Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services
Annex 2 Fundamentals
Annex 2 sets the rules of the air. Know the distinctions: controlled versus uncontrolled airspace; VFR versus IFR; and the meteorological minima for VFR (visibility and distance from cloud, varying with altitude and airspace class). Right-of-way rules matter: converging aircraft at the same level give way to the one on the right; an aircraft overtaking gives way; the less manoeuvrable aircraft has priority (balloon, glider, airship); landing aircraft give way to those on the ground or in the final approach. Minimum safe heights, lights to be displayed, and the use of the standard cruising levels table are all examinable.
ATC Clearances and Separation
An ATC clearance is an authorisation, not a guarantee of safety - the pilot remains responsible for terrain and traffic avoidance in VMC. Read-back is required for safety-critical elements. Separation is provided by ATC in controlled airspace; in class G, traffic information may be given but separation is not. Position reporting, SSR transponder procedures, and radio failure procedures (the standard squawk 7600 and the prescribed route/altitude behaviour) are frequently tested.
Traps and Rule of Thumb
Traps: assuming a clearance absolves the pilot of see-and-avoid responsibility; mixing up the quadrants of the cruising level table; and forgetting that VFR minima change with airspace class and altitude.
Rule of thumb: Eastbound tracks (000–179 magnetic) use odd flight levels; westbound tracks (180–359) use even flight levels - "odd east".