FAA ATP Regulations & Certification Questions

For flight planning, a designated ETOPS alternate airport

• for ETOPS up to 180 minutes, must have RFFS equivalent to that specified by ICAO category 4, unless the airport's RFFS can be augmented by local fire fighting assets within 30 minutes.
• for ETOPS up to 180 minutes, must have RFFS equivalent to that specified by ICAO category 3, unless the airport's RFFS can be augmented by local fire fighting assets within 45 minutes.
• for ETOPS up to 180 minutes, must have RFFS equivalent to that specified by ICAO category 4, unless the airport's RFFS can be augmented by local fire fighting assets within 45 minutes.

Explanation: For ETOPS up to 180 minutes, each designated ETOPS alternate airport must have RFFS equivalent to that specified by ICAO category 4, or higher. If the equipment and personnel required are not immediately available at an airport, the certificate holder may still list the airport on the dispatch or flight release if the airport's RFFS can be augmented from local fire fighting assets. A 30-minute response time for augmentation is adequate if the local assets can be notified while the diverting airplane is en route.

14 CFR Part 121 - Certification & Operating Requirements

The training required by flightcrew members who have not qualified and served in the same capacity on another airplane of the same group (e.g., turbojet powered) is

• upgrade training.
• transition training.
• initial training.

Explanation: Initial training is the training required for crewmembers and dispatchers who have not qualified and served in the same capacity on another airplane of the same group. Upgrade training applies to a flight engineer or second-in-command advancing to the next higher position; transition training applies to crewmembers who have qualified and served in the same capacity on another airplane of the same group.

14 CFR Part 121 - Certification & Operating Requirements

Unless otherwise authorized, when is the pilot-in-command required to hold a type rating?

• When operating an aircraft that is certificated for more than one pilot.
• When operating an aircraft having a gross weight of more than 12,500 pounds.
• When operating a multiengine aircraft having a gross weight of more than 6,000 pounds.

Explanation: A person must hold a type rating to act as pilot-in-command of a large aircraft (over 12,500 pounds gross takeoff weight), or of a turbojet-powered airplane. Requiring more than one pilot doesn't by itself create the need for a type rating, and it applies regardless of whether the aircraft is single- or multi-engine.

14 CFR Part 121 - Certification & Operating Requirements

The kinds of operation that a certificate holder is authorized to conduct are specified in the

• certificate holder's operations specifications.
• application submitted for an Air Carrier or Operating Certificate, by the applicant.
• Air Carrier Certificate or Operating Certificate.

Explanation: Each certificate holder conducting domestic, flag, or commuter operations must obtain operations specifications containing, among many other provisions, the kinds of operations authorized. The operations specifications are continually updated and amended relative to the operator's needs and are not contained in the original application or on the certificate itself.

14 CFR Part 121 - Certification & Operating Requirements

An alternate airport is not required for a supplemental or commercial air carrier, turbojet-powered airplane on an IFR flight outside the 48 contiguous United States, if enough fuel

• is aboard to fly to the destination at normal cruise speed and thereafter at least 2 hours at normal holding speed.
• is aboard the airplane to fly to the destination and then to fly for at least 2 more hours at normal cruising fuel consumption.
• to fly over the destination for 30 minutes at holding airspeed at 1,500 feet AGL is carried aboard the airplane.

Explanation: No person may dispatch a turbojet-powered airplane to an airport for which no alternate is available unless it has enough fuel, considering wind and other weather conditions, to fly to that airport and thereafter to fly for at least 2 hours at normal cruising fuel consumption.

14 CFR Part 121 - Certification & Operating Requirements

Each pilot, who deviates from an ATC clearance in response to a TCAS advisory, is expected to notify ATC and

• maintain the course and altitude resulting from the deviation, as ATC has radar contact.
• request a new ATC clearance.
• expeditiously return to the ATC clearance in effect prior to the advisory, after the conflict is resolved.

Explanation: Each pilot who deviates from an ATC clearance in response to a TCAS II RA shall notify ATC of that deviation as soon as practicable and expeditiously return to the current ATC clearance when the traffic conflict is resolved.

AIM 4-4 - TCAS Resolution Advisory Deviations

At what minimum altitude is a turbine-engine-powered, or large airplane, required to enter Class D airspace?

• 1,500 feet AGL.
• 2,000 feet AGL.
• 2,500 feet AGL.

Explanation: When operating to an airport with an operating control tower, each pilot of a turbine-powered airplane or a large airplane shall, unless otherwise required by the applicable distance from cloud criteria, enter Class D airspace at an altitude of at least 1,500 feet above the surface of the airport.

14 CFR 91.129

What is the maximum indicated airspeed a turbine-powered aircraft may be operated below 10,000 feet MSL?

• 288 knots.
• 250 knots.
• 230 knots.

Explanation: Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no person may operate an aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL at an indicated airspeed of more than 250 knots (288 MPH).

14 CFR 91.117