China Civil UAV Theory Questions — Questions 41–50

An aircraft without identification markings poses a national defense security risk and requires approval by the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §41: aircraft flying in the airspace of the People's Republic of China must bear conspicuous identification markings; aircraft without identification markings are prohibited from flying. An aircraft without identification markings that needs to fly for special reasons must be approved by the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Aircraft identification markings must be approved in accordance with state regulations.

Study note: above 3,000 m, choose the commercial license; below, choose the private license. For Class XI: below 3,000 m, a sport or private pilot license; for airships over 4,600 m³, a commercial license, and under 4,600 m³, a private license; Class XII pilots, a commercial license plus an instrument rating; Class XII PIC, an airline transport license. Source: Regulations on the Management of Civil UAV Pilots (2016), the Authority's rules on UAV pilot licensing — license requirements: (A) A Class XI remote pilot operating below 3,000 m in integrated airspace must hold at least a sport or private pilot license, with a similar category rating where applicable; (B) a Class XI remote pilot operating above 3,000 m in integrated airspace must hold at least a commercial pilot license with an airplane or helicopter rating; (C) a Class XII remote pilot operating in integrated airspace must hold at least a commercial pilot license with an airplane or helicopter rating and an instrument rating; (D) a Class XII remote pilot in command (PIC) operating in integrated airspace must hold at least an airline transport pilot license.

Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §54: when flying in airspace, aircraft shall enter or leave the airspace on the prescribed route (heading), altitude, and sequence, and remain within the prescribed airspace and altitude range. Except for holding airspace, a single flight airspace may at the same time be assigned to only one to three batches of aircraft. The altitude ranges of successive batches of flight activities shall normally be separated by 2,000 m or more.

Knowing the section, altitude, and time is enough to determine whether a crossing flight affects other aircraft; method and entry/exit points are unnecessarily detailed. Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §66: a flight crossing an air route or airway shall specify the section crossed, altitude, and time, and while crossing shall maintain the prescribed flight separation from aircraft flying on the route or airway.

Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §14: … Holding airspace is usually designated above a navigation aid; at airports with frequent flight activity, it may be designated above the vicinity of the airport. The lowest flight level of holding airspace shall be no less than 600 m in true height above the highest ground obstacle. … Further knowledge: “no less than 300 m in plains and no less than 600 m in hills and mountains” comes from §42 of the General Aviation Flight Rules of China, on minimum safe altitudes for instrument flight in airport areas: (1) within an airport area, within a 55 km radius sector centered on the airport navigation aid, no less than 300 m above the highest obstacle point in plains, and no less than 600 m in hills and mountains.

ATC needs to provide heading and altitude to guide the aircraft to the alternate airport; fuel quantity is information the pilot already knows and does not need to be told. Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §60: … Where an aircraft cannot land at that airport for some reason, the air traffic controller, flight commander, or airline dispatcher or their agent shall immediately notify the alternate airport to prepare to accept the aircraft for landing, and at the same time instruct the aircraft as to its heading to the alternate airport, its flight altitude, and the weather at the alternate airport. …

Study note: air route width 20 km; limited section 8 km; air corridor 10 km. Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §21: air corridors are usually designated above areas near dense clusters of large and medium-sized city airports. Designating an air corridor shall specify its direction, width, and flight altitude, and shall accommodate the convenience of aircraft arrivals and departures. An air corridor is normally 10 km wide, 5 km on either side of its centerline. Where conditions are limited, its width shall be no less than 8 km.

Flight levels coordinate the relative altitudes of different flights, so a common standard is needed; assumed sea level under standard atmospheric pressure is the common standard all flights can use. Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §80: … (3) flight levels shall be calculated on the basis of assumed sea level under standard atmospheric pressure. True course angles shall be measured from the route start point and turning points.

Different kinds of flight missions have different altitude requirements (eliminating A), and aircraft have different ceilings (eliminating B). Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §84: flight levels for route, airway, or transit flights shall be assigned by the person approving the flight, through the flight control department. Flight levels shall be assigned on the basis of the nature of the flight mission, aircraft performance, flight area, and the terrain, weather, and flight conditions along the route.

Radio contact with ATC is required throughout the flight (eliminating A), but just after entering the cockpit the equipment has not yet started up and radio communication is not yet possible (eliminating C). Source: Basic Rules of Flight, §48: from engine start before takeoff until engine shutdown after landing, flight crew must maintain radio communication with the air traffic controller or flight commander and strictly observe communication discipline.