PCAA Navigation flashcards

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

Chicago Convention

1944 international treaty establishing ICAO and the framework for international civil aviation, including sovereignty over airspace and the SARP system in its Annexes.

ICAO Annex 2

Contains the international Standards and Recommended Practices for Rules of the Air, including VFR/IFR, airspace classes, and right-of-way rules applicable to all contracting states.

Fifth freedom of the air

The right of an airline to carry traffic between two foreign states on a service originating in its home state; requires bilateral agreement between the states concerned.

SARPs definition

Standards and Recommended Practices: Standards are mandatory requirements for member states; Recommended Practices are desirable; differences from Standards must be notified to ICAO.

Great-circle distance formula

d = R·arccos(sin φ1 sin φ2 + cos φ1 cos φ2 cos Δλ), where R is Earth radius (≈3440 NM); gives the shortest surface distance between two points.

Mercator projection

Conformal cylindrical projection where rhumb lines plot as straight lines and great circles as curves; scale increases with latitude by sec φ, making it unsuitable near poles.

Wind triangle

Vector relationship between true airspeed, wind velocity, and ground speed; used to compute heading, drift, and ground speed for each flight leg.

Final reserve fuel

Fuel required to hold for 30 minutes at 1500 ft above the alternate aerodrome (or destination if no alternate), added to trip, contingency, and alternate fuel.

VOR radial

Magnetic bearing from the VOR station to the aircraft; displayed as a radial; VOR operates 108.0–117.95 MHz with line-of-sight range.

DME slant range

Distance measured along the line from aircraft to ground station, not ground distance; error is small at long range but significant at high altitude close to the station.

ILS localizer

Provides lateral guidance on approach; transmits 90 Hz and 150 Hz modulation on 108.10–111.95 MHz; full-scale deflection is typically 2.5 degrees.

RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring: GPS receiver function that detects (and with FDE isolates) satellite faults using redundant pseudorange measurements.

RVSM airspace

Reduced Vertical Separation Minima, FL290–FL410 with 1000 ft vertical separation; requires approved aircraft, accurate altimetry, and TCAS II equipment.

Wake turbulence separation

Distance or time spacing applied behind heavier aircraft to avoid wake vortex encounter; depends on weight categories of leader and follower and phase of flight.

Holding pattern entry

Direct, parallel, or teardrop entry determined by aircraft heading relative to the holding fix and inbound course; standard turns are right.

Airspace Class C

Controlled airspace where IFR and VFR are both permitted; VFR aircraft are separated from IFR and receive traffic information about other VFR flights.

CPDLC

Controller–Pilot Data Link Communications: text-based ATC communication used in oceanic and some continental airspace, requiring logon before entry.

ADS-B Out

Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast: aircraft transmits position, velocity, and identity on 1090 MHz extended squitter; mandated in many airspaces.

TCAS II resolution advisory

A commanded maneuver (climb, descend, or adjust vertical rate) to resolve a predicted collision; must be followed promptly unless safety dictates otherwise.

Mode S transponder

Secondary surveillance radar transponder with a unique 24-bit aircraft address, enabling selective interrogation and data link; supports TCAS and ADS-B.

QNH altimeter setting

Pressure setting that causes the altimeter to indicate elevation above mean sea level when on the ground; used below the transition altitude.

Transition altitude

Altitude at or below which the altimeter is set to QNH; above it, standard pressure 1013.25 hPa (QNE) is used up to the transition level.

Cumulonimbus hazards

Thunderstorm cloud producing severe turbulence, icing, hail, lightning, microbursts, and wind shear; aircraft should avoid by at least 20 NM.

Radiation fog

Fog formed by radiative cooling of the surface on clear, calm nights; typically shallow and dissipates after sunrise as the surface warms.

AIRAC cycle

Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control: 28-day cycle on which significant aeronautical data changes take effect; operators must update databases accordingly.

NOTAM

Notice to Air Missions: a notice containing information on temporary or permanent changes to aeronautical facilities, services, or hazards, distributed via AIS.

Minimum safe altitude

Altitude providing 1000 ft (2000 ft in mountainous terrain) obstacle clearance within 25 NM of a navaid or fix, depicted on en-route and approach charts.

Approach chart minima

Table listing DA/DH or MDA, visibility/RVR, and required equipment for each approach procedure and aircraft category, shown on instrument approach charts.

SMS four pillars

Safety policy and objectives, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion; the ICAO framework for managing safety in aviation organizations.

Just culture

A safety culture that treats human error non-punitively while holding individuals accountable for reckless or intentional violations, encouraging reporting and learning.

SHELL model

Human factors framework describing interactions between Software, Hardware, Environment, and Liveware (people), with the central Liveware representing the human operator.

Threat and error management

A framework where crews anticipate threats, trap errors before they affect flight, and manage undesired aircraft states; used in line operations safety audits.