JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B.Tech IV AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL Previous Question Paper (March - 2021 - R16)

Special VFR (SVFR) clearance is an authorization granted by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to a pilot to operate an aircraft in Class B, C, D, or E surface areas under meteorological conditions less than the basic VFR minima. To operate under SVFR, the pilot must remain clear of clouds and maintain a flight visibility of at least 1 statute mile. If the flight is conducted at night, the pilot must hold an instrument rating and the aircraft must be equipped for instrument flight. ATC may issue SVFR clearances only if the traffic situation permits and the aircraft can be separated from other IFR traffic. It is important to note that SVFR is not intended for pilots who are not instrument-rated to enter instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and ATC will deny such requests if the prevailing weather conditions are below the required minima for the specific operation.

An instrument approach procedure (IAP) consists of four primary segments designed to transition an aircraft from the en-route phase to a landing:

1. Initial Approach Segment: Provides a transition from the en-route structure to the intermediate approach fix.
2. Intermediate Approach Segment: Designed to align the aircraft with the final approach course and allow for speed and configuration adjustments.
3. Final Approach Segment: The phase where alignment and descent for landing are executed, terminating at the missed approach point or landing threshold.
4. Missed Approach Segment: A predefined flight path to be followed if a landing cannot be completed, ensuring obstacle clearance.

The Instrument Landing System (ILS) provides precision guidance and has the following characteristics:

Advantages:

• Provides highly accurate lateral (localizer) and vertical (glideslope) guidance.
• Allows for operations in low visibility conditions, significantly reducing weather-related diversions.
• Standardized global system ensuring consistent pilot procedures.

Disadvantages:

• Susceptible to signal interference from ground vehicles or other aircraft reflecting the beam.
• High installation and maintenance costs for ground infrastructure.
• Limited to a single straight-in approach path, lacking the flexibility of curved approaches provided by modern satellite-based systems.