ADX Safety Regulations and Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dispatcher receives an AIRMET Sierra for mountain obscurement over a planned route. What is the primary dispatcher concern for a piston-engine aircraft?
- Turbulence damage to the airframe
- IFR conditions in mountainous terrain increasing CFIT risk (Correct answer)
- Icing accumulation on the fuselage
- Reduced passenger comfort
Correct answer: IFR conditions in mountainous terrain increasing CFIT risk
AIRMET Sierra warns of IFR conditions from mountain obscurement, which significantly increases the controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) risk.
Question 2: Which hazardous condition requires a dispatcher to issue a PIREP request to crews operating in the area?
- Light rain at the destination
- Unexpected severe turbulence or icing not covered by existing SIGMETs (Correct answer)
- Scheduled runway maintenance
- A published NOTAM about airport lighting
Correct answer: Unexpected severe turbulence or icing not covered by existing SIGMETs
When unexpected hazards are reported or suspected, dispatchers should solicit PIREPs from operating crews to build situational awareness.
Question 3: Under the OPSSPEC provisions of Part 121, a carrier's OpSpec A004 defines what?
- Approved routes and areas of operation (Correct answer)
- Emergency evacuation procedures
- Crew scheduling limits
- MEL categories
Correct answer: Approved routes and areas of operation
OpSpec A004 defines the certificate holder's authorized areas of operation and routes, which dispatchers must reference when planning flights.
Question 4: A dispatcher notices the crew has reported an MEL deferral for one of the aircraft's two hydraulic systems. What is the dispatcher's responsibility?
- Dispatch normally; MEL items are the captain's sole concern
- Verify the deferral is within MEL provisions and assess whether the condition affects the planned route or operations (Correct answer)
- Ground the aircraft immediately
- File an SDR with the FAA before releasing the flight
Correct answer: Verify the deferral is within MEL provisions and assess whether the condition affects the planned route or operations
Dispatchers share responsibility for airworthiness decisions and must confirm MEL deferrals are valid and appropriate for the intended operation.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a NOTAM D (Distant) as it relates to dispatcher safety planning?
- It reports distant volcanic activity
- It provides time-critical information about airport facilities, runways, and navigation aids along the route (Correct answer)
- It warns of distant weather systems
- It notifies dispatchers of crew duty limits
Correct answer: It provides time-critical information about airport facilities, runways, and navigation aids along the route
NOTAM D items cover airport-specific information like runway closures and NAVAID outages that directly affect flight safety planning.
Question 6: During preflight planning, a dispatcher identifies that the departure airport has active construction that reduces the TORA by 800 feet. What must the dispatcher verify?
- That the crew is aware of the reduced field length and that performance calculations account for it (Correct answer)
- That the FAA has approved the construction
- That the flight is delayed until construction is complete
- That passengers are notified of the delay
Correct answer: That the crew is aware of the reduced field length and that performance calculations account for it
Dispatchers must ensure performance calculations use the actual available runway length and that the crew is briefed on the restriction.
Question 7: A dispatcher must refuse to release a flight if they determine it cannot be conducted safely. This authority is derived from which regulation?
- 14 CFR 91.3
- 14 CFR 121.533(c) (Correct answer)
- 14 CFR 135.99
- 14 CFR 61.3
Correct answer: 14 CFR 121.533(c)
14 CFR 121.533(c) grants the dispatcher authority to refuse to release a flight if they determine safe conduct is not possible.
ADX Safety Regulations and Procedures 3
A dispatcher receives an AIRMET Sierra for mountain obscurement over a planned route.
What is the primary dispatcher concern for a piston-engine aircraft?