Air Carrier Ops CH 1-3
14 CFR Part 1 defines operational control as a. ensuring only crewmembers trained and qualified in accordance with the applicable regulations are assigned to conduct a flight. b. ensuring each flight has complied with the conditions specified for release before it is allowed to depart. c. the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting, and terminating a flight. d. designating a pilot-in-command.
Answer (c): The exercise of authority over initiating, conducting, and terminating a flight. (14 CFR §1.1)
A flag carrier must use weather sources approved by: a. the individual exercising operational control for the air carrier. b. the person in charge of flight operations. c. the National Weather Service (NWS). d. the Administrator of the FAA.
Answer (d): A flag carrier must use weather sources approved by the Administrator of the FAA.
A flight follower differs from an aircraft dispatcher in that: a. A flight follower is a certificated airman who works with the flight crew and other departments to ensure compliance with all operational rules. b. A flight follower has more stringent duty and rest requirements than an aircraft dispatcher c. A flight follower is not required to be a certificated airman. d. None of the above.
Answer (c): a flight follower is not required to be a certificated airman.
Operational control is the concept that: a. The carrier, not the crew, is the final determinant of how the aircraft is operated. b. The carrier knows where all of its aircraft are and relies on the crew to advise it of what they intend to do. c. The crew, acting for the carrier, determines how best to operate the flight. d. The pilot-in-command is solely responsible for the conduct of the flight.
Answer (a): The carrier, not the crew, is the final determinant of how the aircraft is operated. The carrier, not the crew, determines how its flights are to be operated. It is a collaborative process, but ultimately, the company controls its operations through personnel authorized to exercise operational control.
Which department of an air carrier serves to specifically implement the concept of operational control? a. The dispatch center, flight control or flight following center b. The in-flight tactical center c. The maintenance control center d. The director of operations office
Answer (a): The dispatch center, flight control or flight following center. The dispatch center serves to specifically implement the concept of operational control. Dispatchers have the responsibility to plan the details of each specific flight and maintain communications with the flight at all times to keep it appraised of things such as weather, NOTAMs, operational limitations, and so forth.
The purpose of operations specifications (or ops specs) is for the company to: a. identify to the FAA and itself how it will specifically comply with various provisions of the FARs. b. identify to the employees how the company will accomplish certain operations. c. identify for operational management how it is to manage the carrier. d. None of the above.
Answer (a): The purpose of the operations specifications (ops specs) is for the company to identify to the FAA and itself how it intends to comply with specific provisions of the FARs. It is available as guidance to all affected employees, management, and the FAA.
What required management position is responsible for the overall operational control of an air carrier's flight? a. Chief pilot b. Director of operations c. Pilot-in-command d. Director of inflight
Answer (b): Director of operations. The director of operations provides operational control of all flight operations for the air carrier.
The FAA instituted which part in 1996 to further bring air carriers of both Parts 121 and 135 under the umbrella of "One Level of Safety"? a. 14 CFR Part 110 b. 14 CFR Part 117 c. 14 CFR Part 119 d. 14 CFR Part 120
Answer (c): 14 CFR Part 119. 14 CFR Part 119 was created to effectuate the idea of "One Level of Safety," meaning that the FAA sought to narrow the gap in safety standards between Part 121 large airplane operators and smaller charter and on-demand operators regulated under 14 CFR Part 135.
A supplemental operation is one that: a. conducts charter-type (nonscheduled) operations using aircraft having more than 30 seats and/or with more than 7,500 pounds payload capacity. b. conducts charter-type (nonscheduled) operations using aircraft having less than 30 seats and/or with less than 7,500 pounds payload capacity. c. supplements a scheduled air carrier operation with five or more round trips per week in a turbojet aircraft that is operated entirely within the 48 contiguous United States. d. supplements a (nonscheduled) air carrier operation in a turbojet aircraft that is operated entirely within the 48 contiguous United States.
Answer (a): A supplemental operation is one that conducts charter type (nonscheduled) operations using aircraft having more than 30 seats and/or with more than 7,500 pounds payload capacity
What minimum required management positions (Part 121) must be filled by a mechanic holding an airframe and powerplant certificate (A&P)? a. Director of maintenance and chief inspector b. Chief inspector, director of safety, and director of maintenance c. Director of maintenance, director of operations, and chief inspector d. Director of maintenance and director of safety
Answer (a): Director of maintenance and the chief inspector. The director of maintenance and the chief inspector positions must be filled by a mechanic holding an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate. (14 CFR §119.67[a] and [b] for Part 121, and 14 CFR §119.71[e] for Part 135)
The starting point for a new Part 121 domestic carrier in setting up ops specs is to: a. first contact a representative of the national certification team b. first contact a representative of the regional certification team. c. first contact a representative of the local FSDO certification team. d. first contact the principal operations inspector assigned to that carrier
Answer (a): First contact a representative of the national certification team. The first step for a new Part 121 domestic carrier in setting up ops specs is to contact the national air carrier certification team.
Which of the following is not an element of common carriage? a. Having a license or certificate b. Performing carriage for anyone (persons or goods) c. From place to place d. For compensation or hire
Answer (a): Having a license or certificate. It is not necessary that the carrier be licensed or certificated in order to be determined to be a common carrier. It is only necessary that it hold out to the public that it is willing to perform carriage for anyone from place to place for compensation or hire.
Which of the following is not required to be in a domestic carrier's ops specs? a. Names and addresses of the five largest shareholders b. Registration markings of each aircraft c. Other business names under which the carrier may be operating d. Any authorized deviations or exemptions granted by the FAA
Answer (a): Names and addresses of the five largest shareholders. 14 CFR §119.49(a) sets forth the required contents of the operations specifications. The list is very specific as to what must be included; however, it does not include the names and addresses of any of the shareholders of the company.
A company must operate under 14 CFR Part 121 if it is: a. a domestic operation. b. a commuter operation. c. an on-demand operation. d. None of the above.
Answer (a): a domestic operation. A domestic, flag, or supplemental operation must be conducted under Part 121 rules. Commuter and on-demand operations are conducted under Part 135 rules.
A commuter operation is one that: a. conducts nonscheduled on-demand operations (five or more round trips per week), in supplemental non-turbojet aircraft that have no more than 19 passenger seats and a payload capacity of 12,500 pounds or less. b. conducts scheduled operations (five or more round trips per week) in non-turbojet aircraft that have nine or fewer passenger seats and a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less. c. conducts scheduled operations (five or more round trips per week) in turbojet or turboprop aircraft that have a passenger capacity of 19 or less passengers. d. None of the above.
Answer (b): A commuter operation is one that conducts scheduled operations (five or more round trips per week) in non-turbojet aircraft which have nine or fewer passenger seats or a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less.
What is the role of active flight control in an airline? a. Active flight control is part of the maintenance organization that oversees and repairs flight control automation equipment. b. Active flight control is the part of the airline organization that oversees the tactical operation of the airline. c. Active flight control is the planning part of the airline that develops monthly and quarterly operational plans. d. Active flight control is the same thing as crew scheduling.
Answer (b): Active flight control is the part of the airline organization that oversees the tactical operation of the airline. Active control is the tactical operation of the airline flight operations. It consists of making those decisions and performing those actions necessary to operate a specific flight such as crew scheduling, accepting charter flights from the public, reviewing weather and NOTAMs, and flight planning.
As per the Part 121 requirements found in 14 CFR §119.65, what five specific management positions are required for a Part 121 air carrier? a. Director of maintenance, director of quality assurance, chief pilot, director of operations, and chief counsel b. Director of safety, director of operations, chief pilot, director of maintenance, and chief inspector c. Director of operations, chairman of the board of directors, director of inflight, chief pilot, chief inspector d. Chief pilot, chief inspector, director of maintenance, director of safety, and director of inflight
Answer (b): Director of safety, director of operations, chief pilot, director of maintenance and chief inspector. Certificate holders conducting operations under Part 121 are required to have qualified personnel serving in these five specific management personnel positions (14 CFR §119.65).
In analyzing a situation in which a private pilot is accused of acting illegally as a common carrier, the FAA will, among other tests, look to see if the pilot a. was paid only for the fuel, oil, and aircraft rental. b. had an independent interest in taking the trip. c. had a commercial pilot certificate. d. used his or her personal aircraft or paid money for a rental aircraft.
Answer (b): Had an independent interest in taking the trip. While there are tests that partially involve prorating fuel, oil, rental, and airport fees, and determining whether the pilot held out to the public, answers (a) (was paid only for the fuel, oil, and aircraft rental) and (c) (had a commercial pilot certificate) are both incomplete statements of the tests applied to determine if the pilot was acting as a common carrier, and it is irrelevant that the pilot owned or rented the aircraft. The independent interest test looks specifically at whether the pilot had an independent interest in taking the trip or was only interested in going if he or she received money for the trip.
Production of ops specs are now automated by the FAA through the use of what amounts to a punch card system. By doing this, the FAA intends that the ops specs of each carrier be a. identical to other carriers of the same size. b. standard in form and language but tailored to suit the individual, specific needs of each carrier. c. completely up to the carrier what procedures it wants to include. d. None of the above.
Answer (b): Standard in form and language but tailored to suit the individual, specific needs of each carrier. The automated ops specs program is intended to provide uniformity to the ops specs of various carriers while, at the same time, allowing the ops specs to be "custom fit" to the specific needs of each carrier. There will be uniformity for similar provisions, but each carrier can decide what provisions it will need in order to operate.
Where is the required content of operations specifications for a commuter or on-demand operator found? a. 14 CFR Part 25 b. 14 CFR Parts 121 and 135 c. 14 CFR Part 119 d. 14 CFR Part 135
Answer (c): 14 CFR Part 119. (14 CFR§119.49)
The concept of common carriage is derived from: a. U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations b. U.S. federal statutes c. British common law d. state statutes
Answer (c): British common law. Common carriage derives from the early application of British common law to the transportation and hospitality (hotel/inn) industries. It has carried into United States legal concepts through American common law.
If an air carrier conducts any operations in which the pilot-in-command is required to hold an airline transport certificate, what two required management positions, for both Part 121 and Part 135 air carriers, must be filled by a pilot holding an air transport pilot certificate (ATP)? a. Chief pilot and chief inspector b. Chief pilot and director of safety c. Director of operations and chief pilot d. Chief director and chief pilot
Answer (c): Director of operations and the chief pilot. The positions of chief pilot and the director of operations must be filled by a pilot holding an air transport pilot certificate. (14 CFR §119.67[a] and [b] for Part 121, and 14 CFR §119.71[a] and [c] for Part 135)
Part 121 air carriers must have the ability to communicate with a flight crew: a. from report time until the flight is finally dispatched for takeoff, just in case issues arise that might affect the actual dispatch of the flight b. through an approved system operated by the government (e.g., flight service or air traffic control networks). c. at any point in the route structure in a rapid and reliable fashion. d. only when the pilot-in-command exercises emergency authority.
Answer (c): Part 121 air carriers must have the ability to communicate with a flight crew at any point in the route structure in a rapid and reliable fashion (14 CFR §121.99).
Operating under 14 CFR Part 121 a. eliminates the carrier's requirement to comply with Part 91. b. requires only that the carrier comply with Parts 119 and 121. c. requires the carrier to comply with Part 91 as well as Part 121 unless the requirements under Part 121 are more stringent than the Part 91 requirements. d. None of the above.
Answer (c): Requires the carrier to comply with Part 91 as well as Part 121 unless the requirements under Part 121 are more stringent than the Part 91 requirements. All operators must comply with the general operating rules contained in Part 91. In addition, air carriers must also comply with the much more stringent rules contained in Part 121.
Which best describes the concept of operational control? a. The pilot-in-command must, at all times, ensure that the flight is operated in accord with all applicable regulations. b. The dispatcher must, at all times, keep the flight informed as to changing weather and anticipated flight conditions. c. Under routine operations, the flight is conducted under control and through consensus with the appropriate authority within the company. In emergency situations, it is conducted in this manner to the extent possible, subject to the captain's emergency authority. d. None of the above.
Answer (c): Under routine operations, the flight is conducted under control and through consensus with the appropriate authority within the company. In emergency situations, it is conducted in this manner to the extent possible, subject to the captain's emergency authority Operational control means that someone other than the pilot-in-command is involved in the decision making as to whether a flight starts, how it is conducted, and how and where it terminates. The pilot-in-command retains emergency authority to act independently, but under routine operations, the flight is conducted under control and through consensus with the appropriate authority within the company.
If you were a ramp service supervisor for Aeromech Airlines, where would you look to find the loading instructions (procedures) for how to load a particular A-320-232 aircraft? (Refer to Aeromech Ops Specs E096.): a. Aeromech's ops specs b. Volume 2 of the flight crew operations manual (FCOM) c. Volume 3 of the flight crew operations manual (FCOM) d. Aeromech Weight and Balance Manual revision 00
Answer (c): Volume 3 of the flight crew operations manual (FCOM). (Refer to Aeromech Ops Specs E096, page 28.)
As a commercial pilot, acting individually and without further certificates, you may: a. charge a hunter to take him to the deep north woods of Alaska. b. charge a fellow student half of the costs to take him home to visit his girlfriend. c. charge a gas company to perform pipeline aerial spotter patrols. d. charge an acquaintance to take her to the Atlantic City casinos.
Answer (c): charge a gas company to perform pipeline aerial spotter patrols. Answers (a), (b), and (d) all involve carrying people for hire. Without an air carrier certificate (or meeting one of the small exceptions allowed for private pilots) you would not be legal to perform these missions. Pipeline patrol is one of the specific activities excluded from certification requirements by operation of 14 CFR 119.1(e)(4)(vi).
A domestic carrier must get an air carrier certificate prior to operations. This is: a. an economic approval required by the Civil Aeronautics Board. b. an economic approval required by DOT. c. a safety issue required by international treaty. d. a safety issue required by the FAA.
Answer (d): A safety issue required by the FAA The air carrier operating certificate is no longer required for economic reasons. It is now only required for safety issues and is issued by the FAA.
Ops specs must contain which of the following: a. Authorizations b. Limitations c. Certain procedures d. All of the above
Answer (d): All of the above. 14 CFR §119.49(a) sets forth the required contents of the operations specifications. The list is very specific as to what must be included. Items to be included are authorizations for various activities, limitations tied to airports, time between maintenance limits, and procedures for accomplishing various tasks.
Holding out to the public would include: a. Advertising b. Flyers in a campus student union c. Statements on a web page d. All of the above
Answer (d): All of the above. Holding out as an air carrier can be done in any of a number of ways. The key element is an indication to the public at large of a willingness to perform transportation.
As per the Part 135 requirements found in 14 CFR §119.69, what three specific management positions are required for a Part 135 air carrier? a. Director of safety, director of maintenance, and chief pilot b. Director of operations, director of safety, and director of maintenance c. Director of inspections, chief pilot, and director of maintenance d. Director of operations, chief pilot, and director of maintenance
Answer (d): Director of operations, chief pilot and director of maintenance. As per the Part 135 requirements found in 14 CFR §119.69, these are the three specific management positions required for operations conducted under Part 135.
A copy of the ops specs must be maintained by the carrier at: a. all locations where it conducts business. b. all locations where crew bases are located. c. its general counsel's office. d. its principal base of operations
Answer (d): Its principal base of operations. 14 CFR §119.43(a) requires that the carrier keep a copy of its approved ops specs at its principal base of operations. It must also place the material into its manual and indicate that the material comes from the ops specs and that therefore compliance is mandatory
A domestic, flag or commuter carrier's ops specs are valid: a. for 1 year from date of issue. b. for 2 years from date of issue. c. until the carrier fails to conduct the kind of approved operation for 30 days and doesn't give the FAA 5 days' notice before resuming operations. d. permanently, once issued.
Answer (d): Its principal base of operations. 14 CFR §119.43(a) requires that the carrier keep a copy of its approved ops specs at its principal base of operations. It must also place the material into its manual and indicate that the material comes from the ops specs and that therefore compliance is mandatory
The director of safety is required to hold which FAA certificates? a. Air transport pilot certificate (ATP) and airframe and powerplant certificate (A&P) b. ATP only c. A&P only d. None
Answer (d): None. There is no requirement for the director of safety to hold an ATP or A&P certificate.
A company operating turbo-propeller aircraft with 8 passenger seats and a payload of 7,000 pounds three times a week between Los Angeles and Mexico City on a scheduled basis would need to hold: a. domestic operating certificate. b. a flag operating certificate. c. a supplemental operating certificate. d. a Part 135 operating certificate (which allows on-demand operations).
Answer (d): a Part 135 operating certificate (which allows on-demand operations). Scheduled operations using other than turbojet aircraft with nine or fewer passenger seats and a 7,500 pound or less payload capacity on fewer than five roundtrips per week according to published schedule(s) fall under the purview of Part 135 of the regulations.
Private carriage is distinguished from common carriage primarily by: a. the lack of an exchange of money for transportation (carriage). b. the amount of money charged for the transportation (carriage). c. contracts between parties as opposed to contracts between individuals. d. transportation (carriage) of only one or a very small number of parties.
Answer (d): transportation (carriage) of only one or a very small number of parties. Private carriage is that transportation (carriage) arranged between one party (or some other small number of parties) and the carrier. As the number of parties being provided carriage increases, the likelihood of common carriage increases.
Assume you were found to be operating as an on-demand air carrier but didn't have an operating certificate. The potential penalty for this would be an $11,000 fine for a. each flight conducted for compensation or hire. b. conducting flights without a certificate. c. each provision of Part 135 applicable to each flight conducted. d. you wouldn't be fined; you would be required to obtain a certificate before continuing and your pilot certificate could be suspended.
Answer(c): each provision of Part 135 applicable to each flight conducted. The rules applicable to unauthorized operators act as if to give you a certificate for the sole purpose of holding you responsible for all things a certificate holder is responsible for. You would then be fined for every section you were not complying with for each and every flight conducted. This could easily amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) of potential fines.
