AIRLAW QUIZ

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

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

see Page 89 Skyway Code LINK

1. Who can provide a Basic Service?

A Basic Service can only be provided by:

• Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs): Based at larger airports or radar centers (like Scottish Information).

• Flight Information Service Officers (FISOs): These are trained professionals who operate at certain aerodromes or area control centers but are not full controllers.

2. Who CANNOT provide it?

• Air/Ground (A/G) Operators: Smaller airfields often use “Air/Ground” radio (marked as “Radio” on your charts). These operators can give you basic airfield information (like the wind or the runway in use), but they cannot legally provide a “Basic Service.”

CAA LINK

See page 88 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

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

BMAA Link

Page 1 of TIL027

All aeroplanes, whether microlights or otherwise have some kind of instrumentation fitted. BCAR Section S as a minimum requires that a microlight should be fitted with an altimeter and ASI, along with the minimum engine instruments required by the engine manufacturer.

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

When following a prominent line of landmarks—such as a road, railway, canal, or coastline—pilots in the UK should keep the landmark on their left-hand side.

This effectively means you fly to the right of the feature.

Why the Left Side?

This is known as the “Right-Hand Traffic Rule.” Much like driving on the left side of the road ensures that oncoming traffic passes you on your right, this aviation rule ensures that:

• Separation: If another aircraft is following the same landmark from the opposite direction, both pilots will be flying on their respective right-hand sides of the feature, keeping them safely separated.

• Visibility: Since the pilot in command usually sits in the left-hand seat (as is standard in most light aircraft and microlights), keeping the landmark to the left provides the best possible view of the reference point you are following.

See page 79 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

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

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

• Pilot Licence & Medical: Valid UK Pilot Licence (with appropriate ratings) and a medical certificate accepted by the destination country (UK Medical Declaration usually not enough for Europe).
• Aircraft Documents: Valid UK Registration Document, National Permit to Fly (for non-SSDRs), and Insurance Certificate (valid for Europe).
• Radio Licence: Valid Radio Station Licence and Pilot’s Radio Licence (LPE).
• Passport/ID: Valid passport for the pilot and any passengers. 

BMAA LINK

See Page 89 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

90 day rule: In order to carry passengers, you must have completed within the previous 90 days, three take-offs and landings as sole manipulator of the controls in the same type or class to be used on the flight.

Page 22 of the SKYWAY CODE LINK

A TMZ is an area established within which all aircraft must be equipped with the type of transponder specified for a particular zone, and operate in accordance  with any required instructions.

Page 74 of the SKYWAY CODE LINK

In aviation, ANO stands for Air Navigation Order, which is the primary legal document, setting out the rules and regulations for all UK civil aviation activities, covering everything from aircraft operations and pilot licensing to airspace management.
Page 69 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

According to the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and the Air Navigation Order, checking NOTAMs is a legal requirement before every flight.

The pilot in command is responsible for taking all “reasonable steps” to ensure the flight can be made safely.

Please see Page 30 of the Skyway Code LINK

NOTAMs LINK

In aviation, an Identification Beacon is a specific type of aeronautical ground light used to help a pilot identify a particular airfield or reference point from the air.

How to Identify Them

The colour of the light tells you what kind of airfield you are looking at:

Page 10 of CAP 637 (Visual Aids) LINK

See page 87 Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

This is used by a ground handler to tell the pilot to stop immediately.

see page 55 of CAPS637 LINK

page 86 Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition

• 121.5 MHz: The main international VHF emergency frequency for civilian aircraft, used for “Mayday” or “Pan-Pan” calls.

Page 137 of the SKYWAY CODE LINK

In simple terms, an Airway is a “motorway in the sky.” It is a designated corridor of controlled airspace that connects major airports and navigation points.

Just like a motorway has a specific width and speed, a UK Airway has defined dimensions and strict rules.

1. The Dimensions

• Width: Most UK airways are 10 nautical miles wide (5 miles on either side of the centre line).

• The Floor (Base): They don’t start at the ground. Most have a “floor” that starts at Flight Level 70 (7,000 ft) or Flight Level 100 (10,000 feet).

See page 75 of Brian Cosgrove 8th Edition