Mozambique IACM Private Pilot (PPL-A) cheat sheet

Mozambique is an ICAO Contracting State; national rules are issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Mozambique (IACM) and are based on ICAO Annexes.

VFR minima in controlled airspace (class C/D): flight visibility 5 km, distance from cloud 1500 m horizontally and 300 m vertically.

VFR flight is not permitted above FL195 unless an ATC clearance is obtained; above FL290 IFR only.

Aircraft must be equipped with a serviceable transponder Mode C when operating in airspace where SSR is required (TMZ/CTA).

ATC clearances: read back all clearances that affect safety (route, altitude, heading, speed, frequency); a clearance does not relieve the pilot of responsibility for terrain clearance.

Right-of-way: converging aircraft - the one on the right has right-of-way; head-on - both turn right; overtaking - the overtaken aircraft has right-of-way.

Emergency: Mayday (distress) on 121.5 MHz; Pan-Pan (urgency); squawk 7700 (emergency), 7600 (radio failure), 7500 (unlawful interference).

Aerodrome traffic circuit: left-hand unless otherwise specified; join downwind at circuit altitude; do not enter the runway without ATC clearance.

Hypoxia symptoms: euphoria, impaired judgment, cyanosis, headache; time of useful consciousness at FL350 is about 30–60 seconds.

Hyperventilation causes dizziness, tingling, and fainting; treat by slowing breathing and increasing CO2 (rebreathing into a bag).

Spatial disorientation: trust instruments; the vestibular system is unreliable in IMC; somatogravic illusion during acceleration feels like a climb.

Cabin altitude above 10,000 ft requires supplemental oxygen for crew; above 12,500 ft for passengers after 30 minutes.

Alcohol: no alcohol within 8 hours of flight and blood alcohol below 0.04%; fatigue and stress degrade performance similarly.

Vision: night vision uses rods (peripheral), poor for detail; avoid bright light for 30 minutes before night flight; scan in 10° sectors.

Carbon monoxide poisoning: symptoms include headache, drowsiness, cherry-red lips; suspect with cabin heat on; use oxygen and land.

Standard atmosphere: sea level pressure 1013.25 hPa, temperature 15°C, lapse rate 2°C per 1000 ft (6.5°C/km).

QNH is pressure reduced to sea level; QFE is pressure at aerodrome elevation; QNE is standard 1013.25 hPa used above transition altitude.

Cloud types: cumulonimbus (CB) indicates thunderstorms, severe turbulence, icing, and microbursts; avoid by at least 20 km.

Icing: most severe in freezing rain or cumuliform clouds between 0°C and -15°C; pitot heat and carburettor heat are preventive.

Wind shear and microbursts: sudden change in wind speed/direction; on final approach, go-around if airspeed changes by more than 10 kt.

Fog forms when temperature and dew point converge (spread ≤2°C) and wind is light; radiation fog dissipates after sunrise.

TAF: aerodrome forecast valid for 9–24 hours; METAR: routine observation; SPECI: special observation for significant changes.

Phonetic alphabet: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

Initial call to ATC: aircraft identification, position, altitude, and request (e.g., "Cessna 172, 10 miles south, 2000 ft, request joining instructions").

Read back: clearances, runway in use, altimeter setting, headings, altitudes, frequencies, and transponder codes.

Emergency frequencies: 121.5 MHz (civil), 243.0 MHz (military); use Mayday for distress, Pan-Pan for urgency.

VFR position report: identification, position, time, altitude, next position and ETA (e.g., "overhead X at 1230, 1500 ft, estimating Y at 1245").

Lost communication: squawk 7600, continue VFR, land at nearest suitable aerodrome, and report to ATC by telephone.

Radio failure in controlled airspace: follow light signals (steady green = cleared to land, flashing red = do not land).

Lift = ½ ρ V² S CL; CL increases with angle of attack up to the critical angle (stall).

Stall occurs at the critical angle of attack, independent of airspeed, weight, or bank angle; stall speed increases with weight and load factor.

Load factor (n) = 1/cos(bank angle); at 60° bank, n = 2, stall speed increases by √2 (about 41%).

Induced drag decreases with speed; parasite drag increases with square of speed; total drag minimum at best glide speed (L/D max).

Best rate of climb (Vy) gives maximum altitude gain per time; best angle (Vx) gives maximum distance over ground; Vx increases with altitude until it equals Vy.

Turns: rate of turn depends on bank angle and airspeed; steep turns increase load factor and stall speed.

Adverse yaw: aileron deflection causes yaw opposite to turn; coordinated with rudder; use rudder to maintain balance.

Before takeoff: complete pre-flight inspection, check weather, NOTAMs, fuel, weight and balance, and performance calculations.

Engine failure after takeoff: lower the nose to maintain best glide speed (Vy), select a landing area, do not turn back below 500 ft AGL.

Emergency descent: use maximum descent speed (Vne or Vmo), deploy spoilers/flaps as appropriate, and turn away from traffic.

Fire in flight: shut off fuel and electrical, use fire extinguisher, and land as soon as possible.

Wake turbulence: avoid by flying above and upwind of larger aircraft; on takeoff, rotate before the preceding aircraft's rotation point; on landing, touch down beyond its touchdown point.

Runway incursion: never enter an active runway without clearance; use sterile cockpit during taxi and takeoff.

Checklists: use written checklists for normal and emergency procedures; do not rely on memory for critical items.

Density altitude = pressure altitude + 120 × (OAT − ISA temperature); high density altitude reduces performance.

Takeoff distance increases approximately 10% for each 1000 ft of density altitude and 10% for each 10°C above ISA.

Headwind component = wind speed × cos(angle between wind and runway); crosswind component = wind speed × sin(angle).

Fuel planning: include taxi, trip, reserve (30 minutes VFR day, 45 minutes VFR night), and contingency fuel.

Weight and balance: calculate CG position; forward CG increases stall speed and landing distance; aft CG reduces stability.

Climb performance: rate of climb decreases with altitude; service ceiling is where climb rate falls below 100 ft/min.

Glide performance: best glide speed gives maximum range; glide ratio = distance/height; wind affects glide range (headwind reduces, tailwind increases).

Four-stroke engine: intake, compression, power, exhaust; ignition by magnetos (two independent systems).

Carburettor icing: most likely at temperatures between -5°C and +15°C with high humidity; use carb heat as preventive.

Pitot-static system: pitot tube provides dynamic pressure (airspeed), static port provides static pressure (altimeter, VSI, ASI).

Altimeter setting: QNH gives altitude above sea level; QFE gives height above aerodrome; QNE (1013.25) gives flight level.

Electrical system: alternator/generator charges battery; ammeter shows charge/discharge; master switch controls battery and alternator.

Hydraulic system: check fluid level and pressure; failure may affect landing gear and brakes.

Flight controls: ailerons (roll), elevator (pitch), rudder (yaw); trim tab reduces control pressure.

Great circle: shortest distance between two points on a sphere; rhumb line: constant heading, longer than great circle except at equator/meridians.

Magnetic variation: angle between true north and magnetic north; east variation subtract from true heading, west add.

Compass deviation: error due to aircraft magnetic fields; use compass correction card.

Heading = true heading + variation + deviation; track = heading + wind correction angle.

Wind triangle: solve for heading, groundspeed, and drift using vector addition; use flight computer or mental calculation.

Time = distance / groundspeed; fuel = time × fuel consumption rate.

VOR: line of position (radial); DME: distance; GPS: waypoint navigation; use dead reckoning as backup.