Air Law Air Traffic Rules

Air LawAir Traffic Rules

Reference From the Ground Up Chapter 5.1: Air Traffic Rules and Procedures Pages 110 - 120

Introduction • Air traffic rules are required to keep aircraft separated and safe, and to allow ATC to monitor them. • Pilots must know and understand these rule in order to fly safely.

Outline • Flight Rules and Flight Plans • Cruising Altitudes & Speeds • VFR Weather Limits • Oxygen Requirements • Wake Turbulence

ATC Instructions • Clearance • Authorization from ATC for aircraft to proceed within controlled airspace under specific conditions • Pilot must ask for clarification if unsure of any meaning of any part of an ATC clearance • Once you accept it, you are required to comply with an ATC clearance • If you are VFR, you must read back the text of the clearance only if requested by ATC to do so • If clearance unacceptable, pilot should contact ATC with intentions • Instruction • Directive issued by ATC for air traffic control purposes • You are required to comply with and acknowledge receipt of an ATC instruction provided the safety of the aircraft is not jeopardized

Flight Rules • Visual Flight Rules (VFR) • Flight with reference to the ground • Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) • Flight with reference to the aircraft’s instruments

Flight Plans • VFR Flight Plans • Required if going beyond 25 NM from departure aerodrome • Purpose is to inform people where you are going and when you will get there • Should be filed with ATC or FIC (Flight Information Centre) • Must be closed within 1 hour after landing • VFR Flight Itinerary • May be used instead of a flight plan • Purpose is to inform people where you are going and when you will get there • Should be filed with a responsible person • Must be closed within 24 hours after landing

Flight Plans

Cruising Altitudes • Aircraft must fly at proper cruising altitudes • Below 18 000 ft, altitudes in thousands • At and above 18 000 ft, altitudes in flight levels (FL 180) • Altitudes measured Above Sea Level (ASL) • VFR cruising altitudes begin at 3,000 ft Above Ground Level (AGL)

Cruising Altitudes • Track of180° - 359° • VFREven thousands plus 500 ft(4500, 6500, 8500 etc) • IFREven thousands(2000, 4000, 6000 etc) • Track of000° - 179° • VFROdd thousands plus 500 ft(3500, 5500, 7500 etc) • IFROdd thousands(1000, 3000, 5000 etc) 0° 270° 90° 180°

Cruising Speeds • Controlled Airspace below 10 000 feet is a “speed limit area”, aircraft limited to 250 knots • Within 10 NM of an airport and below 300 feet AGL, aircraft limited to 200 knots • Limits don’t apply if they are below the safe operating speed of the aircraft

VFR Weather Limits

Special VFR Limits • Special VFR may be requested by pilot if weather falls below VFR standards in a control zone

Oxygen Requirements • From the Ground Up - Page 310 • Below 10 000 ft • Oxygen supply not required • Between 10 000 ft and 13 000 ft • Oxygen supply required if flying more than 30 minutes at this altitude • Above 13 000 ft • Oxygen supply required • Hypoxia • Dangerous condition where pilot does not get enough oxygen • Creates sense of euphoria (false sense of “well being”)

Wake Turbulence • From the Ground Up – Pages 281 - 283 • Wake Turbulence is large, rotating, unstable air left behind an aircraft • Worse with large, slow aircraft (created by high angle of attacks), and prominent on take-off and landing • Can last up to 5 minutes; Aircraft must wait at least 2 minutes before taking-off/landing behind large aircraft • Small aircraft should take-off before or land after rotation/landing point of large aircraft ahead

Next Lesson 4.1 – Meteorology The Atmosphere From the Ground Up Chapter 6.1: The Atmosphere Pages 123 - 124

Air Law Air Traffic Rules