Mats Oral Board Rac 5 Part 1

Front 1

Describe the separation standards applicable between flights operating within and outside of controlled airspace?

Back 1

Flights operating outside controlled airspace are considered to be separated from flights within controlled airspace. Clearances issued to flights entering controlled airspace shall ensure that separation from flights already operating within controlled airspace is achieved by the controlled airspace entry point.

Front 2

Regarding the provision of separation, when shall separation be provided:

1. In class A, C and D airspace?
2. Regarding SVFR flights?
3. Regarding flights at controlled aerodromes?

Back 2

Separation shall be provided:

• between all flights in class A airspace;
• between IFR flights in class C and D airspaces, except that separation is not provided during the hours of daylight in class D airspace when flights have been cleared to climb or descend subject to maintaining own separation and remaining in VMC;
• between IFR and VFR flights in class C airspace;
• between IFR flights and Special VFR flights;
• between Special VFR flights when the flight visibility is reported to be less than 5 km;
• between all flights taking-off and/or landing at controlled aerodromes to ensure runway and wake turbulence minima are achieved;

Front 3

With regards to the provision of separation:

1. When shall separation be provided with respect to aircraft without an operable transponder?
2. List how separation can be achieved?
3. What are the provisos regarding maintaining "Own separation in VMC"?

Back 3

1. between an aircraft without an operable transponder and all other flights (IFR or VFR) known or believed to be ACAS equipped, in addition to any separation required by airspace classification.
2. Separation can be achieved by:

• a minimum of 1000 ft vertical separation; or
• keeping the aircraft without an operable transponder on routes or in portions of airspace that are separated from the ACAS aircraft (horizontal separation); or
• visual separation provided that pilot of the ACAS equipped aircraft is advised that the other aircraft is without an operable transponder.

3. When an aircraft is without an operable transponder, the separation method ‘Flights Maintaining Own Separation in VMC’ shall not be used.

Front 4

Whenever circumstances call for extra precautions, increased separation should be applied. List seven such situations?

Back 4

Whenever circumstances call for extra precautions, increased separation should be applied, e.g. when:

• requested by a pilot or considered necessary by the controller; or
• a pilot reports severe turbulence or mountain wave activity or the aircraft is known to be entering an area of severe turbulence or mountain wave activity; or
• the navigational accuracy of an aircraft may be impaired; or
• failure of a navigational aid reduces the capacity for frequent determination of position and speed; or
• an aircraft is experiencing communications failure; or
• an aircraft's performance is abnormal; or
• an aircraft is being subjected to unlawful interference.

Front 5

Vertical or horizontal (including radar) separation may be reduced under what three circumstances?

Back 5

Vertical or horizontal (including radar) separation standards may be reduced under the following circumstances:

• when visual (including composite visual) separation is applied; or
• when military separation is being applied, see “Reduction of separation to military aircraft”; or
• between aircraft in formation, providing prior notice of the formation flight has been given to ATC, or the formation flight consists of an aircraft in distress and its escort.

Front 6

Describe the provision of military separation?

Back 6

A reduction in standard separation may be applied to military aircraft when there is a written agreement with the New Zealand Defence Force or a foreign military agency authorising its use. Units will be advised whenever reduced separation for use with foreign military aircraft is authorised. This reduced separation shall be known as "MILITARY SEPARATION". Military separation may only be applied:

• in accordance with an agreement referred to above, and
• when agreed to by the pilots of the aircraft involved, and
• between military aircraft. Following acceptance of military separation, the onus for collision avoidance is transferred to the pilots involved. Pilots may request assistance from ATC in the maintenance of the reduced separation. The actual separation being applied will vary depending on a number of factors such as aircraft type and the experience of the pilots involved. ATC may be advised but is not required to know what military separation is being applied. When issuing a clearance to the aircraft involved, the phraseology: "MILITARY SEPARATION AGAINST (callsign of other aircraft)" shall be added to the clearance.

Front 7

Describe the procedures to be followed whenever a flight deviates from an ATC clearance because of a GPWS alert, weather or other emergency?

Back 7

If a controller becomes aware or has reason to suspect that any controlled flights are separated by less than the approved minimum applicable to the circumstances, every means available shall be used to restore separation as soon as possible and essential traffic information shall be provided. The incident shall be reported as detailed in the ADM section of this manual. Irrespective of the above requirement, no control action shall be taken that will hinder the responses of a pilot known to be reacting to:

• An ACAS resolution advisory; or
• A GPWS or TAWS alert; or
• Weather, or other emergency situations that necessitate a deviation from an ATC clearance.

Front 8

1. Define Essential Traffic Information?
2. List all of its elements in the correct order?

Back 8

Essential traffic information relates to any controlled flights that are separated by less than the specified horizontal or vertical separation minimum, and includes flights that are maintaining own separation in VMC. Essential traffic information shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following items:

• The words "ESSENTIAL TRAFFIC"
• Direction of flight
• Type of aircraft
• Level information
• Position information.

Front 9

1. Describe the following terms used in the provision of visual separation:

• Adequate separation
• the word "continuously" as in 'continuously in sight'?

2. Describe any requirements for a pilot confirming "maintaining visual separation from" or "following" another aircraft?

Back 9

1. • The term "adequate separation" means the spacing required to maintain the safe operation of aircraft, or to achieve runway and wake turbulence separation, without the need for sudden or violent manoeuvres.

• The word "continuously", when used in the phrases "continuously visible" and "continuously in sight" in the following visual separations, means that the controller must be able to sight the aircraft in question whenever the use of this type of separation so requires. When sun, MET conditions or terrain might interfere with the ability to sight the aircraft in question, the procedure shall not be used. The degree of visual monitoring of an aircraft's progress is dependent on the situation at the time.

2. Confirmation that a pilot can maintain visual separation is not required as the acceptance of a clearance requiring a pilot to "maintain visual separation from" or to "follow" another aircraft provides this assurance. The only requirement is for pilots to report sighting the correct aircraft.

Front 10

In Class C and D airspaces, vertical or horizontal separation standards may be reduced by an approach or area controller applying visual separation during the hours of daylight provided that:

1. List the three requirements
2. What are the pilots required to ensure?

Back 10

1. In class C and D airspaces, vertical or horizontal separation standards may be reduced by an approach or area controller applying visual separation during the hours of daylight provided that:

• a specific request is made by a pilot, and
• each aircraft is under the control of the same operating position, or physically adjacent operating positions, provided both controllers agree, and
• there is no possibility of incorrect identification.

2. The pilots are required to ensure that:

• both flights remain in VMC, and
• each aircraft is continuously visible to the pilot of the other aircraft concerned and both pilots concur with the application of visual separation; or
• the pilot of a succeeding aircraft reports having the preceding aircraft in sight, and can maintain visual separation.

Front 11

An IFR flight may be cleared to fly subject to maintaining own separation from one other IFR flight and remaining in VMC.

1. List the nine requirements.
2. When a pilot in flight notifies that flight in VMC cannot be maintained, what actions should ATC carry out?
3. When may ATC withhold a clearance for the separation?

Back 11

1. An IFR flight may be cleared to fly subject to maintaining own separation from one other IFR flight and remaining in VMC, provided that:

• a specific request is made by the pilot; and
• the pilot of the other IFR flight agrees with the application of the procedure; and
• the aircraft remains in class D airspace; and
• it is daylight; and
• the flights concerned remain on the same ATC frequency; and
• the affected aircraft are not subject to a radar control service; and
• the clearance is for a specified portion of the flight at or below 10000 ft AMSL during climb or descent to a clearly defined separation level, position or time; and
• essential traffic is passed; and
• if there is a possibility that flight in VMC may become impracticable this procedure shall not be used. 2. When a pilot in flight notifies that flight in VMC cannot be maintained for the term of the clearance, alternative instructions shall be issued. On observing that in-flight conditions are deteriorating, and considering that operation in VMC will become impossible, the pilot should inform ATC and receive alternative instructions before entering IMC, and then proceed in accordance with the alternative instructions given. 3. A clearance shall be withheld where it is considered that other flights may be adversely affected or an orderly flow of traffic prejudiced.

Front 12

Vertical or horizontal separation standards may be reduced in the vicinity of aerodromes. List the requirements when:

1. A controller is providing the visual separation between aircraft
2. Each aircraft is providing visual separation
3. One aircraft is following another aircraft, include the requirements before vertical and horizontal separation can be reduced.

Back 12

Vertical or horizontal separation standards may be reduced in the vicinity of aerodromes if: • adequate separation can be provided by the aerodrome controller when each aircraft is continuously visible to this controller. The range at which this separation can be applied will be determined by the ambient weather and aircraft size. It shall not be applied beyond 10 NM from the aerodrome; or • each aircraft is continuously visible to the pilot of the other aircraft concerned and both pilots report that they can maintain visual separation; or • in the case of one aircraft following another, the pilot of the succeeding aircraft reports having the preceding aircraft in sight, and can maintain visual separation. Before horizontal or vertical separation is reduced, the succeeding aircraft shall be:

• abeam of or behind the other aircraft, or
• following a track or circuit pattern that will assure sequencing

Front 13

Explain the requirements for the application of Composite Visual Separation?

Back 13

When geographical, vertical or visual separation cannot be applied in the vicinity of an aerodrome, an aerodrome controller may apply a composite of geographical and visual separation, provided instructions are issued as necessary to maintain adequate separation, between: • an aircraft continuously in sight of the controller, and within 10 NM of the aerodrome, and • an aircraft not in sight of the controller, but whose current position has been determined by radar or a pilot position report.

Front 14

When requiring a pilot to sight another aircraft prior to the application of visual separation, what information shall be provided by ATC?

Back 14

When requiring a pilot to sight another aircraft prior to the application of visual separation, controllers shall provide such of the following information that is available and appropriate to the situation: • Aircraft type • Position of the other aircraft relative to a navaid or prominent geographic feature, a procedure or traffic circuit being flown, or a relative bearing (clock reference) and distance • Level information, relative height, or Mode C readout • Any other pertinent information such as direction of flight, company name, colour, intentions, etc. in circumstances where there might be a possibility of error in sighting the correct aircraft.