Aviation Regulations and Procedures
Fire Extinguishers and Fire Safety
Halon Fire Extinguishers
A 1211 halon fire extinguisher can be used for:
- Paper fires
- Fabric fires
- Electrical fires
Class A Fires
A Class A fire is a fire of solid material, generally of organic nature.
Fire Extinguishers on Airplanes
An airplane whose maximum approved passenger seating configuration is 7 to 30 seats must be equipped with at least one hand fire extinguisher conveniently located in the passenger compartment.
An airplane whose maximum approved passenger seating configuration is greater than 600 seats must be equipped with at least eight hand fire extinguishers conveniently located in the passenger compartment.
Extinguishing Magnesium Fires
The most suitable means for extinguishing a magnesium fire on the ground is sand.
Aircraft Safety and Emergency Procedures
Life Jackets
A life jacket is mandatory for any passenger on board an airplane flying away from the shore by more than 50 nautical miles (NM).
Landing Gear Safety
After a landing with overweight and overspeed conditions, the tires and brakes are extremely hot. The fireguards should approach the landing gear tires only from the front or rear side.
Ditching Procedures
In a ditching situation, the passenger life jackets will be inflated when leaving the airplane.
Explosive Decompression
Following an explosive decompression, the maximum altitude without oxygen at which flying efficiency is not impaired is 8,000 feet.
Mist in the cabin, pressure, and temperature drop characterize a fast decompression.
Oxygen Requirements
For the flight crew members, quick-donning type oxygen masks are compulsory on board any pressurized airplane operating at a pressure altitude above 25,000 ft.
On board a non-pressurized aircraft, 10% of the passengers shall be supplied with oxygen throughout the entire flight time, after 30 minutes at a pressure altitude greater than 10,000 ft but not exceeding 13,000 ft.
On board a non-pressurized aircraft, the crew and all the passengers must be fed with oxygen throughout the flight period during which the pressure altitude is greater than 13,000 ft.
First Aid and Survival Oxygen
The purpose of the first aid oxygen is to provide some passengers with additional respiratory assistance after an emergency descent following a depressurization.
The survival oxygen is the oxygen supplied to the airplane occupants in case of accidental depressurization.
Safe Forced Landing
The correct definition of a safe forced landing is an inevitable landing on land or sea from which one may reasonably expect no injuries on board or on the surface.
Air Traffic Services and Navigation
Position Reporting
Air traffic services may require an aircraft to report position when flying east-west, south of 70°N between 5°W and 65°W, every 10° of longitude.
Wake Turbulence Separation
According to DOC 4444 (ICAO), a wake turbulence non-radar separation minima of 2 minutes shall be applied to MEDIUM aircraft landing behind a HEAVY aircraft.
DOC 4444 (ICAO) establishes that wake turbulence separation minima shall be based on a grouping of aircraft types into three categories according to the maximum certificated take-off mass. Heavy (H) Category are all aircraft types of 136,000 Kg or more.
The wake turbulence starts during the rotation and stops as soon as the airplane’s wheels touch the ground.
Microburst Windshear
An aircraft that experiences a headwind of 40 kt while making its way towards the center of a microburst may expect, when crossing the microburst, to face a windshear of 80 kt.
In a microburst combined with a violent storm, the winds at low altitude diverge from the center of the phenomenon, and the atmospheric pressure increases by a few hectopascals.
Runway Contamination
A runway covered with 4 mm thick water is said to be contaminated.
A runway is considered to be contaminated when its surface is covered for more than 25% with compacted snow.
Dynamic Hydroplaning
Assuming contaminated runway conditions, if an airplane’s mainwheel tire pressure is 195 psi, the approximate speed above which dynamic hydroplaning may occur in the event of applying brakes is 126 kt.
Flight Operations and Regulations
Fuel Reserves
At the alternate aerodrome, the commander of a turbojet-engined airplane should have a fuel quantity (final reserve) sufficient for flying during 30 minutes at holding flight speed at 1,500 ft.
Co-pilot Requirements
EU/JAR-OPS 1 establishes that a co-pilot is not assigned to operate at the flight controls during take-off and landing unless he has operated as pilot-in-command or as co-pilot at the controls during take-off and landing of the type to be used in the preceding 90 days.
Second Pilot in VFR Public Transport
In VFR public transport on an aircraft for which the flight manual indicates a minimum crew of one pilot, the regulations never require the presence of a second pilot.
Crash Axe or Crow-bar
In accordance with EU/JAR-OPS 1, an airplane whose maximum take-off mass exceeds 5,700 kg or whose maximum approved passenger seating configuration is greater than 9 seats and smaller than 200 seats must be equipped with a crash axe or a crow-bar in the pilot compartment.
Operational Flight Plan Retention
In accordance with EU/JAR-OPS 1, an operator shall ensure that all relevant operational and technical information for an individual flight is preserved on the ground for a predetermined period. Consequently, if practicable, a copy of the operational flight plan shall be retained for at least three months.
Mass and Balance Documentation
The airline operator must ensure that the mass and balance documentation of a flight is stored for a minimum period of three months.
Aircraft Documents
The captain is asked by the authority to present the documents of the aircraft and must do so within a reasonable period.
Evacuation Procedures
Information concerning evacuation procedures can be found in the operation manual.
Minimum Navigation Performance Specification (MNPS)
MNPS Airspace
MNPS is the abbreviation for Minimum Navigation Performance Specification.
The MNPS airspace extends vertically between flight levels 285 and 420.
MNPS Equipment Requirements
For an operation in MNPS airspace along notified special routes unless otherwise specified, an aircraft must be equipped with at least one Long Range Navigation System (LNRS).
MNPS Communication Failure
In the event of an en-route HF communication failure in MNPS airspace, the appropriate VHF frequency for air-to-air communications is 123.45 MHz.
MNPS Organised Track System
During a flight to Europe, planned in MNPS airspace, you expect to cross the 30°W meridian at 00H30 UTC; you will then normally be out of the validity period of the organized flight track system.
The validity period of a daytime organized track system in MNPS airspace is normally, at 30°W, between 11H30 UTC and 19H00 UTC.
Revised Estimate in NAT Region
In the NAT region, a revised estimate should be transmitted to the ATS when the estimated time for the next position has changed by 3 minutes or more.
Dangerous Goods
Dangerous Goods Markings
In addition to the languages required by the State of Origin, the markings related to dangerous goods should be set in English.
Authorization for Transporting Dangerous Goods
The authorization for the transport of dangerous goods is specified on the air operator certificate.
Reference Document for Hazardous Materials
The reference document dealing with air transport of hazardous materials is ICAO Appendix 18.
Hijacking
Hijacking Squawk Code
In case of a hijack, the squawk code is 7500.
Bird Hazards
Attracting Birds to Aerodromes
Which one of the following sets of conditions is most likely to attract birds to an aerodrome?
A refuse tip in close proximity.
Deterring Birds from Aerodromes
Which one of the following sets of conditions is the least likely to attract flocks of birds?
Long grass.