When an airline pilot is planning a flight to New Yorks LaGuardia airport explain two measurements the pilot must NOT estimate in order to plan a safe flight?

Answer 1

91.121—Altimeter settings

• Altimeter must be set to:
  • reported altimeter setting from a station within 100 nm along the route when below 18,000 ft MSL
  • 29.92” Hg when at or above 18,000 ft MSL

91.167—Fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions

• 45 minute fuel reserve should be carried
• enough fuel to fly to the destination, shoot the approach, and divert to the alternate without dipping into the reserve
• 1-2-3 rule allows us to eliminate the alternate fuel requirement:
  • For at least 1 hour before, and for 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 statute miles.
  • Required alternates must have approaches other than GPS available at the ETA.

91.177—Minimum altitudes for IFR operations

• Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft under IFR below minimum altitudes prescribed in parts 95 and 97 or, if no minimum altitude designated,
  1. over mountainous areas an altitude of 2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown
  2. an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown
• If an MEA and MOCA are established, operations are permitted below the MEA but not below the MOCA when within 22 nm of the station
• Climb to a higher minimum altitude should begin immediately after passing the point beyond which that minimum altitude applies
  • when ground obstructions are present, the point should be crossed at or above the applicable MCA

91.179—IFR cruising altitude or flight level

• When in controlled airspace, fly ATC assigned headings and altitudes
  • if VFR on top, fly VFR cruising altitudes
• When in uncontrolled airspace, below 18,000 ft MSL, and on a course between:
  • 0-179°, fly odd thousands
  • 180-359°, fly even thousands

91.181—Course to be flown

• Fly the centerline of an airway, or on a direct course between navaids
• Maneuvering to avoid aircraft or to clear the flight path in VFR is permitted

95—IFR Altitudes

As defined in 95.1:

• MAA defines the upper limit of an airway
• MCA determines the lowest permitted altitude when crossing the waypoint or fix to a higher altitude segment
• MEA is the lowest altitude permitted on the entireroute, airway, or segment
• MOCA provides safe obstacle clearance along the route or airway, but reception is only guaranteed within 25 nm of the station
• MRA is the lowest altitude at which an intersection can be determined using ground stations
• COP suggests the best point to switch to the next station along an airway, guaranteeing continuous reception between facilities

Mountainous areas are defined by latitude and longitude.

Materials should include: A/FD, enroute and area charts, departure procedures, STARs, and approach plates for the intended route of flight.

Weather

Get an IFR briefing from FSS or a DUAT provider, including:

• current and forecast conditions for departure, enroute, arrival, and alternate
• winds aloft
• ATC flow control
• NOTAMs

Enroute charts

• Use FliteStar to show Jeppesen format
• Compare to approach plates

Nav log preparation

• Take advantage of the FAA’s existing routes:
  • start with a departure procedure
  • find STARs, if available, or the best approach’s IAF
  • connect the dots using airways
• ATC may assign a different route, if traffic is high
• Factor in any performance considerations
  • climb rates
  • winds aloft
• Determine cruising altitude using magnetic course and MEA
• Consider alternates enroute as well as at destination

Lost communications

• Route mnemonic:
  • Assigned
  • Vectored
  • Expected
  • Filed
• Altitude mnemonic:
  • Minimum
  • Expected
  • Assigned