Flight Planning & MonitoringAir Navigation — DGCA CPL practice questions
Question 1 of 10
DGCA rules require a CPL aircraft to carry a minimum fuel reserve of (VFR day flight):
All 10 questions — Flight Planning & Monitoring
Air Navigation · DGCA CPL. The correct option is marked on each.
Q1. DGCA rules require a CPL aircraft to carry a minimum fuel reserve of (VFR day flight):
- A.20 minutes at normal cruise
- B.30 minutes at normal cruise✓
- C.45 minutes at normal cruise
- D.60 minutes at normal cruise
Why: DGCA (aligned with ICAO Annex 6) requires VFR day flights to carry sufficient fuel to reach destination plus a minimum 30-minute fixed reserve at normal cruise power.
Q2. The fuel required for an IFR flight plan includes (in order of consumption):
- A.Trip fuel + contingency + alternate + final reserve✓
- B.Trip fuel + reserve only
- C.Block fuel + taxi fuel
- D.Usable fuel + unusable fuel
Why: IFR fuel planning: taxi fuel → trip fuel (destination) → contingency (5% or 5 min) → alternate fuel → final reserve (45 min piston / 30 min turbine) → additional if required.
Q3. In an ICAO flight plan, field 15 contains:
- A.Departure aerodrome and time
- B.Route (ATC route designators, waypoints, and cruising levels)✓
- C.Equipment and capabilities
- D.Persons on board
Why: Field 15 is the Route field containing the cruising speed, requested level, and the route including ATC route designators, significant points, and speed/level changes.
Q4. When is an alternate aerodrome mandatory for IFR flight?
- A.Always
- B.When destination forecast is below alternate minima✓
- C.Only for international flights
- D.Only when the flight exceeds 3 hours
Why: An alternate is required when the destination forecast (from 1 hr before to 1 hr after ETA) is below alternate minima. If conditions are expected to be suitable, no alternate is required (TEMPO exemption).
Q5. Contingency fuel is typically calculated as:
- A.5% of trip fuel✓
- B.10% of block fuel
- C.A fixed 30 minutes
- D.Equal to the alternate fuel
Why: Standard ICAO contingency fuel = 5% of planned trip fuel (or 5 minutes' endurance, whichever is greater) to cover unforecast deviations from planned conditions.
Q6. ETOPS (Extended Operations) rules apply to twin-engine airliners flying:
- A.Over mountainous terrain
- B.Beyond 60 minutes from a diversion airport at single-engine cruise speed✓
- C.Only over oceanic areas
- D.Above FL350
Why: ETOPS rules govern operations where the aircraft would be more than a defined diversion time (60 min ETOPS-60, or extended approvals) from a suitable alternate at approved one-engine-inoperative cruise speed.
Q7. A 'nav log' (flight log) is used to:
- A.Record ATC communications only
- B.Track fuel burn, ETAs, actual times, and position fixes in flight✓
- C.Log maintenance defects
- D.Satisfy ATC strip requirements
Why: The navigation log records pre-planned tracks, headings, ETAs, actual observations (groundspeed, fuel burn, position fixes), enabling systematic tracking of progress against plan.
Q8. Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA) published on approach charts is based on:
- A.ATC radar coverage area
- B.25 NM radius from the navaid — 1000 ft clearance over highest obstacle✓
- C.Transition altitude of the aerodrome
- D.Standard ISA tropopause
Why: MSA is normally based on a 25 NM radius from the reference navaid (ILS/VOR/NDB) for the approach, ensuring 1000 ft obstacle clearance within that area. It provides emergency safety but not necessarily IFR separation.
Q9. Block fuel is defined as:
- A.Fuel in tanks at engine start
- B.Total fuel loaded = trip + all reserves + taxi fuel✓
- C.Fuel remaining at destination
- D.Fuel burn from brake release to landing
Why: Block fuel (ramp fuel) = total fuel loaded before engine start, covering: taxi out, trip, contingency, alternate, final reserve, and any additional fuel. Block time = engine start to engine shutdown.
Q10. If actual fuel burn is higher than planned, the first step is to:
- A.Immediately declare MAYDAY
- B.Check actual vs planned fuel at next fix; consider requesting direct routing or diversion✓
- C.Increase power to reach destination sooner
- D.Ignore if within 10% of plan
Why: Any fuel discrepancy should be monitored; if the trend continues, request direct routing to reduce trip fuel. Declare minimum fuel or MAYDAY if reserves are threatened. Proactive monitoring avoids emergency.