units, relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight of an aircraft
flight visibility
the visibility forward from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight
forecast
a statement of expected meteorological conditions for a specified time or period, and for a specified area or portion of airspace
ground visibility
the visibility at an aerodrome, as reported by an accredited observer or by automatic systems
heading
the direction in which the lonitudinal axis of an aircraft is pointed, usually expressed in degrees from North (true, magnetic, compass or grid)
height
the vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considerd as a point, measured from a specified datum
IFR
the symbol used to designate the instrument flight rules
IMC
the symbol used to designate instrument meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling, less than the minima specified for visual meteorollogical conditions
landing area
that part of a movement area intended for the landing or take-off of aircraft
manoeuvring area
that part of an aerodrome to be used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons
movement area
that part of an aerodrome to be used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, consisting of the manoeuvring area and the apron(s)
night
the hours between the end of the evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. Civil twilight ends in the evening when the centre of the sun’s disc is 6 degrees below the horizon and begins in the morning when the centre of the sun’s disc is 6 degrees below the horizon
obstacle
all fixed (whether temporary or permanent) and mobile objects, or parts thereof, that:
a. are located on an area intended for the surface movement of aircraft; or
b. extend above a defined surface intended to protect aircraft in flight; or
c. stand outside those defined surfaces and that have been assessed as being a hazard to air navigation
pressure-altitude
an atmospheric pressure expressed in terms of altitude which corresponds to that pressure in the Standard Atmosphere, as defined in Annex 8, Part 1 to the Chicago Convention
repetitive flight plan
a flight plan related to a series of frequently recurring, regularly operated individual flights with identical basic features, submitted by an operator for retention and repetitive use by ATS units (min of 10 repititions)
reporting point
a specified geographical location in relation to which the position of an aircraft can be reported
runway-holding position
a designated position intended to protect a runway, an obstacle limitation surface, or an instrument landing system (ILS)/ sensitive area at which taxiing aircraft and vehicles are to stop and hold, unless otherwise authorised by the aerodrome control tower
runway visual range (RVR)
the range over which the pilot of an aircraft on the centre line of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway or identifying its centre line
secondary surveillance radar (SSR)
a surveillance radar system which uses transmitters/receivers (interrogators) and transponders
SIGMET information
information issued by a meteorological watch office concerning the occurrence or expected occurrence of specified en-route weather phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft operations
special VFR flight
a VFR flight cleared by air traffic control to operate within a control zone in meteorological conditions below VMC
threshold
means the beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing
total estimated elapsed time
a. for IFR flights, the estimated time required from take-off to arrive over that designated point, defined by reference to navigation aid, from which it is intened that an instrument approach procedure will be commenced, or, if no navigation aid is associated with the destination aerodrome, to arrive over the destination aerodrome
b. for VFR flights, the estimated time required from take-off to arrive over the destination aerodrome
traffic avoidance advice
an advice provided by an air traffic services unit specifying manoeuvres to assist a pilot to avoid a collision
traffic information
information issued by an air traffic services unit to alert a pilot to other known or observed air traffic which may be in proximity to the position or intended route or flight and to help the pilot avoid a collision
transfer of control point
a defined point located along the flight path of an aircraft, at which the responsibility for providing air traffic control service to the aircraft is transferred from one control unit or control position to the next
transition altitude
the altitude at or below which the vertical position of an aircraft is controlled by reference to altitudes
transition level
the lowest flight level available for use above the transition altitude
VFR
the symbol used to designate the visual flight rules
VFR flight
a flight conducted in accordance with the visual flight rules
visibility
visibility for aeronautical purposes which is the greater of:
a. the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground, can ber seen an recognised when observed against a bright background
b. the greatest distance at which lights in the vicinity of 1000 candelas can be seen and identified against an unlit background
Visual meteorological conditions (VMC)
meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling, equal to or better than specified minima
