RTARI

1st Exam

EVACUATION

1. You observed 2 evacuation examples. The second one was real. Say what the main differences
between the two videos are and what the possible training actions to learn from real life evacuation are.

a) In a simulated evacuation there is no panic, the passengers leave in order the airplane, the flight
attendants can control the situation and nobody is hurt or injured. In a real evacuation, there is panic,
the passengers run in all directions, the flight attendants cannot control the situation and there is
somebody hurt or even killed.

FIRE

1. Your call sign is Pilot Max 300. You have fire on the right side of the airplane. First you need to land
urgently. Call Los Angeles Center and report the emergency. Second, onboard there is a disabled group.
Additionally you have to instruct the invalid passenger about the drill to evacuate the airplane. Do it!

a) Los Angeles Center this is Pilot Max 300, we have fire on the right side, request permission to land
immediately & emergency equipment upon arrival, for your information, we have a disabled group on
board.

b) Ladies & Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking, we have an emergency & we need to land
immediately, please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened, follow the instructions of our flight
attendants. For disabled passengers, you will receive special attention in order to evacuate the airplane.

2. After landing, the authorities order you to wait. You have been waiting for hours. Then a FAA
inspector requests a declaration from you. Tell him you are not able to declare and you need to contact
the Mexican Embassy or the corresponding Mexican representatives before declaring. Give him any
excuse to obtain a little time while the company or the Mexican authorities help you. Do it now!

a) Good afternoon Sir, I am the captain from flight 300, we had fire on the right side of the aircraft & we
proceeded to make an emergency landing, we landed safely & nobody was hurt or injured. I cannot give
you further information at this moment, because I’m waiting for the legal representatives from my
company; when they get here, I will give you my declaration, please wait.

TURBULENCE

1. Flying at 39.000 ft Kansas City Center informs you can expect a bad weather area 18 miles ahead of
you and a line of storms. Also they have turbulence reported all over the area. Say what the
considerations to take are, concerning to the flight operation and the passengers on board.

a) The considerations to take are, first to reduce speed, then inform to ATC, after that request another
heading and/or flight level to avoid bad weather conditions and finally inform passengers the situation.
2. 5 minutes later you have got severe turbulence. The airplane doesn’t look very good and you are
considering a point to divert. Call Kansas City Center, give them a turbulence report, requesting
information and advise your intentions. Report yourself as Max 300.

a) Kansas City Center, this is Max 300, we have severe turbulence, we request a 25 degrees deviation to
the left & clearance to flight level 350, do you have any turbulence in that area?

3. Arriving at the gate, an angry passenger affronts you, asking for an explanation. The flight was
terrible, explain to him.

a) Good Evening Sir, I’m the captain on board, sorry for the bad flight, we encountered severe
turbulence on route, this often happens, we tried to control the airplane and we did our best, but if you
still want to make a report, please do it in our offices at the airport.

TCAS – QUASICOLLISION IN AIR

1. On the records you can appreciate a quasi-collision in the air. Say in your own words what the cause
maybe and why the confusion exists between the pilot & the controller.

a) What is happening is, first the pilot receives a TCAS advisory, then he requests a change of flight level
to avoid a collision and the controller denies, after that the pilot insists in changing the flight level and
the controller denies again; finally the pilot decides to change the flight level without clearance from
ATC.

b) The causes are that maybe the controller does not have the traffic on the screen, the controller
considers there is no collision risk, the controller is confused or distracted or he misunderstand the pilot.

2. As soon as you land, you go and speak with the chief pilot to report the incident. Tell him what
happened and your personal opinion on the controller’s reaction.

a) Hello Sir, today in flight we had a TCAS Advisory situation, flying at FL 290 we requested a change of
FL, the controller denied the request, then we insisted in changing our FL to avoid a collision and the
controller denied again, finally we decided to climb out to Flight Level 310 to avoid an accident, that is
why now I want to report the controller.

3. If you are going to teach TCAS procedures what can you tell to the crew about this experience and
what is the lesson to learn.

a) TCAS is a system to alert from other traffic near the airplane, there exist two types. The first one is
TCAS I, that is only advisory and you need to request clearance from ATC to climb, maintain or descend
the aircraft. The second type is TCAS II that provides the pilot advisory and resolution without clearance
from Tower.

2nd Exam

FLAME OUT
1. Explain in your own words what happened in the movie.

a) I saw a B-757 that, during the take-off roll, after V1, sucked a bird into engine number two, provoking
a flame out, then the pilots decide to go airborne, probably declaring in emergency and requesting a
holding pattern to do the emergency checklist, after that requesting vectors to return to the station &
emergency equipment upon arrival.

2. You are the pilot-in-command. Advise the controller the situation and your intentions.

a) Mayday (x3) Los Angeles Approach, this is Mexicana 501, we have a flame out on engine number two,
requesting a holding pattern to do the emergency checklist, then vectors to return to the station &
emergency equipment upon arrival, for your information we have 200 passengers on board.

3. Once at the gate you have to explain to the maintenance supervisor the problem onboard. Do it now!

a) Good morning Sir, today during the take-off roll, we had a flame out in engine number two, probably
due to a bird strike that was sucked into the engine, I wrote down all of my observations in the logbook,
please check the engine for any damage.

ICING CONDITIONS

1. It’s a winter cold night in Chicago. Tomorrow morning you will fly to Mexico. You can expect icing
conditions on your departure. In general, what are the main considerations to operate in this weather
conditions?

a) First, you need to check the weather conditions forecast in the dispatch office before take-off, then
you have to make a physical inspection by walking around the airplane looking for any ice formation on
the fuselage and, if necessary, request de-icing service from ramp.

2. You are Volaris 800 on take-off sequence at O’Hare International Airport. You have been d-iced and
just have 5 minutes hold overtime. There are about 15 airplanes ahead of you and more than 20 at your
back. Advise to Ground Control what you plan to do and advise the passengers the situation.

a) Chicago Ground, this is Volaris 800, requesting de-icing service from ramp, we are number 16 in
sequence.

b) Ladies & Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking, there will be a delay of about 45 minutes due to
de-icing service, we are number 16 in sequence, please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened, we
will take-off as soon as possible, thank you for your comprehension.

HYDRAULIC LEAK

1. You are approaching to Chicago International Airport on a snow thunderstorm. You set flaps in
position one and you have an indication of a hydraulic leak. Make considerations and report to approach
control your requirements and needs. Report yourself as Volaris 800.
a) Pan Pan (x3) Chicago Approach, this is Volaris 800, we are having a hydraulic problem, we request the
longest runway available & towing service to leave the runway after landing.

MISUNDERSTANDING

1. This is a real life example of a situation. In your opinion what are the personal and institutional actions
to take to avoid an accident due to poor communication between the pilot and controller.

a) Pilots & controllers must speak & understand technical aviation english, also Pilots must be familiar
with the airport procedures and, if necessary, request to ATC to repeat the information and instructions
slower & clearly or request progressive taxi service.

2. You are the co-pilot of Air China 981 and you are not sure of what the controller is trying to say. You
have to let him know that you are not familiar with the airport procedures and need his cooperation.
Give a different way to say that.

a) Chicago Ground, this is Air China 981, we are not familiar with airport procedures, please repeat
instructions slower & clearly, this is our first time here, we request, if possible, progressive taxi to ramp.

3. You are Air China 981, supose you are in flight and you have a cabin report about a not well feeling
passenger and a few minutes later she’s throwing up blood. Communicate to Houston Center and advise
te problem onboard and your intentions. What can you expect?

a) Pan Pan (x3) Houston Center, this is Air China 981, we have a sick passenger onboard who needs
immediate attention; we request permission to land at the nearest airport & medical assistance upon
arrival.

3rd Exam

LANDING GEAR FAILED TO GO DOWN

1. This was a real life situation. Imagine that you are the pilot of a commercial airplane & you notice that
it’s not possible to bring down the main landing gear. Communicate with the tower and the company as
AMX 100 about the problem. Request the necessary assistance and say what the man considerations are
to take in this case.

a) Los Angeles Tower, this is AMX 100, we have a problem with the main landing gear, it does not go
down, we request a low pass to verify the position of the landing gear and, if necessary, a holding
pattern to burn fuel & to do the emergency checklist to prepare for a belly landing, then requesting
vectors to your station and emergency equipment upon arrival.

2. ATC acknowledge your information and advise you everything is ready for your approach. Call the
company and explain to them your conditions and requests. Additionally there is a hysterical passenger
onboard who will need assistance on your arrival. Tell them now.
a) Aeromexico Operations, this is AMX 100, we have a main landing gear problem & we will proceed to
make a belly landing, ATC is ready to receive us, for your information we have a hysterical passenger on
board who will need special assistance upon arrival.

3. Once at the gate an FAA Inspector is requesting your explanation and your documents but until that
moment you remember you changed suitcase this same morning with your pilot’s license in it. Explain to
the inspector both situations; first the one about the landing gear not going down and that you forgot
the license.

a) Good afternoon Sir, I am the captain of AMX 100, today during the approach we had a landing gear
problem and we made a belly landing with an emergency evacuation, fortunately nobody was hurt, only
structural damages to the aircraft, now.. I’m sorry to say, but I forgot my documents in my other suit in
Mexico, I’ve already called to my company & they will send my documents in the next flight, then I’ll
give them to you, please wait.

RADAR FAILURE

1. You are flying in the middle of the night at 39.000 ft. The weather conditions are getting worse and
you have to cross a thunderstorm area. Then, when you try to use the weather radar, you get a radar
failure advisory. What would you do? Say what your options are and report to Miami Center your
actions, conditions and intentions.

a) Miami Center, this is AMX 100, we are flying through a bad weather area & we have lost our radar, we
request vectors to your station.

2. Later you have to speak to the passengers. Explain to them about the problem of the radar. What else
are you going to do? Tell them now!

a) Ladies & Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking, we are flying through a severe turbulence area,
please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened and follow the instructions of our flight attendants,
everything is under control.

3. Arriving to the gate, you observe the logbook and you notice that the radar failure has been reported
many times before with no corrective actions. You ask for an FAA inspector and speak to him about the
radar failure. Complain to the inspector about the risk of leaving the airplane with a non-trustable radar.
Start now!

a) Good night Sir, I’m the captain of AMX 100, today in flight we lost our radar and arriving to the gate I
noticed that this problem has been reported several times before without any corrective action, please
help us to fix the problem.

RUNWAY INCURSION
1. What you just saw was a runway incursion. This is a real life example. You have to be aware of the
possibility of encountering a runway incursion while flying. What is your appreciation of the situation in
the video?

a) I saw an airplane that is that is taxiing to the runway, there is low visibility, then the airplane holds
short before entering the runway, after that the pilot requests clearance to cross and finally the tower
clears the aircraft to cross while another airplane took-off in front of it, making this a runway incursion.

2. Who was responsible for the mistake? And what is more important; how can controllers and pilots
avoid incidents or accidents concerning runway incursion problems?

a) The tower controller is responsible for clearing the airplane to cross a runway while another is taking-
off. Also pilots are responsible for checking outside the cockpit for any traffic nearby before entering a
runway; the problem here was low visibility conditions, but finally the tower is always responsible for all
the traffic in the area around the airport, outcoming & incoming airplanes.

3. At the gate you confront and talk to the chief pilot and ask him about the report to the local
authorities referring to the runway incursion. Tell him about the problem, do it now!

a) Good day Sir, I’m the captain of Volaris 390, this evening we were involved in a runway incursion
situation. First the visibility was very low and we requested permission to cross a runway to get into
position, after that we were cleared to cross the runway while another airplane took-off right in front of
us. We were not responsible at all so I want to make a report about the controller.