ADX Safety Regulations and Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under 14 CFR Part 121, a dispatcher must immediately notify the PIC if a weather hazard develops along the route. What is the dispatcher's obligation if the PIC cannot be reached?
- Continue the flight without action
- Notify the carrier's operations center and document all attempts to contact the PIC (Correct answer)
- Divert the aircraft without PIC knowledge
- File a PIREP and take no further action
Correct answer: Notify the carrier's operations center and document all attempts to contact the PIC
If a PIC cannot be reached, the dispatcher must notify the operations center and document all contact attempts to ensure the safety chain remains intact.
Question 2: What minimum fuel reserve must a dispatcher plan for a domestic Part 121 flight under VFR conditions at the destination?
- 30 minutes at normal cruise speed
- 45 minutes at normal cruise speed (Correct answer)
- 1 hour at normal cruise speed
- 2 hours at holding speed
Correct answer: 45 minutes at normal cruise speed
14 CFR 121.639 requires a 45-minute fuel reserve at normal cruise speed for domestic VFR operations.
Question 3: Which document must a dispatcher retain and make available for inspection after a flight is completed under Part 121?
- Only the flight plan
- The dispatch release, flight plan, and weather reports used (Correct answer)
- The loadsheet only
- Maintenance logs for the aircraft
Correct answer: The dispatch release, flight plan, and weather reports used
14 CFR 121.695 requires dispatchers to retain the dispatch release, flight plan, and weather information for at least 3 months.
Question 4: A SIGMET is issued for severe icing along a dispatched route. Under what authority may the dispatcher cancel or amend the flight?
- Only the FAA can amend a cleared flight
- The dispatcher has joint operational control authority with the PIC under 14 CFR 121.533 (Correct answer)
- Only the PIC can cancel once airborne
- The dispatcher can only suggest changes, not mandate them
Correct answer: The dispatcher has joint operational control authority with the PIC under 14 CFR 121.533
Under 14 CFR 121.533, dispatchers share operational control with the PIC and have authority to cancel, divert, or amend a flight for safety reasons.
Question 5: An aircraft experiences an in-flight emergency. The PIC declares an emergency and deviates from ATC clearance. What must the dispatcher do?
- File a violation report against the PIC
- Provide all possible assistance and document the situation (Correct answer)
- Immediately notify the NTSB
- Issue a new dispatch release
Correct answer: Provide all possible assistance and document the situation
The dispatcher's duty is to render all possible assistance during an emergency and document all relevant communications and decisions.
Question 6: Under 14 CFR 121.687, what information is required on a dispatch release for a domestic operation?
- Aircraft registration only
- Identification, trip number, departure/destination airports, alternate airports, type of operation, and minimum fuel supply (Correct answer)
- Crew names and passenger count
- Maintenance status and MEL items only
Correct answer: Identification, trip number, departure/destination airports, alternate airports, type of operation, and minimum fuel supply
14 CFR 121.687 specifies that the dispatch release must include flight identification, airports, alternates, type of operation, and fuel requirements.
Question 7: When must a dispatcher add an alternate airport to a domestic IFR flight plan?
- Always, regardless of destination weather
- When the destination forecast is below 2,000 ft ceiling or 3 SM visibility during the 1-hour window centered on ETA (Correct answer)
- Only when the destination has no instrument approach
- When the flight exceeds 500 nm
Correct answer: When the destination forecast is below 2,000 ft ceiling or 3 SM visibility during the 1-hour window centered on ETA
Under 14 CFR 121.619, an alternate is required if the destination forecast falls below 2,000-3 (ceiling/visibility) during the ETA window.
ADX Safety Regulations and Procedures 2
Under 14 CFR Part 121, a dispatcher must immediately notify the PIC if a weather hazard develops along the route.
What is the dispatcher's obligation if the PIC cannot be reached?