62
votes
Why does the ICAO alphabet use "Charlie" for C?
Hard C sounds too much like K. Ch (Charlie) will not be confused with K (Kilo). And soft C sounds too much like S (Sierra).
- 8,765
45
votes
What is typical ATC procedure when a non-pilot calls from a commercial flight for help?
There is absolutely nothing "typical" about such a situation, which is also why - as is the case for most abnormal situations and emergencies - there are no detailed and specific standard ...
- 35.7k
32
votes
Accepted
Why does the ICAO alphabet use "Charlie" for C?
ICAO is a phonetic alphabet, so it's all about sounds. English language doesn't have a distinct sound for singular letter "C". You're proposing "Carl", but it's pronounced kɑɹl̩ - with K. Other option ...
- 1,362
24
votes
Why does the ICAO alphabet use "Charlie" for C?
For the same reason we use niner for nine. The phonetic alphabet took a lot into consideration when they were choosing words including how words are pronounced with different accents. "Charlie" like ...
- 100k
21
votes
What is the exact meaning of "manoeuvring" when said by ATC in reference to traffic?
I haven't been able to find a precise definition in either the CAA or the FAA's materials. However, as I understand it, traffic that's "maneuvering" is traffic that's not going anywhere in ...
- 12.8k
17
votes
What organisation owns intersection names?
The allocation of waypoint names is actually handled by each country's individual aviation authority. This means that there are actually duplicates in different countries or regions. The ICAO has made ...
- 12.8k
14
votes
Accepted
What is different between a Cat IIIA, Cat IIIB, and Cat IIIC ILS approach?
ICAO and FAA CAT III definitions
A CAT III operation is a precision approach at lower than CAT II minima. Sub-categories are listed below.
A category III A approach is a precision instrument ...
- 1,058
13
votes
What organisation owns intersection names?
As already said in HiddenWindshield's answer, the five letter intersection codes do not have to be unique worldwide. I thought it might be interesting to see how many times these codes are actually ...
- 53.5k
13
votes
Accepted
Are airport codes with digits valid or pseudo ICAO codes?
No, those are not ICAO codes. ICAO airport identifiers consist of four letters, full stop. But that does not mean that any code which is other-than-four-letters is "invalid" or "...
- 13.2k
12
votes
Accepted
Which "pilotless aircraft" did the authors of the 1944 Chicago convention have in mind?
Note that the article says that
No aircraft capable of being flown without a pilot
At that point of time there were a number of radio controlled aircraft which could be flown without a pilot on ...
- 99.9k
11
votes
What are the advantages, disadvantages and current state of affairs for text-based ATC?
I'm a newbie pilot, but I wanted to give the obvious example that crossed my mind when I read your question. In the UK GA world we have to, for example, call up to say we're on final approach. Finals ...
- 9,180
11
votes
Accepted
Is there a definition of light/medium/heavy aircraft?
Section 4.9.1.1 of ICAO PANS-ATM-Doc 4444 Air Traffic Management defines LIGHT, MEDIUM & HEAVY aircraft for the purpose of wake separation:
4.9.1 Wake turbulence categories of aircraft
4.9.1.1 ...
- 3,559
11
votes
Accepted
Can one country really ban another from using its airspace?
Yes they can.
There was an attempt to allow one to pass over a country freely with the Freedoms of the Air however this is not a blanket thing and not everyone partakes.
....As of the summer of ...
- 100k
10
votes
Why isn't an LPV SBAS approach considered a precision approach according to ICAO?
Precision Approaches (PA), as you mention, have specific performance requirements, one of which is how "good" the vertical position measurement must be during an approach. In the case of a PA, ground ...
- 1,775
10
votes
Is it possible to fly an EASA registered airplane with an ICAO license?
The ICAO doesn't issue licenses, so there's no such thing as an ICAO license. You have a license issues by the Argentine aviation authorities is ICAO compliant, which means it is recognized ...
- 52.8k
9
votes
Accepted
What ICAO codes are reserved for TIS-B use?
In this answer I'll assume you are analysing ADS-B data on 1090 MHz, which is the defacto global standard. I am less familiar with the ADS-B on UAT (987 MHz) which is used in addition to 1090MHz in ...
- 81.7k
9
votes
Accepted
What does ICAO database "engine count c" mean?
I don't know the exact ICAO phraseology, but it certainly seems to describe an aircraft that has two engines combined to a single driveshaft.
Soloy has trademarked the 'Dual Pac', a pair of ...
- 23.2k
9
votes
What are the advantages, disadvantages and current state of affairs for text-based ATC?
The main advantages of text based ATC over voice based communication are
Earlier messages can be recalled
Messages can be printed
Messages can be read by automated systems, allow clearances to be ...
- 81.7k
9
votes
What are the ICAO PANS? What are their contents?
ICAO Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) are documents approved by the ICAO counsel and recommended to states for worldwide application. As such they attempt to make air navigation services ...
- 81.7k
9
votes
What methodology did ICAO use to create the overall code nomenclature for airports?
There is no one, easy answer for where each region (or country) got their one- or two-letter designation. Many of them evolved over time. When the ICAO (as an organizational body) was formed out of ...
- 2,809
8
votes
Accepted
Why both ICAO and IATA headquarters are located in Montreal?
ICAO is headquartered in Montreal because that was the result of a vote by the founding members (PICAO is Provisional ICAO):
Why was Montreal selected? While insisting on the excellent
...
- 71.5k
8
votes
Where can I find old (historical) FIR map?
This is a photo from the 1954-1955 Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department Annual Report
Maybe too late to post, but I just want to share it on the internet as a record.
- 81
8
votes
Accepted
Where can I find old (historical) FIR map?
The best I can find is a ATC radar screen used in a dated report (appears to be a report by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department in 2000). It shows the FIR regions and waypoints of near Hong Kong, ...
- 39.6k
8
votes
What is the difference between ICAO Annexes and Documents?
An Annex to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (which established the ICAO) is adopted by the ICAO Council according to particular voting procedures laid out in Article 90 of the ...
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