CPL Flight Planning flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Balanced field length

The take-off distance at which the accelerate-stop distance equals the take-off distance, achieved when V1 is at the balanced point.

Final reserve fuel

Fuel for 30 minutes holding at 1500 ft above the alternate in ISA conditions for turbine aeroplanes; 45 minutes for piston aeroplanes.

Contingency fuel

Fuel equal to 5% of trip fuel, or 3% when a suitable en-route alternate exists, to cover unforeseen deviations from the planned trip.

Point of no return

The point where the time to return equals the time to continue; PNR equals endurance times GS home divided by GS out plus GS home.

Equal time point

The point where the time to the destination equals the time to the alternate, computed with the actual groundspeed along each route.

Item 15 speed and level

The cruise speed coded as N plus four digits for knots TAS, and the level coded as F, A, or S plus three digits.

Item 10 equipment codes

Letters describing radio, surveillance, and GNSS capability; a missing letter means the capability is not available for the flight.

Minimum fuel declaration

A statement to ATC that the aircraft will land with less than final reserve if any further delay occurs; it does not confer priority.

MAYDAY FUEL

The distress call made when the fuel remaining is below the final reserve and a landing at the nearest suitable aerodrome is required.

TODA and ASDA

Take-off distance available and accelerate-stop distance available; the take-off distance required is the greater of the two limiting values.

Second segment climb gradient

The net climb gradient required after gear retraction: 2.4% for two engines, 2.7% for three, and 3.0% for four-engine aeroplanes.

Density altitude effect

A 10 C temperature rise at fixed pressure height increases take-off distance by roughly 10 to 15% because of reduced air density.

Zero fuel weight

The mass of the aeroplane plus traffic load but excluding usable fuel; the limit protects the wing root bending moment.

CG aft limit

The rearmost centre of gravity position; exceeding it reduces static stability and may cause control difficulty in pitch.

Last-minute change

A load alteration after the load sheet is issued, permitted only within a defined mass and moment limit before a new sheet is required.

NOTOC

Notification to the captain listing dangerous goods carried, their location, and the quantity; the pilot must have access before flight.

MORA

Minimum off-route altitude giving 1000 ft clearance in non-mountainous and 2000 ft in mountainous terrain, rounded up to the next 100 ft.

NOTAM Q line

The first line of a NOTAM giving the FIR, then the subject, condition, and traffic codes, followed by the lower and upper limits.

AIRAC cycle

A 28-day cycle on which charts and procedures become effective; a chart from an older cycle may not reflect the current procedure.

Transition altitude

The altitude at which the altimeter is set to standard pressure; it is shown on the SID and airport charts for the aerodrome.

Declared distances

TORA, TODA, ASDA, and LDA shown on the airport chart; they are the basis for take-off and landing performance calculations.

Great circle distance

The shortest distance between two points on the sphere, computed with the spherical cosine formula; rhumb line distance is longer.

Drift formula

Drift equals arcsin of wind speed times sin of the wind angle divided by TAS; heading is track plus or minus the drift.

Mach number

The ratio of true airspeed to the local speed of sound, which is approximately 38.97 times the square root of absolute temperature.

CHG message

An ATS message that amends a previously filed flight plan, identifying the aircraft and the departure aerodrome.

CNL message

An ATS message that cancels a filed flight plan; it must be sent when the flight is not made to prevent unnecessary SAR action.

IFPS rejection

A flight plan is rejected when the route is not connected, the level is invalid, or the aircraft type is unknown; correct and refile.

Repetitive flight plan

A plan for scheduled flights held by ATS; it must be updated at each AIRAC cycle if the schedule changes.

Minimum sector altitude

The lowest altitude giving 1000 ft clearance within a 25 nm sector around a navigation aid, shown on the SID chart.

Decision point

The point where the time to the destination equals the time to the alternate, computed with the actual wind at the diversion level.

Lost communication

Squawk 7600, follow the filed route and levels, and land at the first suitable aerodrome after the planned destination if applicable.

Destination alternate

An aerodrome to which a flight may proceed if the destination cannot be used; it must satisfy the planned approach minima at the ETA.