Air Law Quiz

see Page 89 Skyway Code LINK

NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) in the UK are official alerts issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to inform pilots and airspace users about temporary hazards, changes to facilities, services, or procedures that are essential for safe flight operations, covering activities from air displays and drone flights to construction projects

See Page 88 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

NOTAMS LINK

To obtain a NPPL with a Microlight Class Rating you must complete flight training with a UK Civil Aviation Authority authorised flying instructor entitled to instruct on microlights. You must be at least 16 to fly solo, and you must be at least 17 to hold a UK NPPL.

BMAA LINK

In the UK, under the Air Navigation Order (ANO), aircraft logbooks must be preserved for 2 years after the aircraft (or its specific equipment) has been destroyed or permanently withdrawn from use.

This rule ensures that a complete maintenance and operational history is available for investigation or audit purposes even after the aircraft is no longer flying.

What needs to be kept?

This retention rule applies to the three primary logbooks for a registered aircraft:

• Aircraft Logbook: The main record of the airframe, flying hours, and structural inspections.

• Engine Logbook: A dedicated record for each engine fitted.

• Propeller Logbook: A record for any variable-pitch propellers (if applicable to your microlight).

CAA Ref 227/10  in ANO 2016 LINK

See Page 74 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

• Flashing Green: Return for landing (go-around).
• Steady Green: Cleared to land.
• Flashing Red: Airport unsafe, do not land.
• Steady Red: Give way and continue circling. 

• Flashing Green: Cleared to taxi.
• Steady Green: Cleared for takeoff.
• Flashing Red: Taxi clear of the runway.
• Steady Red: Stop. 

see page 52 CAA LINK

A panel or flag consisting of red and yellow squares
indicates that aircraft may taxi only in accordance with
ATC instructions.

Page 49 of CAP637 (Visual Aids) LINK

See page 83 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

In the UK, flying in an air display or exhibition is strictly regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The rules are designed to protect the public and ensure safety at low altitudes.

Here are the key requirements for any pilot wishing to participate:

1. Mandatory Documents & Manuals

All civil air displays must follow the rules set out in two primary documents:

• CAP 403: The “bible” for air displays. it covers the safety and administrative requirements for organizers and pilots.

• CAP 1724: The standards document specifically for Display Authorisation (DA) and evaluation.

CAA Regulations LINK

The aircraft must not be flown closer than 500 ft to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure except with the permission of the CAA.

Page 60 of the Skyway Code LINK

See page 78 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

For BMAA microlight flying, you typically use the CAA Pilot Medical Declaration (Self-Declaration) for ages 14-70, confirming fitness to fly, similar to driving standards.

BMAA LINK

Flying higher may provide advantages such as:

> Better view for navigation;
> Greater range in the event of an engine failure;
> Traffic density may reduce with altitude;
> Less turbulence;
> Improved true airspeed and fuel burn; and
> Improved radio reception.

See Page 43 of the SKYWAY CODE LINK

Control Area (CTA) – Airspace Structure
Definition: A defined block of airspace providing Air Traffic Control (ATC) service, but unlike a Control Zone (CTR), it starts at a specified altitude above the ground, not from the surface.

page 4 – subsection (m) CAA LINK

Ref Page 75 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

QFE (the atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation)

When QFE is set, your altimeter will indicate your height above the elevation of the aerodrome.

See Page 109 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

CAA Link HERE

VOLMET (derived from the French words vol for flight and météo for weather) is a continuous radio broadcast that provides real-time meteorological information to aircraft in flight.

It is designed to give pilots up-to-date weather data for major aerodromes over a wide geographical area, helping them make informed decisions about descent, approach, and potential diversions

Please see page 14 of the Skyway Code LINK

While the Pilot in Command is responsible for the flight, the Operator (Owner) is responsible for the maintenance and legal paperwork of the aircraft.

See page 90 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

BMAA Til_064 Guide to airworthiness  LINK

For Licence Revalidation (Every 2 Years)

To revalidate your Microlight rating by experience, you must have completed at least:

• 12 take-offs and 12 landings within the 24-month validity period of your rating.

The full 2-year requirements are:

• 12 hours of total flight time.

• 6 hours must be flown in the 12 months immediately before the rating expires.

• 1 hour of dual flight training with an instructor.

BMAA LINK

See Page 73 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

ICAO stands for the International Civil Aviation Organization.

It is a specialized agency of the United Nations, based in Montreal, Canada.

What does it do?

Essentially, ICAO is the global body that creates the “rulebook” for aviation. It sets the international standards and regulations necessary for:

• Safety: Ensuring planes don’t crash and that pilot training is consistent worldwide.

• Security: Protecting aviation from unlawful interference (like terrorism).

• Efficiency: Harmonising rules so a plane can fly from the UK to any other country without changing its basic procedures.

• Environment: Managing the global impact of aviation on the climate.

See this link  LINK

Restricted airspace (temporary) may be established around large air displays or other significant public gatherings.
Under the Restriction of Flying Regulations, entry
to such airspace may be prohibited or restricted.
This will normally be detailed in a ‘Mauve’ AIC.

See Page 32 of the Skyway Code LINK

To see your height (your distance directly above the ground at a specific airfield), you use the QFE setting.

1. QFE (Query Field Elevation)

• Definition: This is the atmospheric pressure at the airfield you are using.

• Result: When you set the QFE, your altimeter will read zero while you are on the runway.

• Use: It is mostly used by pilots flying in the “circuit” (the local traffic pattern) at an airport so they know exactly how high they are above that specific runway.

• Mnemonic: Think of the “F” in QFE as standing for Field (as in “Field Elevation”)

See page 109 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

When flying VFR (Visual Flight Rules) in the UK at altitudes above 3,000 feet, the vertical clearance you must maintain from cloud is 1,000 feet.

This is part of the standard VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions) minima. While your rules below 3,000 feet allow you to simply stay “clear of cloud,” once you climb higher, the requirements become more strict to ensure separation from faster-moving traffic.

The Full Set of Requirements (Above 3,000 ft)

Between 3,000 feet and Flight Level 100 (10,000 ft), you must maintain the following:

• Vertical Distance from Cloud: 1,000 ft (both above and below).

• Horizontal Distance from Cloud: 1,500 m

• Flight Visibility: 5km

CAA Sera LINK

See page 73 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

This is a chart symbol you will see on a 1:250,000 or 1:500,000 VFR sectional chart.

• The Letter “G”: Stands for Glider Site.

• The Number “2.5”: This indicates the maximum altitude (in thousands of feet) that glider activity normally takes place at that site. In this case, gliders may be found up to 2,500 ft AMSL.

• The Circle: The broken circle around the G indicates the general area of activity.

See Page 42 of the Skyway Code LINK