CAAP RPA Controller flashcards

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

RA 9497

Philippine law creating the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; it grants CAAP rulemaking, licensing, and enforcement authority over civil aviation, including RPAS operations.

PCAR Part 10.5

CAAP regulation governing RPAS operations in the Philippines, covering registration, operator and pilot certification, operating limitations, and approval requirements for specialized operations.

RPAS Operator Certificate

CAAP authorization required for commercial, corporate, and government RPAS operations; it defines the scope, aircraft, and limitations within which the operator may fly.

400 ft AGL limit

Default maximum altitude for unapproved RPAS flight in the Philippines; operations above this level require prior CAAP approval and, in controlled airspace, ATC coordination.

Class G airspace

Uncontrolled airspace where no ATC clearance is required; RPAS still must comply with altitude limits, see-and-avoid, and any local restrictions or NOTAMs.

Aerodrome traffic zone

Airspace around an aerodrome used for takeoff and landing; RPAS entry is prohibited without coordination with ATC and the aerodrome operator.

NOTAM

Notice to Airmen; a time-critical notification of airspace closures, obstacles, or restrictions that overrides normal operating limits and must be checked before flight.

Site survey

Pre-flight assessment of the operating area covering launch and recovery space, obstructions, terrain, bystanders, emergency landing zones, and airspace boundaries.

Go/no-go criteria

Pre-briefed weather, airspace, crew, and aircraft limits that determine whether a flight may launch; they are documented in the operations manual and applied before arming.

RTH altitude

The height set for automatic return-to-home; it must clear all obstacles along the return path and is verified in the control station before every flight.

LiPo cell voltage

Nominal 3.7 V per cell, 4.2 V fully charged, storage about 3.8 V; discharging below about 3.3 V per cell under load damages the pack and risks fire.

C-rating

Maximum continuous discharge current expressed as a multiple of capacity; a 5 Ah pack at 10C delivers about 50 A, and exceeding limits causes overheating.

Failsafe hierarchy

Programmed responses to link loss: hold, continue, or return to home at a set altitude, then land; low battery and geofence breaches trigger separate failsafes.

HDOP

Horizontal dilution of precision; a measure of satellite geometry quality where lower values indicate better horizontal position accuracy for navigation and station-keeping.

Wind gradient

Increase of wind speed with height above the surface due to friction; low-level RPAS encounter different wind than forecast winds aloft, affecting control and endurance.

Density altitude

Altitude corrected for temperature, pressure, and humidity; high values reduce lift and engine or motor performance, shortening endurance and climb capability.

Temperature-dewpoint spread

Difference between temperature and dewpoint; a small spread indicates high humidity and a high probability of fog or low cloud formation near the surface.

Sea breeze

Daytime onshore wind caused by differential heating of land and sea; it strengthens in the afternoon and can change wind direction and speed during low-level operations.

WGS84

World Geodetic System 1984, the datum used for GPS coordinates; always state the datum and coordinate format to avoid misplacing positions in reports and planning.

Position report elements

Identification, position in coordinates or bearing and distance, altitude AGL and AMSL, time, and intentions; read back clearances and state the reference used.

Geofence

A defined boundary in the control station that limits where the aircraft may fly; it is a backstop and does not replace judgment or approved operating limits.

MAYDAY

International distress call repeated three times, followed by callsign, position, altitude, nature of the problem, and intentions; used when immediate danger threatens the flight.

PAN-PAN

International urgency call repeated three times, used when a situation is urgent but does not immediately threaten life; it alerts ATC and other stations to stand by.

Readback

Repeating an ATC clearance, altitude restriction, or frequency change verbatim to confirm correct reception; required for safety-critical instructions.

Automation bias

Over-trust in autopilot and return-to-home functions that can mask failures; crews must monitor raw telemetry and be ready to take manual control.

FORDEC

A decision model: Facts, Options, Risks, Decision, Execute, Check; used for time-available decisions when workload and uncertainty are high.

Threat and error management

A framework to identify threats before flight, trap errors with briefings and checklists, and manage undetected errors after they occur to preserve safety margins.

Lost link procedure

Verify the connection, allow the aircraft to execute its programmed failsafe, and clear the area; do not chase the aircraft, and log the last known position and time.

Fly-away

Loss of control where the aircraft departs uncontrolled; activate the termination system if fitted, notify ATC and the authority, and record the last known position.

LiPo fire response

Isolate the pack, use an appropriate lithium fire agent or copious water, avoid inhaling fumes, and evacuate if the fire spreads; protect people first.

Emergency landing priorities

People first, then property, then the aircraft; choose the nearest clear area away from bystanders, announce the descent, and follow the pre-briefed plan.

Closed-loop communication

Sender states the message, receiver repeats it back, and sender confirms; used for every clearance, instruction, and crew callout to prevent misunderstanding.