Mats Oral Board Rac 3 Part 3

Front 1

When must a pilot be advised of the reference being used for obstacle clearance?

Back 1

Pilots shall be informed of the obstacle clearance reference whenever:

• A climb or descent instruction is issued that is based on the use of Enroute descent (Distance) steps, VORSEC/VORTAC chart steps, Terminal Arrival Altitudes, 25 NM Minimum Sector Altitude diagram or visual terrain clearance; or
• A climb or descent instruction is issued by a radar controller that is based on the use of radar terrain map; or
• A descent instruction is issued that is based on the use of DME arcs; or
• Where the reference on which instructions are based is changed or may not be obvious.

Front 2

When issuing a level to an IFR flight on a unevaluated route what minimum level shall be used?

Back 2

Cruising levels, including intermediate levels, issued to an IFR flight shall enable the flight to be conducted at or above:

• On an unevaluated route: ▪︎the level(s) indicated on the radar terrain map provided the aircraft is under radar control or will be under radar control on departure; or ▪︎at or above 13 000 ft or approved area MSA

Front 3

Cruising levels issued to controlled flights shall be in accordance with the NZ FIR table of cruising levels. Detail the exceptions to this rule within the NZ FIR

Back 3

Cruising levels issued to controlled flights shall be in accordance with the New Zealand FIR Table of Cruising Levels for flights within the New Zealand FIR as promulgated in the AIPNZ ENR 1.7 section, except that:

• for both IFR and VFR flights, correlation of cruising level with track need not apply; and
• VFR flights may be allocated IFR levels; and
• international flights entering, leaving or transiting the New Zealand FIR may be cleared at a level in accordance with the Auckland Oceanic FIR Table of Cruising Levels; and
• 14 000 ft (designated as a non-standard level) may be assigned in accordance with RAC 5 Vertical Separation; and
• Special activity operations may be authorised to operate in a block level of 13 000 ft to FL150.

Front 4

What is a non-standard level, and what procedures are to be followed when using a non-standard level?

Back 4

• A non-standard level is one that is not appropriate to track, in accordance with the applicable Table of Cruising Levels.
• Prior to the aircraft reaching the boundary of an ATS sector, verbal approval shall be obtained from the subsequent sector/unit for the flight to continue at the non-standard level.
• Aircraft at standard flight levels should be afforded priority over aircraft using non-standard flight levels.
• When clearing a controlled flight at a non-standard level, the words "NON-STANDARD" shall prefix the level except for departing oceanic flights that are cleared at a correct level for oceanic flight in accordance with the Level Instructions above.

Front 5

Describe the procedures associated with cancelling or amending block level clearances. Include an example of an appropriate phraseology.

Back 5

When cancelling or amending a block level clearance the aircraft shall be instructed to climb or descend to an appropriate level or block of levels in order to provide vertical separation from other aircraft.

• ATC clearance: "MAINTAIN BLOCK (altitude/flight level) TO (altitude/flight level) [UNTIL . . .]"
• ATC cancellation: "CANCEL BLOCK CLEARANCE, CLIMB TO/DESCEND TO/MAINTAIN (altitude/flight level) [or (altitude/flight level) TO (altitude/flight level)] [UNTIL . . .]"

Front 6

State the requirements and phraseologies for issuing level instructions to VFR aircraft.

Back 6

Level instructions for VFR flights shall contain either:

• the maximum permitted altitude followed by the phrase "OR BELOW"; or
• the minimum permitted altitude followed by the phrase "OR ABOVE"; or
• where a flight is required to maintain flight at a specific level, that level followed by the phrase "VFR"; or
• where a flight is required to maintain flight between two specific levels, those levels followed by the phrase "VFR".

Front 7

Demonstrate the correct phraseology for specifying a rate of climb or descent?

Back 7

When it is necessary to specify a rate of climb or descent: "CLIMB/DESCEND AT (number) FEET PER MINUTE MINIMUM/MAXIMUM"

Front 8

Demonstrate the correct phraseology for authorising an enroute climb/descent via distance steps?

Back 8

When authorising an Enroute descent (Distance) step or VORSEC/VORTAC chart step climb or descent procedure: "CLIMB ABOVE/DESCEND DISTANCE STEPS TO (level)" "CLIMB ABOVE/DESCEND VORSEC/VORTAC CHART STEPS TO (level)"

Front 9

Demonstrate the correct phraseology for arresting a climb or descent?

Back 9

"STOP CLIMB/DESCENT AT (level)"

Front 10

XYZ is climbing to reach 7000ft and is required to reach a separation level of at least 6000ft prior to a reporting point called SNAPA. Demonstrate the correct phraseology to be used?

Back 10

"CLIMB/DESCEND TO REACH (level) AT/BY (time or significant point)"

"CLIMB TO REACH (6000ft) BY (SNAPA)"

Front 11

Describe the procedure for issuing a block level clearance to a departing aircraft.

Back 11

Departing aircraft shall initially be issued with the lower level of the requested block. A clearance to operate within a block of levels shall be coordinated once the aircraft is airborne and issued prior to the aircraft reaching the lower level.

Front 12

1. What shall be inserted in the CFL field of a VFR flight plan?
2. What level is entered into the CFL field for military operations?

Back 12

The following shall be inserted in the CFL field of a VFR flight plan:

• In controlled airspace where the VFR is subject to level restrictions, the cleared level; or
• In controlled airspace where the VFR is not subject to level restrictions, or in uncontrolled airspace, 000. Note: The use of 077 in the CFL field is restricted to military operations only.

Front 13

List the departure instructions issued to all IFR flights from controlled aerodromes.

Back 13

Departure instructions shall be issued to all IFR flights from controlled aerodromes and take the form of one or more of the following:

• Published instrument departure procedure i.e. Standard Instrument Departure (SID), including the SID transition where applicable, or other AIPNZ departure procedure
• Radar SID
• Visual departure (by day only)
• Specified track or heading within an evaluated climb sector of an omnidirectional departure procedure
• Climb above Enroute descent (Distance) steps or VORSEC chart steps
• Specified local procedure as provided by Policy, Standards and Safety Improvement.

Front 14

What elements of a SID may be amended or cancelled and what are the provisos?

Back 14

Only ATC elements of a SID may be amended/cancelled. Any amendment or cancellation of a SID must continue to enable the aircraft to remain within controlled airspace except where the aircraft is planned to vacate controlled airspace and meet obstacle clearance requirements.

Front 15

Describe when an aircraft may be issued with a Visual Departure?

Back 15

By day only, having due regard to prevailing MET conditions, an aircraft may be issued with a visual departure. The direction of turn shall be specified unless the aircraft is climbing straight ahead.

Front 16

Describe the procedures associated with a Visual Departure on a Non-promulgated route, and identify the relevant phraseologies to be used?

Back 16

When a visual departure is issued to an aircraft on a non-promulgated route, ATC shall issue a limit to which the pilot is required to maintain terrain clearance visually. Include in the departure nomination:

• the track or radar heading to be flown; and
• the limit of the visual departure. This is the level at which the controller expects a pilot to transfer terrain clearance from visual to instrument or radar reference, i.e. usually either the first VORSEC altitude or the radar terrain map altitude for the departure track. "LEFT TURN, CLIMB ON XX 230 RADIAL, VISUAL DEPARTURE TO 4000 FEET"
• "LEFT VISUAL DEPARTURE ONTO HEADING 310, CLIMB TO 6000 FEET, MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE VISUALLY UNTIL PASSING 3000 FEET"

Front 17

Where a secondary or grass runway has IFR take off minima promulgated in the AIPNZ but is not specifically included in the departure procedures for the aerodrome, an aircraft may be cleared to take off from that runway, with what provisos?

Back 17

Where a secondary or grass runway has IFR take-off minima promulgated in the AIPNZ but is not specifically included in the departure procedures for that aerodrome, an aircraft may be cleared to take-off from that runway, by day only, on a visual departure until the aircraft is established on a promulgated departure procedure for that aerodrome. "RIGHT VISUAL DEPARTURE TO INTERCEPT 16 LIMA DEPARTURE"

Front 18

Describe the five conditions which must be achieved prior to an aircraft leaving a climb sector?

Back 18

Prior to leaving a climb sector the aircraft shall be:

• established on an evaluated route contained within the radials/tracks defining the sector; or
• established on a climb above VORSEC chart steps; or
• required to set heading overhead an aid contained in the sector at the MSA or climbing above Enroute descent (Distance) steps for an evaluated route; or
• established under radar control at or above the minimum radar terrain map level; or
• expected to be established under radar control enroute, and at or above 13,000ft or an approved area MSA.

Front 19

Described the three conditions which must be achieved before an aircraft leaves a VORSEC chart sector on departure?

Back 19

Prior to leaving VORSEC chart sectors the aircraft shall be:

• established on an evaluated route and at or above MSA or climbing above Enroute descent (Distance) steps for the route; or
• established under radar control and at or above the radar terrain map; or
• expected to be established under radar control en-route, and at or above 13,000ft or an approved area MSA.

Front 20

What provisos must be applied when an approach controller uses a specified rate of climb/descent to maintain vertical separation?

Back 20

Where the climb to or descent from cruising level is subject to restrictions for separation purposes, instructions may include a specified rate of climb or descent, provided that:

• for rates of climb from take-off, confirmation is obtained from both pilots that the specified rates of climb are acceptable and can be sustained to MSA. In all other cases, pilot read-back may be taken as acceptance;
• an alternative method of separation can be applied in a timely manner, if required;
• at least 2000 ft exists between the aircraft at the commencement of the application;
• the specified rates will not allow separation to decrease below the minimum;
• separation is checked at intervals of not more than 5000 ft or 5 minutes, whichever is the more frequent;
• forecast/observed/reported mountain wave activity or turbulence that might affect aircraft performance is not present;
• the aircraft are at or below FL290, e.g.

Front 21

Describe the procedure associated with the instruction using RYS and demonstrate the phraseology that shall be used

Back 21

A departing aircraft may be released for take-off when aerodrome control can maintain separation from specified traffic: "RYS {RELEASED YOUR SEPARATION} (callsign of the conflicting traffic) (details of conflicting traffic, if not already passed)"

Before exercising an RYS, the aerodrome controller shall consider:

• the possibility of a missed approach by an arriving aircraft; and
• the feasibility of retaining visual or composite visual separation between the departing aircraft until approach control can accept responsibility.