MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN CLEARANCE

PROCEDURES
 AGENDA

Briefing EVPT session

o MTCP Introduction o EFB Familiarization

o Documentation review o MTCP in-flight procedures
o Performance o Decompression in CRZ
requirements o ENG FAIL in CRZ
o Procedures Review
 INTRODUCTION

Air Astana operates on the routes

where the very high terrain exist
(MSA>14000 ft).

Company designed this program for

shortening the flight time introducing
routes over high terrain.

On these routes Mountainous Terrain

Clearance Program is required as per
regulations.

Flight KC908: ALA-DEL

 INTRODUCTION
MTCP – are the navigational
procedures that guide us how to
escape from high terrain in
abnormal situations: Engine Failure
and Depressurization.

MTCP – is based on oxygen

limitation and terrain clearance
requirement.
OM-A 8.1-2.5.3: En-route
FOPH Appendix A: MTCP guidance
Onboard EFB: LIDO ERM application -> DECOMP
Techview: eCharts -> Manuals -> Air Astana RFC -> Decompression charts for
China North, China South, Afghanistan and Mongolia
 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
OM-A

Especially in case the terrain does not allow descent to FL100, the flight crew
must continuously be aware of the minimum safe altitude and of the options
to divert.

All Airbus (except P4-VAS) aircrafts are equipped with 22 minutes of

passenger supplementary oxygen. P4-VAS is equipped with 12 minutes
oxygen.

In this case, FL100 must be reached in 22 minutes?

Before oxygen is depleted the aircraft should have reached an altitude of

FL140 or below. FL100 should be reached 30 minutes later.
 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
FOPH Appendix A

To follow MTCP – is it mandatory?

The crew has the responsibility to

either adhere to the procedure or to
decide on an alternative, taking all
relevant factors (actual wind,
weight, weather, etc.) into account.
 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
FOPH Appendix A

Which routes are considered as MTCP?

Procedures are designed for routes where the terrain is higher than
approximately 14000ft and if diversion airports are scarce.

Georgia, Turkey and Iran do not qualify for MTCP: the terrain is such that an
escape is always realistically possible within the available (oxygen) time.

China North

China South

Mongolia

Afghanistan
 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
FOPH Appendix A

Assumptions:

All obstacles are cleared by at least 2000ft at

ISA conditions.

Flight during the procedure is performed at

VMO/MMO – 5kt (or as stated).

The wind used is the highest yearly

average at the most common flight levels.
The wind value is specified in the procedure.

When the highest yearly average wind is tail

wind, 0kt wind is considered.
DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
FOPH Appendix A
 DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
MEL

Are we allowed to fly in case of one bleed or one pack inoperative?

Depending on the MTCP route

oxygen requirement, MEL allows
us to depart:

12 minute route: 1 pack and 1

bleed

22 minute route: 2 packs and 2

bleeds
DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
LIDO
DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
LIDO
DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
LIDO
DOCUMENTATION REVIEW
LIDO

All obstacles located 10 nm on

either side of the airway
centerline have been
considered based on
20 nm published MORA.
10 nm
 Intermittent summary

We have discussed what MTCP is about and its regulatory documentation:

OM-A, FOPH Appendix A, LIDO Decompression Charts

Now let’s see how it works practically.

 Practical application

In-flight preparation:

1. Monitor weather of en-route

alternates.

2. Define a plan (to follow

guidance or alternative plan).

3. Prepare SEC F-PLN.

4. Pre-brifieng.
Practical application - Decompression

What are the actions during

decompression?

What altitude may we descent

to and how long may we
maintain it?

So, how can we build up the

descent profile?

What is the maximum descent

profile we must not exceed?
Practical application - Decompression

What are the actions during

decompression?

What altitude may we descent

to and how long may we
maintain it?

So, how can we build up the

descent profile?

What is the maximum descent

profile we must not exceed?
Practical application – ENG FAIL
What are the actions if the
engine fails in cruise?

What altitude may we descent

to?

How can we define the ability of

aircraft to maintain it?

When can we revert from

obstacle strategy to standard?

Shall we take into account

published PNRs?
 MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN CLEARANCE
PROCEDURES
Brief introduction, Documents familiarization, Air Astana procedures
 MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN CLEARANCE
PROCEDURES
Brief introduction, Documents familiarization, Air Astana procedures