How Far and How High?

There are so many different regulations that specify distances, heights, etc.  It's easy to get some of them mixed up.  So... time for a quiz to see which ones you know!  Questions here; answers and references in the links provided.

A low level airway is controlled airspace and extends from ________ AGL up to ___________. 
(Answer here)

A low level air-route is Class ___ airspace and extends from ____________ up to __________.
(Answer here)

A control zone normally has a _____ NM radius and the normal vertical extent is up to ______ AAE.
(Answer here)

When an aircraft is on a defense flight plan, the PIC shall revise the estimated time and point of entry/exit into the ADIZ if they vary by _____ minutes of _____ NM. 
(Answer here)

No person shall conduct a take-off in an aeroplane if the weight of the aeroplane is greater than the weight specified in the aircraft flight manual as allowing a net take-off flight path that clears all obstacles by at least ___ feet vertically or at least ___ feet horizontally within the aerodrome boundaries, and by at least ___ feet horizontally outside those boundaries.
(Answer here)

An airline operator may not operate an aeroplane at a weight which will not allow it to attain with any engine inoperative, a net flight path which has a positive slope at _____ feet above all terrain and obstructions within ___ NM on either side of the intended track. 
(Answer here)

The vertical dimensions of the Arctic Control Area (ACA) are FL____ and above.
The vertical dimensions of the Northern Control Area (NCA) are FL____ and above.
(Answer here)

The vertical dimensions of the Canadian Minimum Navigation Performance Specification Airspace (CMNPSA) within the Canadian Domestic Airspace (CDA) are FL___ to FL___.
(Answer here)

The vertical dimensions of RVSM airspace is FL___ to FL___ inclusive.
(Answer here)

The vertical dimensions of the North Atlantic Minimum Navigation Performance Specification Airspace (NAT MNPSA) are FL___ to FL___.
(Answer here)

Throughout the North Atlantic (NAT) Region, airspace at and above FL___ is Class __ airspace, while airspace below this level is Class __ airspace.
(Answer here)

An aircraft operating in the vicinity of an active forest fire should operate clear of the area by a minimum altitude of _____ AGL and a minimum distance of ___ NM.
(Answer here)

Flight Time and Duty Time

I was Googling the CARs about Flight Time and Duty Time and came across this gem: a Study and Reference Guide for Chief Pilots of Commuter Operations.  It includes a number of questions (open-ended, not multiple choice) and the related CARs references.  It's perfect for highlighting some important info and a good way to test yourself.  Section 2 is particularly relevant to this post.

CAR 700.14 Monitoring System
(1) Operators need a system to monitor flight time, duty time, and rest period of each crew member.
(2) Flight crew members have the responsibility to notify the air operator if an assignment would result in the maximum times being exceeded.

CAR 700.15 Flight Time Limitations
Again, some things just need to be memorized:

• 1200 hours / 365 days
• 300 hours / 90 days
• 120 hours / 30 days (100 / 30 if on call)
• 60 hours / 7 days (aerial work / air taxi)
• 40 hours / 7 days (commuter / airline)
• 8 hours / 24 hours if single-pilot IFR

Of course there are always exceptions, like if the increase is authorized on the air operator certificate.

CAR 700.16 Flight Duty Time Limitations and Rest Periods

• 14 hours / 24 hours (includes 15 minutes of post-flight duties for commuter / airline)
• If 3 consecutive assignments are more than 12 hours, you need 24 hours off (unless you had 24 hours between each of them)
• If duty period includes a rest period, the duty time can be extended by up to half of the rest period (max. 3 hours), but the following rest period needs to be extended by the same amount. 

CAR 700.17 Unforseen Operational Circumstances

Maximums can be extended if the PIC and other flight crew agree and consider it safe.  This is for events such as unforecast adverse weather, equipment malfunction or ATC delay beyond the control of the air carrier.

CAR 700.18 Delayed Reporting Time

CAR 700.19 Requirements for Time Free from Duty

Whether flying or on call:

• Aerial Work / Air Taxi
• 3 x 24 hours / 30 days
• 13 x 24 hours / 90 days
• Commuter / Airline or On-Call
• 36 consecutive hours / 7 days
• 3 consecutive days / 17 days

CAR 700.20 Flight Crew Positioning
If a flight crew member is required to travel for the purpose of positioning:

• if the time for positioning is required after completion of a flight and is in excess of the flight crew member's maximum duty time then an additional rest period at least equal to half of the time spent travelling is required.

CAR 700.21 Flight Crew Members on Reserve

CAR 700.22 Long Range Flights

CAR 700.23 Controlled Rest on the Flight Deck

Must be authorized on the air operator certificate.

POP QUIZ!
What is the maximum allowable duty time for a flight crew member on reserve, if they are notified to report for duty between 22:00 and 06:00 without advanced notice? 
(Answer here)

What is the difference between a "flight crew member on reserve," a "flight crew member on standby" and a "flight crew member on call"?
(Answer here)

Medical Certificate

A pilot's medical certificate goes hand-in-hand with her license.  So it really makes sense that they are both in the aviation document booklet.  Now if only they could have a sticker for radio licenses as well...

CAR 404.03 Requirement to Hold a Medical Certificate
Essentially, to exercise the privileges of your license, you need to hold a valid medical certificate appropriate to that license.  So, according to CAR 404.10, if I want to use my ATPL, I need a valid Category 1 Medical.

CAR 404.04 Issuance, Renewal and Validity Period of Medical Certificates

This is a long one.  The keys in this context are paragraphs 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, and I must remind myself that there have been some changes within the last year with regards to age restrictions:

• if I want to exercise the privileges of my ATPL, my Category 1 medical is valid for 12 months since I am under 40
• once I turn 40, if I want to operate single-pilot with passengers, the validity is reduced to 6 months
• once I turn 60, the validity is reduced to 6 months for all operations

CAR 404.06 Prohibitions Regarding Exercise of Privileges

Of course there are various things that can make my medical invalid, such as:

a) impairment (due to injury, drug, medical treatment)

b) involvement in an aircraft accident which resulted from impairment

c) pregnancy over 30 weeks

d) giving birth within the previous 6 weeks.  

That being said, there is always room for exemption (written authorization from Minister), which can be issued for a) and d) if it does not affect safety.  For example, I heard of a woman flying within days of giving birth to her third child.

CAR 404.18 Permission to Continue to Exercise the Privileges of a License or Rating

When you go to renew your medical, your CAME will deem you fit (with a stamp in your aviation document booklet, signed and dated) or unfit (you get your booklet back with nothing).  Also, CAR 404.04 states that if you go to renew your medical within 90 days of the end of the validity period, the next validity period is determined as if you renewed on the last day of the current validity period. 

• for example: my medical is valid until September 1, 2015
• if I renew on June 15, 2015, my next one will be valid until September 1, 2016
• if I renew on May 15, 2015 (too early), my next one will be valid until June 1, 2016

We've talked alot about regulations, but must also touch on the standards.  

Standard 424 Physical and Mental Requirements is a huge chart.  I've noticed in my practice questions that the frequency for getting ECGs gets some attention, so it would be good to review those:

For Category 1 Medicals, "routine electro-cardiography shall form part of the heart examination of an applicant:

• for the first issue of a medical certificate
• within the 2 years preceding the examination between ages 30 and 40
• within the 12 months preceding the examination after age 40

POP QUIZ!

An ATPL holder notes that his medical certificate has run out of time for Category 1 medical examination requirements.  Which license privileges may he now exercise and for how long?

Air Masses

It is bitterly cold tonight, and one of the top news stories this week has been the weather across the entire country.  

Reference ACWM Chapter 6

Definitions:

• Air mass: a body of air whose temperature and humidity characteristics are uniform in the horizontal.
• Source region: a large area of land or ocean of relatively uniform characteristics and above which an air mass can form.
• Front: a transition zone between two air masses

Classification of Air Masses:

• Continental Arctic (cA)
• Maritime Arctic (mA)
• Continental Polar (cP)
• Maritime Polar (mP)
• Continental Tropical (cT)
• Maritime Tropical (mT)

Canadian Air Masses: cA, mA, mP, mT

Air masses may be modified as they migrate from their source regions.

• cold air (i.e. cA) moving south over the Lake Ontario in the winter becomes unstable since it is warmed from below, contributing to snow showers in Buffalo / south shores.
• warm air (i.e. mT) moving north over the Great Lakes in the spring becomes more stable since it is being cooled from below, contributing to stratus cloud, drizzle and fog over the north shores

POP QUIZ!

A south-westerly flow of Maritime Tropical air moving over the Labrador Current would produce what kind of fog?

Thunderstorms Part I

No chit-chat this time, let's get started.

Reference ACWM Chapter 15

Requirements for development of a thunderstorm:

• high relative humidity
• steep lapse rate
• lifting force / triggering action

Life cycle of a thunderstorm (1 - 3 hours):

• cumulus stage: only updrafts are present in the cloud
• mature stage: starts at onset of precipitation at the surface; updrafts and downdrafts
• dissipating stage: presence of downdrafts throughout nearly the whole cell

Classification of thunderstorms:

• airmass: form within a warm, moist air mass; isolated
• frontal: warm front (embedded in stratiform layer; least severe), cold front (form in continuous line; quite severe), trowal (rapid lifting of warm, moist air; moderate severity)
• squall line: most severe, may include heavy hail, destructive winds, tornados; often form 100-200 miles ahead of fast-moving cold fronts
• convective: formed by heating from below or by convergence of wind flow
• orographic: wind forces moist, unstable air up mountain slopes
• nocturnal: unusually warm air aloft, frequently occurs at night or early morning in Midwest / Central Plains

POP QUIZ!

You've inadvertently just flown into a thunderstorm cell.  What do you do?

Discussion of tornados, hurricanes and hazards to follow.

The Foggiest Idea

Fog is a weather hazard which can create all sorts of problems and delays.  Different meteorological scenarios produce different types of fog, and understanding these can help us anticipate when it may form.

Reference ACWM Chapter 10 on Visibility

The requirement for the formation of all types of fog is high relative humidity.  Typically this happens as the air temperature is lowered to the dew point (but not always - with steam fog, the dewpoint is raised to the air temperature).  It also involves condensation nuclei and some physical process which causes condensation to occur. 

Types:

• advection fog: cooling of warm air as it moves over a colder surface (land or water)
• radiation fog: cooling of the earth's surface at night (land)
• upslope fog: adiabatic/expansion cooling 
• steam fog: water vapor is added to very cold air
• ice fog: addition of water vapour to air through fuel combustion which then sublimates into ice crystals
• frontal fog: evaporation of rain that falls from the warm air into the cold air preceding a warm front

POP QUIZ!

What is the difference between fog and mist? (TC AIM MET 3.15, WMO Code, Table 4678)

The Earth's Atmosphere

Being a complete aviation nerd, I have no shame in admitting that Meteorology was one of my favourite subjects in flight school. And whereas I'd like to jump into things like lapse rate and stability, I'll save those for later and start with the basics.  Our trusty Study and Reference Guide starts with these topics about the Earth's Atmosphere:

Properties - from ACWM Chapter 2

• mobility
• capacity for expansion
• capacity for compression

Vertical Structure - in ascending order

• troposhere
• contains all the elements of the weather
• temperature decreases with altitude
• tropopause
• height varies from about 8 km over the poles up to 17 km over the equator
• there is an abrupt change in height over each frontal surface
• higher in the summer than in the winter
• In ISA conditions its height is 36 090 ft and temperature is -56.5 C
• stratosphere
• temperature remains steady and then increases with altitude
• stratopause
• temperature starts to decrease with altitude
• mesosphere
• temperature decreases with altitude to about 275 000 ft
• mesopause
• lowest temperature
• thermosphere
• where aurora are seen
• temperature increases dramatically with altitude

ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA)

• At sea level: 15 C and 1013.2 hPa / 29.92"Hg
• Average lapse rate is 1.98 C / 1 000 ft

Some things you just have to memorize:

Pressure Level (mb)	Altitude (ft)
700	10000
500	18000
400	24000
250	34000
200	39000
150	45000

And now... time for a POP QUIZ!

(1) What are lines drawn on weather charts joining places having the same temperature called?

(2) Does TAS increase or decrease with temperature?

(3) If the temperature at FL300 is -50, how would this be expressed in terms of an ISA deviation?