IDAC Air Traffic Controller (CTA) cheat sheet

ICAO Annex 2 (Rules of the Air) applies to all aircraft; Annex 11 governs Air Traffic Services, Annex 3 meteorology, Annex 10 communications/navigation/surveillance, Annex 14 aerodromes.

ICAO Standards are mandatory (differences must be filed); Recommended Practices are desirable but not binding. A State files differences to Annexes with ICAO.

IDAC (Dominican Republic Civil Aviation Institute) is the national CAA; its Regulations (RAD) mirror ICAO Annexes; the national civil aviation law is Ley 491-06.

Classification of airspace: A to G. Classes A-E are controlled; F is advisory (IFR separated from IFR, VFR not separated from IFR); G is uncontrolled.

Controlled airspace classes and clearances: in Class A only IFR; Class B, C, D allow IFR and VFR; Class E IFR controlled, VFR not separated.

VMC minima (below 10,000 ft AMSL): 5 km flight visibility, 1,500 m horizontal and 1,000 ft vertical distance from cloud; at/above 10,000 ft: 8 km, 1,500 m horizontal, 1,000 ft vertical.

A clearance is an authorization for an aircraft to proceed under specified conditions; it does not relieve the pilot-in-command of responsibility for safety of flight.

Rules of the air: aircraft on approach to land has right of way over aircraft on ground; head-on both turn right; converging, the aircraft with the other on its right gives way.

Squawk 7500 unlawful interference, 7600 radio failure, 7700 general emergency. Emergency frequency 121.5 MHz; distress 121.5, urgency 121.5/243.

ATS comprises air traffic control (area, approach, aerodrome/tower), flight information service (FIS) and alerting service (ALRS); ATC provides separation, FIS provides advice/information.

Separation minima: radar standard 5 NM (3 NM within terminal areas where approved); non-radar procedural 10 minutes or 10 NM lateral/1,000 ft vertical.

Vertical separation: 1,000 ft below FL290; 2,000 ft from FL290 to FL410 (RVSM 1,000 ft); 4,000 ft above FL410 non-RVSM.

Flight rules: IFR requires ATC clearance and separation; VFR requires VMC and see-and-avoid; SVFR is a special VFR clearance within control zones.

ATS surveillance: primary radar (PSR) and secondary surveillance radar (SSR) with Mode A (squawk) and Mode C (altitude); Mode S adds unique 24-bit address.

Clearances: read back of route, altitude, heading, speed and frequency changes; 'line up and wait' and 'cleared for take-off' are distinct; 'hold short' must be read back.

Position reports: aircraft report over compulsory reporting points; ADS-C and CPDLC data link can substitute voice position reporting where approved.

Airspace classification determines services provided and VMC minima; controlled airspace requires clearance; uncontrolled airspace requires only FIS/alerting.

METAR: routine aerodrome weather; TAF: aerodrome forecast (typically 9-24 h). SPECI is a special report issued on significant change.

QNH is altimeter setting for elevation above MSL; QFE gives height above aerodrome; QNE is standard 1013.25 hPa used above transition level.

Transition altitude/level: below TA use QNH, above TL use standard 1013.25 hPa; the transition layer lies between them.

Altimetry: true altitude = indicated altitude corrected for temperature and pressure; cold temperatures cause altimeter to over-read and aircraft to fly lower than indicated.

Wind shear and microbursts: hazardous low-level wind shear on approach/departure; go-around or escape maneuver if encounter.

Thunderstorms: avoid by at least 20 NM (severe) or 5 NM (moderate); hail, turbulence, icing, lightning and microbursts are hazards.

Icing: clear ice from supercooled large drops, rime from small droplets; icing risk highest in cumuliform clouds at 0 to -20 °C.

Ceiling: lowest broken or overcast layer; visibility reported in meters or statute miles; RVR used for low-visibility operations.

Volcanic ash and sandstorms: avoid; ash damages engines; SIGMET warns of significant weather (TS, severe turbulence, icing, volcanic ash).

VOR: 108.0-117.95 MHz; provides radial (magnetic bearing from station); TO/FROM indicator; usable line-of-sight range.

NDB/ADF: 190-1750 kHz; ADF points to station; affected by thunderstorm and terrain errors.

DME: slant range in NM; accuracy ±0.5 NM or 3% of distance; paired with VOR/TACAN.

ILS: localizer (108.10-111.95 MHz, lateral), glide path (329.15-335 MHz, vertical); CAT I 200 ft DH, CAT II 100 ft, CAT III down to 0.

GNSS: GPS/Galileo/GLONASS; RAIM (receiver autonomous integrity monitoring) detects faults; required for RNP approach; WAAS/SBAS augments.

RNAV/RNP: area navigation; RNP includes on-board performance monitoring and alerting; RNP 0.3, RNP 1, RNP 4 (oceanic) are common navigation specifications.

Position reporting: report over compulsory reporting points (latitude/longitude or named fix), altitude, next position and ETA.

Chart symbols: aeronautical charts show airspace boundaries, navaids, airways, minimum safe altitudes (MSA), and obstacles.

Four forces: lift, weight, thrust, drag; lift = ½ ρ V² S CL; drag = ½ ρ V² S CD; induced drag decreases with speed, parasite drag increases.

Stall: critical angle of attack; independent of speed and weight; stall speed increases with weight, load factor, and forward CG; recovery by reducing AoA.

Wake turbulence: generated by wingtip vortices; strongest when heavy, clean and slow; sink rate ~400-500 ft/min; avoid by 3-5 NM behind heavy, 5-6 NM behind super-heavy.

Wake turbulence separation minima (approach): heavy behind heavy 4 NM; medium behind heavy 5 NM; light behind heavy 6 NM; light behind medium 5 NM.

Aircraft categories by wake: light ≤7,000 kg; medium 7,000-136,000 kg; heavy ≥136,000 kg; super (A380) separate category.

Load factor: n = L/W; increased in turns; stall speed increases with √n; Va is maneuvering speed.

Performance: take-off/landing distances depend on weight, temperature, pressure altitude, wind, runway slope and contamination.

Hypoxia and cabin pressurization: time of useful consciousness decreases with altitude; above 10,000 ft oxygen needed; slow decompression is insidious.

Radiotelephony: use standard ICAO phraseology; read back clearances, runway instructions, altitudes, headings and frequencies.

Distress: MAYDAY (repeated 3x); urgency: PAN-PAN (repeated 3x); frequencies 121.5 MHz (VHF) and 243 MHz (UHF).

Call signs: aircraft identification (e.g., 'IBE123'), ATC unit identification; use of 'roger', 'wilco', 'affirm', 'negative', 'standby', 'say again'.

Frequency management: guard 121.5 MHz monitored; emergency frequency; transfer of control between units on agreed frequencies.

CPDLC/ADS-C: data link communications; CPDLC replaces voice for routine clearances; ADS-C automatic dependent surveillance - contract.

Read-back requirement: clearances and instructions must be read back; if not read back correctly, controller corrects.

Squawk codes: discrete codes assigned; 7500/7600/7700 special; Mode C altitude validation via radar.

Radio failure (7600): follow published lost-communication procedures; squawk 7600; attempt contact on other frequencies; land per procedures.

Situational awareness: perception, comprehension, projection; loss of SA leads to errors; monitor and cross-check.

Fatigue: circadian rhythm, sleep debt; fatigue impairs vigilance; use of controlled rest and fatigue risk management (FRMS).

Just culture: non-punitive reporting of errors; distinguishes human error from reckless or intentional violations.

SMS: four pillars - policy and objectives, risk management, assurance, promotion; safety risk = likelihood × severity.

Teamwork: crew resource management (CRM); assertiveness, leadership, communication, workload management.

Error management: slips, lapses, mistakes; threat and error management (TEM) model; use of checklists and cross-monitoring.

Stress and workload: high workload reduces capacity; use of automation but monitor; automation complacency.

Safety occurrence reporting: mandatory and voluntary reporting; investigation by accident authority; safety recommendations.

Primary radar: detects aircraft by reflected energy; range limited by power and antenna; no altitude information.

Secondary surveillance radar (SSR): interrogates transponder; Mode A identity, Mode C altitude; Mode S unique address and data link.

Radar display: range, azimuth, altitude; safety nets: short-term conflict alert (STCA), minimum safe altitude warning (MSAW), area proximity warning (APW).

Automation: flight data processing, radar data processing, electronic flight strips; failure modes require fallback to procedural control.

ADS-B: automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast; aircraft broadcasts position, altitude, velocity; used for surveillance and situational awareness.

RNP/RNAV systems: on-board performance monitoring; GNSS; RAIM prediction for approach.

Contingency procedures: radar failure - revert to procedural separation; communication failure - lost comm procedures; power failure - backup systems.

Transponder and altimetry: Mode C altitude referenced to 1013.25 hPa; verify against QNH; squawk codes.

Emergency phases: uncertainty (INCERFA), alert (ALERFA), distress (DETRESFA); alerting service activated accordingly.

Distress (MAYDAY) vs urgency (PAN-PAN); priority handling; inform other aircraft and SAR.

SAR: search and rescue coordination; use of ELT (121.5/406 MHz); rescue coordination center (RCC).

Unusual situations: engine failure, decompression, fire, hijacking (7500); provide priority, vectors, and assistance.

Emergency descent: aircraft descends to lower level; ATC clears airspace and provides separation; broadcast to other aircraft.

Radio failure: lost communication procedures; squawk 7600; follow published procedures; land at nearest suitable aerodrome.

Coordination: between ATC units, with adjacent centers, military, and emergency services; use of hotlines.

Accident/incident: notify authorities; preserve evidence; provide assistance; follow national regulations.