KCAA IR Theory flashcards

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

KCAR Part 2

Kenya Civil Aviation Regulation covering flight crew licensing; sets the requirements for issue, revalidation and renewal of pilot licences and instrument ratings, including medical and recent experience standards.

Nairobi FIR

The Kenya flight information region (HKNA) providing air traffic services over Kenyan airspace; IFR flights need ATC clearance and position reporting at compulsory points within controlled airspace.

Semi-circular rule

ICAO cruising level rule based on magnetic track: tracks 000–179 degrees use odd thousands, 180–359 degrees use even thousands, with RVSM applied between FL 290 and FL 410.

Instrument rating revalidation

The periodic process confirming an IR remains valid, normally requiring a proficiency check and recent instrument experience within the preceding validity period under the applicable KCAA regulation.

Pitot-static sources

The airspeed indicator uses pitot total pressure and static pressure; the altimeter and vertical speed indicator use static pressure only, so a static blockage affects all three instruments.

Altimeter QNH setting

With QNH set the altimeter indicates altitude above mean sea level; with QFE it indicates height above the reference datum, such as aerodrome elevation.

Heading indicator drift

A gyroscopic heading indicator is not north-seeking; apparent drift from Earth rotation and transport wander requires periodic realignment with the magnetic compass in straight and level flight.

Radio altimeter

A radar-based instrument measuring height above terrain (AGL); it feeds decision height on precision approaches and ground proximity warning systems and is independent of the QNH setting.

Final reserve fuel

Fuel that must remain at destination, typically 30 minutes holding at 1 500 ft for turbine aircraft; it is added to trip, contingency, alternate and taxi fuel in the minimum fuel calculation.

Equal time point

The point on a route where the time to fly to either of two suitable airfields is equal, accounting for wind; used to plan diversion fuel and the critical fuel point.

Three-degree descent rule

For a 3 degree path, required descent rate in feet per minute is approximately five times groundspeed in knots; track miles to descend equal three times altitude in thousands of feet.

ICAO flight plan filing

An IFR flight plan is normally filed at least 60 minutes before departure and states identification, aircraft type and equipment, route, levels, total estimated elapsed time, alternate and endurance.

Time of useful consciousness

At FL 350, the period before incapacitation from hypoxia is roughly 30 to 60 seconds; oxygen must be used immediately after decompression and during emergency descent.

Somatogravic illusion

A false sensation of climbing or descending caused by linear acceleration or deceleration stimulating the otolith organs; the remedy is to disregard sensations and fly by reference to instruments.

Sterile cockpit rule

Below 10 000 ft, or as the operator specifies, flight crew must not perform non-essential duties or conversation during taxi, take-off, approach and landing to preserve attention.

Northerly turning error

A magnetic compass error during turns on northerly or southerly headings, where the compass lags or leads and indicates a turn in the wrong direction during roll-out.

ISA sea-level values

International Standard Atmosphere at sea level: 15 degrees Celsius, 1013.25 hPa, with a lapse rate of about 1.98 degrees Celsius per 1 000 ft up to the tropopause near 36 090 ft.

Low-to-high pressure error

When flying from high pressure to low pressure without resetting the altimeter, true altitude is lower than indicated; the same applies flying from high to low temperature.

Microburst hazard

A concentrated downdraft from a cumulonimbus causing sudden headwind then tailwind shear; airspeed can drop 30 to 50 knots on approach, requiring immediate go-around.

Airframe icing range

Icing occurs in visible moisture between about 0 degrees Celsius and minus 20 degrees Celsius; freezing rain gives the most severe accumulation, and escape is by changing altitude.

Kenya long and short rains

Equatorial seasonal rainfall patterns: long rains from March to May and short rains from October to December, both bringing afternoon convective cumulonimbus over the highlands.

ADF relative bearing

The angle measured clockwise from the aircraft nose to the station; adding relative bearing to magnetic heading gives the magnetic bearing to the station.

VOR radial

The magnetic bearing from a VOR station; selecting the radial on the omni-bearing selector centres the course deviation indicator when the aircraft is on that radial.

Glideslope frequency band

ILS glideslope transmits in the 329.15 to 335.0 MHz band and provides vertical guidance; a 3 degree path corresponds to about 300 ft per nautical mile.

RAIM prediction

Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring checks whether enough GNSS satellites are available for reliable navigation; a prediction is required before departure for GPS-based approaches.

Transponder emergency codes

Squawk 7500 for unlawful interference, 7600 for radio failure and 7700 for general emergency; Mode C additionally reports pressure altitude to secondary surveillance radar.

Decision altitude versus MDA

Precision and approach-with-vertical-guidance procedures use a decision altitude or height; non-precision approaches use a minimum descent altitude, with the missed approach initiated at the map.

Standard holding pattern

Right-hand turns with one-minute inbound legs, or DME or groundspeed-based legs; entry is direct, parallel or teardrop according to the aircraft heading relative to the holding fix.

SID climb gradient

Standard instrument departures require a minimum climb gradient, commonly 3.3 percent or 200 ft per nautical mile, to guarantee obstacle clearance; otherwise an alternate procedure is needed.

LPV approach

A localiser performance with vertical guidance approach using SBAS augmentation; it provides lateral and vertical guidance to LPV minima without ground-based glideslope equipment.

RVSM airspace

Reduced vertical separation minimum of 1 000 ft applies between FL 290 and FL 410; aircraft must be approved with accurate altimetry and autopilot, otherwise a specific clearance is required.

Missed approach point

The point where a missed approach must be started if the required visual reference is not established; on precision approaches this coincides with the decision altitude.