Rules of the air & signals

A. 600 m (2000 ft) above the highest obstacle within 8 km of the estimated position

Over high terrain or mountains: 2000 ft above the highest obstacle within 8 km of the estimated position. Elsewhere the figure is 1000 ft, still within 8 km.

A. Continue to fly in VMC, land at the nearest suitable aerodrome and report its arrival to ATC by the quickest means

In VMC: stay VMC, land at the nearest suitable aerodrome and report the arrival by the most expeditious means. Continuing the flight plan is the IMC procedure, used only when VMC cannot be kept.

A. 5 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontally and 300 m (1000 ft) vertically from cloud

The correct answer is: 5 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontally and 300 m (1000 ft) vertically from cloud.

A. Continue according to the current flight plan, as the rules for this case prescribe

In IMC you keep to the plan: hold the last assigned level and speed for the set time, follow the route to the destination aid, and land within 30 minutes of your ETA or EAT. "Land at the nearest aerodrome" is the VMC answer.

A. In the most direct manner possible, no later than the next significant point

After losing communication while being vectored, go back to the flight plan route by the most direct means, no later than the next significant point, respecting the minimum flight altitude. No intercept angle is specified.

A. The one that has the other on its right

The aircraft that has the other on its right gives way. So a single-engine aircraft that sees a multi-engine aircraft converging from its left has right of way - the number of engines does not matter.

A. 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest obstacle within 600 m of the aircraft

Over cities, towns, settlements or an open-air crowd: 1000 ft above the highest obstacle within 600 m. Elsewhere the minimum is 500 ft above ground or water.

B. Magnetic north

The two-digit designator is the magnetic direction of the runway (approach direction) to the nearest ten degrees. So runway 27 lies about 270 degrees magnetic.

B. Aerodrome unsafe, do not land

Red flashes in flight: aerodrome unsafe, do not land. Steady red means give way and keep circling; green flashes mean return for landing.

C. The pilot-in-command, unless the ATS authority requires IFR

A pilot may elect to fly IFR in VMC, or may be required to by the appropriate ATS authority. So the choice - including a change from VFR to IFR - is the commander's, unless the airspace rules demand IFR.

A. Raising the hand just above shoulder height with open palm, then closing the hand into a fist

Set brakes: open palm at shoulder height, then close it into a fist, and wait for the crew's thumbs-up. Arms moving inward is the chocks-inserted signal, and wands crossed above the head is emergency stop.

B. Taxi clear of the landing area in use

On the ground: red flashes = taxi clear of the landing area in use. Steady red = stop. White flashes = return to starting point.

B. Return for landing

In flight: green flashes = return for landing; steady green = cleared to land; white flashes = land at this aerodrome and proceed to the apron.

A. An area unfit for the movement of aircraft

Crosses on a runway or taxiway, or on part of one, mark an area unfit for the movement of aircraft.

A. Glider flights are being performed

A double white cross means gliders are using the aerodrome.

A. CAN NOT

The interception phrase table gives short words anyone can pronounce: CAN NOT (KANN NOTT) means "unable to comply". WILCO means will comply. "UNABLE TO COMPLY" is the meaning, not the phrase to be spoken.

A. Vacate the runway and observe the tower for a light signal

When radio or normal light signals cannot be used, flashing runway or taxiway lights tell everyone on them to vacate the runway and watch the tower for a light signal.

A. When an emergency arises that needs immediate action by the pilot-in-command

A controlled flight keeps to its clearance unless it gets a new one - the only exception is an emergency that needs immediate action. After that, ATC must be told as soon as possible.

B. Cleared to taxi

On the ground, green flashes = cleared to taxi and steady green = cleared for take-off. The same green flashes to an aircraft in flight mean "return for landing".

A. Landing is prohibited, and the prohibition is liable to be prolonged

Red panel with yellow diagonals (both) = landings prohibited for some time. With only ONE yellow diagonal = special precautions needed because of the bad state of the manoeuvring area.

A. Land and take off on runways only; other manoeuvres need not be confined to runways and taxiways

The plain dumb-bell means land, take off and taxi on runways and taxiways only. Adding the black bars relaxes it: only landing and take-off must be on runways.

A. Arm and wand extended at shoulder level, then drawn across the throat in a slicing motion

Cut engines: a slicing motion across the throat. Crossed wands above the head is emergency stop; patting downwards is slow down.

A. 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest obstacle within 8 km of its estimated position

Elsewhere: 1000 ft above the highest obstacle within 8 km. Over high or mountainous terrain the figure doubles to 2000 ft, still within 8 km.

A. It expects to continue for a reasonable time in uninterrupted VMC

Only cancel IFR if you expect uninterrupted VMC for a reasonable period. Cancelling and then running back into cloud is exactly what the rule prevents.

C. 5 %

A TAS change of plus or minus 5 % must be reported. A time estimate in error by more than 3 minutes must also be revised.

A. Over each designated compulsory reporting point, and elsewhere when ATC requests

Report the time and level over every compulsory reporting point, plus any extra points ATC asks for.

A. Aircraft being overtaken

In the air and on the ground alike, the aircraft being overtaken has the right of way; the overtaking aircraft keeps well clear - in the air by altering heading to the right. Size does not come into it.

A. 450 m (1500 ft) / 5 km

Ceiling below 1500 ft or ground visibility below 5 km - no VFR take-off, landing or entry into the traffic pattern at a control-zone aerodrome without an ATC clearance.

A. Conditions expressed in visibility, distance from cloud and ceiling, less than the minima specified for VMC

IMC is simply "worse than the VMC minima", measured in visibility, distance from cloud and ceiling. Being in cloud is one example of IMC, not the definition.

A. Continue in accordance with the IFR flight plan and clearance

An IFR flight is cleared and protected for flight in IMC, so nothing changes - carry on with the clearance. Cancelling IFR to continue VFR into IMC would be the one thing you may not do.

A. 20 minutes after failing to report over a compulsory reporting point

Twenty minutes in non-radar airspace, then adjust level and speed to the filed flight plan. Where radar is used, the period is 7 minutes.

A. Give way to other aircraft and continue circling

Steady red in flight = give way and keep circling. Red flashes mean the aerodrome is unsafe; green flashes mean return for landing.

A. Cleared for take-off

On the ground, steady green = cleared for take-off. Cleared to taxi is a series of green flashes, and return to starting point is a series of white flashes.

A. You have been intercepted - follow me

Series 1 of the interception signals: rocking the aircraft and flashing the navigation lights at irregular intervals means "you have been intercepted, follow me". You reply by rocking your own aircraft and following.

A. Right arm raised to head level with wand pointing up, or hand displayed with thumbs up

All clear: right arm up to head level with the wand pointing up, or a thumbs-up, with the left arm at the side. Crossed wands above the head means emergency stop.

B. Before operating any flight, or portion of a flight, that is to be provided with air traffic control service

Any flight - VFR or IFR, domestic or international - that will receive ATC service needs a flight plan first. The rule also covers IFR flights in advisory airspace and flights crossing international borders.

A. Notify the appropriate ATC unit of the action taken as soon as circumstances permit

In an emergency needing immediate action you act first, then tell ATC as soon as circumstances permit, saying the action was taken under emergency authority.

B. 70 degrees

Less than 70 degrees - close enough behind that at night it could see neither of the other aircraft's wing-tip navigation lights. The aircraft being overtaken has right of way, and the overtaking aircraft alters heading to the right.

B. The location of the air traffic services reporting office

The yellow "C" marks the ATS reporting office - where a visiting pilot reports.

A. Notwithstanding any previous instructions, do not land for the time being

A red flare overrides everything you have been told: do not land for the time being.

A. Moving its ailerons or rudder

On the ground by day: move the ailerons or rudder. At night: flash the landing lights (or navigation lights) on and off twice. In flight by day: rock the wings.

A. It is flying in, or about to enter, a restricted, prohibited or danger area

Red and green stars every 10 seconds tell an unauthorised aircraft it is in, or about to enter, a restricted, prohibited or danger area and must take remedial action.

B. 8 km

Eight km at and above 10,000 ft AMSL (or FL100 where the transition altitude is lower), with 1500 m horizontal and 1000 ft vertical clearance from cloud. Below 10,000 ft it is 5 km.

A. 5 km flight visibility, clear of cloud and with the surface in sight

Low down in uncontrolled airspace: 5 km visibility, clear of cloud and in sight of the surface. The ATS authority may allow a lower visibility (not below 1500 m) for slow aircraft.

A. 3 minutes

More than 3 minutes (or another period the ATS authority prescribes) - pass a revised estimate as soon as possible.

B. 30 minutes after the ETA or the last acknowledged EAT, whichever is later

The last step of the IMC radio failure procedure: complete a normal instrument approach and land, if possible, within 30 minutes after the ETA or the last acknowledged EAT, whichever is later.

C. Both VFR and IFR flights

Every flight complies with the general rules, and in addition with either the VFR or the IFR.

C. Only when cleared by ATC, within a control zone

Special VFR is a VFR flight cleared by ATC to operate within a control zone in conditions below VMC. No clearance, no special VFR.

A. Require assistance

V = require assistance (general help). X = require medical assistance, and an arrow means proceeding in this direction. V and X are the pair that gets swapped in the exam.

A. Power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft give way to airships, gliders and balloons

The least manoeuvrable has the right of way: power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft give way to airships, gliders and balloons; airships to gliders and balloons; gliders to balloons. And any power-driven aircraft gives way to one towing.

A. The rules established under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Annex 2)

The ICAO Council adopted Annex 2 as the rules for flight and manoeuvre of aircraft within the meaning of Article 12 of the Chicago Convention. Over the high seas, therefore, those rules apply without exception.

A. 1500 m

The VMC table allows helicopters below the normal 1500 m flight visibility, provided they fly slowly enough to see and avoid traffic and obstacles in time.

A. Pilot-in-command

The PIC, whether manipulating the controls or not, is responsible for operating the aircraft in accordance with the rules of the air. He may depart from them only when that is absolutely necessary for safety.

A. Aircraft landing and aircraft taking off or about to take off

Everything - in flight, on the ground or on the water - gives way to an aircraft landing or on final. And an aircraft taxiing gives way to aircraft taking off or about to take off. Both have priority over a taxiing aircraft.

A. Rocking its wings

In flight: rocking the wings by day (not expected on base and final), flashing the landing lights by night. On the ground: moving ailerons or rudder by day, flashing landing lights by night.

A. Maintain its heading and speed

The one with the right of way holds its heading and speed so the other can plan around it - but the PIC is still responsible for doing whatever best averts a collision.