NCAA CPL Air Law Exam flashcards

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

Chicago Convention Article 1

Each State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory, including territorial waters.

Territorial sea width

12 nautical miles measured from the baseline; the airspace above it is sovereign, so overflight needs permission.

Class A airspace

IFR only; all aircraft separated by ATC; VFR flight is not permitted.

Class G airspace

Uncontrolled; no ATC service; only flight information and alerting service are provided.

Squawk 7500

Transponder code for unlawful interference; the pilot must not disclose details on an open frequency.

Squawk 7600

Transponder code for radio communication failure; the pilot follows the published radio failure procedure.

Squawk 7700

Transponder code for a general emergency, declared with MAYDAY on the appropriate frequency.

Semicircular rule

Magnetic tracks 000-179 use odd flight levels; tracks 180-359 use even flight levels, unless regional rules differ.

Transition altitude

Altitude at which the pilot changes from local QNH to standard pressure 1013.25 hPa; above it altitudes become flight levels.

Flight level

A pressure altitude referenced to 1013.25 hPa, expressed in hundreds of feet, used above the transition altitude.

VFR minima Class C

3 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 300 m vertical distance from cloud, ceiling at least 1500 ft.

Right of way on approach

An aircraft on final approach and landing has right of way over aircraft on the ground.

Overtaking rule

The overtaking aircraft passes on the right; the aircraft being overtaken has right of way.

Head-on rule

Both aircraft turn right to pass; an aircraft on the right has right of way over one on the left.

Navigation lights

Red on the left wingtip, green on the right wingtip, white at the tail; anti-collision lights on when engines run.

Steady red light

Signal to an aircraft in flight to give way and continue circling; a steady green means cleared to land.

Red flare

Signal meaning do not land for the time being; a green flare means cleared to land.

MAYDAY

Distress call repeated three times, followed by identification, position, nature of distress and intentions.

PAN-PAN

Urgency call repeated three times, used when a situation is serious but not immediately dangerous.

Emergency frequency

121.5 MHz, used for distress and urgency communications and monitored by the pilot when able.

Pilot-in-command authority

The PIC has final authority over the aircraft and may deviate from rules in an emergency, notifying ATC as soon as practicable.

Accident definition

An occurrence involving death, serious injury or substantial damage to the aircraft.

Serious injury

Injury requiring hospitalisation for more than 48 hours, or involving a fracture, laceration or burns.

Annex 13

Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation; the State of Occurrence investigates and publishes a final report.

Annex 19

Safety Management; requires a State Safety Programme and an operator Safety Management System.

RVSM airspace

Between FL290 and FL410, using 1000 ft vertical separation and approved equipment.

Wake turbulence categories

Light up to 7000 kg, Medium 7000-136000 kg, Heavy above 136000 kg; Super applies to the A380.

First freedom of the air

The right to fly over another State without landing, granted by bilateral agreement, not automatic.

Cabotage

Carriage of traffic between two points within the same State by a foreign carrier, reserved to the national carrier unless agreed.

Montreal Convention 1999

Two-tier carrier liability for international carriage; passenger limit 128,821 SDR, baggage 1,288 SDR.

Airworthiness directive

Mandatory requirement issued by the State of Design; compliance must be recorded and the aircraft must not fly overdue.

Minimum equipment list

Operator document, based on the master MEL, allowing dispatch with specified inoperative items.

Certificate of release

Issued after maintenance before the aircraft returns to service, confirming the work was completed.