RULES OF THE AIR

APPLICABILITY
 APPLY TO AIRCRAFT BEARING THE
NATIONALITY AND REGISTRATION
MARKS OF A CONTRACTING STATE
WHEREVER THEY MAY BE PROVIDING
THEY DO NOT CONFLICT WITH RULES
PUBLSHED BY THE STATE WHOSE
TERRITORRY IS BEING OVERFLOWN
APPLICABILITY CONT.

 SUMMARISED AS FOLLOWS:
 TANZANIAN REGISTERED AIRCTAFT OVER
TANZANIA - TANZANIAN RULES APPLY.
 TANZANIAN AIRCRAFT FLYING OVER KENYA
– TANZANIAN AND KENYA RULES APPLY
BUT KENYAN RULES HAVE PRIORITY.
 TANZANIAN REGISTERED AIRCRAFT OVER
HIGH SEAS – ICAO RULES APPLY WITHOUT
EXCEPTION.
 APPLICABLE RULES

 THE OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT ON THE

MOVEMENT AREA OF AN AERODROME
SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL
RULES AND WHEN IN FLIGHT EITHER;
 VISUAL FLIGHT RULES IF THE AIRCRAFT IS
FLOWN IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS OR
 INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES
 VFR OR IFR?

 A PILOT MAY ELECT TO FLY UNDER IFR IN

VMC BUT MUST FLY UNDER IFR :
 IN IMC
 IN AIRSPACE CLASS A
 AT NIGHT EXCEPT WITHIN A CONTROL
ZONE WHEN AUTHORISED BY ATC TO
OPERATE AS SPECIAL VFR
 AT SUPERRSONIC AND TRANSONIC
SPEEDS
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS MINIMA
 VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
EXIST WITHIN A CONTROL ZONE WHEN A
METEOROLOGICAL REPORT BY A
COMPETENT OBSERVER INDICATES THAT:
 GROUND VISIBILITY IS 5KM OR MORE AND
OR
 THE CEILING IS 1500 FT OR HIGHER.
RESPONSIBILTY OF PILOT IN
COMMAND
 UNDER VFR THE PILOT IN COMMAND IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR AVOIDING COLLISION
WITH OTHER AIRCRAFT EXCEPT IN
AIRSPACE CLASS B AND C.
 UNDER IFR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
AVOIDING COLLISION WITH OTHER IFR
AIRCRAFT LIES WITH ATC EXCEPT WITH VFR
FLIGHTS IN AIRSPACE CLASS D,E,F AND G.
RESPONSIBILITY OF PIC CONT.

 THE PILOT IN COMMAND IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR ENSURING THAT THE AIRCRAFT IS
FLOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES
OF THE AIR EVEN WHEN HE IS NOT THE
PILOT FLYING THE AIRCRAFT.
DEPARTURE FROM RULES OF THE AIR

 THE PILOT IN COMMAND MAY ONLY

DEPART FROM RULES OF THE AIR FOR THE
PURPOSE OF:
 AVOIDING IMMEDIATE DANGER
 COMPLYING WITH THE RULES OF ANOTHER
STATE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT THEN IS
 IN EMERGENCY
REPORTING DEPARTURE FROM
RULES OF THE AIR
 WHENEVER THE PIC DEVIATES FROM
RULES OF THE AIR HE SHALL:
 SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE
APPROPRIATE ATC UNIT OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEVIATION WITHIN 10
DAYS OF THE OCCURANCE.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

MINIMUM HEIGHTS
 Except when necessary for take off and landing or
with permission from the appropriate authority
an aircraft shall not be flown over congested
areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an
open air assembly of persons except at such
height as will permit in the event of an emergency
arising a landing to be made without undue
hazard to persons or property on the surface.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

CRUIZING LEVELS
Flights above the lowest usable flight level or
where applicable above the transition
altitude, shall be conducted in terms of flight
levels
For flights at or below the transition altitude or
lowest usable flight level shall be conducted
in terms of altitudes
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 PROXIMITY AND RIGHT OF WAY RULES

 An aircraft shall not be flown in such proximity
to other aircraft as to create a collision hazard
 AIRCRAFT APPROACHING HEAD ON
 No aircraft has the right of way, both shall
alter course to the right
 (aircraft are considered to be head on when
within a sector of 20 degrees either side of
dead ahead)
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

 CONVERGING
 The aircraft that has got the other on its left
has the right of way
 The aircraft that has no right of way shall turn
right and pass behind the other.
 Where the two aircraft are not of the same
class the following order of priority shall
apply:
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

 Power driven heavier than aircraft

aeroplanes) shall give way to airships, gliders
and balloons.
 Power driven lighter than air aircraft
(airships) shall give way to gliders and
balloons
 Gliders shall give way to balloons
 Power driven aircraft shall give way to aircraft
seen to be towing other aircraft or objects.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

 OVERTAKING
 The aeroplane being overtaken has the right
of way.
 The overtaking aircraft whether climbing,
descending or in level flight shall keep out of
the way of the other aircraft by altering its
course to the right and maintain such
position with regard to the other aircraft until
well clear.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

 LANDING
 An aircraft operating on the ground or water shall
give way to aircraft landing or in the final stages
of an approach to landing.
 When two or more heavier than air aircraft are
approaching an aerodrome to land, the aircraft at
the lower altitude has the right of way the higher
shall give way EXCEPT
 Power driven heavier than air aircraft shall give
way to gliders.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

 EMERGENCY LANDING
 An aircraft in emergency shall have priority in
landing to all other aircraft
 TAKING OFF
 Aircraft taking off or about to take off has the
right of way.
 Aircraft taxiing on the manoeuvring area shall
give way.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

SURFACE MOVEMENT OF AIRCRAFT

 Two aircraft taxiing approaching head on,
both aircraft shall stop and where possible
alter course to the right to keep well clear.
 Converging – the aircraft that has got the
other on its left has the right of way. The
other aircraft shall stop or pass behind.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 Overtaking – the aircraft being

overtaken has the right of way, the
overtaking aircraft is to keep well clear
of the other.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES CONT.

 LIGHTS TO BE DISPLAYED BY
AIRCRAFT
 From sunset to sunrise or during any
other period prescribed by the Authority
all aircraft in service are required to
display the following lights:
 Anti collision lights – intended to attract
attention to the aircraft and
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 Navigation Lights – intended to indicate the

relative path of the aircraft to an observer
and other lights shall not be displayed if they
are likely to be mistaken for these lights
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 From sunset to sunrise or during any other

period prescribed by the Authority ;
 All aircraft moving shall display navigation lights
unless adequately illuminated or stationary
 All aircraft on the movement area shall display
anti-collision lights
 All aircraft on the movement area with engines
running shall display both navigation lights and
anti-collision lights.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 INTENSITY OF LIGHTS
 A pilot is permitted to switch off or reduce
intensity of any flashing light if they are
likelyto affect satisfactory performance of
duties or
 Subject an outside observer to harmful dazzle
 GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHTS

 Simulated instrument flight“ means a
flight during which mechanical or optical
devices are used in order to reduce the
field of vision or the range of visibility
from the cockpit of the aircraft;
 An aircraft shall not be flown under
simulated instrument flight conditions
unless;
 Fully functioning dual controls are
installed in the aircraft and
 A qualified pilot occupies a control seat
to act a safety pilot to the pilot flying
under simulated flight conditions
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

The safety pilot shall have adequate

vision forward and to the sides of
the aircraft
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

OPERATION IN THE VICINITY OF

UNCONTROLLED AERODROMES
 An aircraft operated on or in the vicinity of an
aerodrome shall;
 a) Observe other aerodrome traffic for the
purpose of avoiding collision
 b) Conform with or avoid the pattern of traffic
formed by other aircraft in operation
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 c) Make all turns to the left when approaching

to land and after take off unless otherwise
indicated by ground signals
 d) Land and take off into wind unless safety,
runway configuration or air traffic
considerations determine that a different
direction is preferable
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 FLIGHT AT CONTROLLED AERODROMES

 At controlled aerodromes all movements on
the manoeuvring area are subject to ATC
authorization irrespective of purpose
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

FLIGHT PLANS
DEFINITION
Information relative to an intended flight to be
provided to ATC units
For ATC purposes there are two types of flight
plans
IFR flight plan
VRF flight
 SUBMISSION OF FLIGHT PLAN
 A flight plan is required for;
 a) Any flight to be provided with ATS
 b) Any IFR flight in advisory airspace
 d) Any flight into designated areas or routes
as required by appropriate ATS authority.
 Any flight across international borders
 A flight shall be filed before departure as
follows;
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 IFR flight – 60 minutes before

 VFR flight – 30 minutes
 An aircraft shall adhere to the flight plan as
submitted to ATS units
 Changes to a flight plan shall be reported as
soon as possible to the appropriate ATC unit
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE
 a) An aircraft being subjected to unlawful
interference shall notify appropriate ATS unit
as soon as possible of the fact
 b) Unless conditions dictate otherwise, the
PIC should attempt to continue flying on the
same track and assigned level until able to
notify an ATS unit or within radar coverage.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 If the aircraft must depart from assigned

track or level without contact with an ATC
unit, the PIC should;
 a) Attempt to broadcast warning on VHF or
squawk transponder Mode A code 7500 with
Mode C
 Proceed at a level not used by IFR flights
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

INTERCEPTION OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT

 The act of a military aircraft intercepting and
escorting an aircraft to land at unplanned destination
 REASONS FOR INTERCEPTION
 Violation of or straying into prohibited military
airspace
 Should be avoided, taken as a last resort
 The aircraft should be guided to return to its intended
track or guided to land at its intended aerodrome
 TO ELIMINATE INTERCEPTION
 The military should endevour to obtain the
straying aircraft identity and issue necessary
corrective guidance through ATS units
 States to publish in their national AIPs all
areas prohibited to civil flights
 States to provide adequate navigation aids to
ensure civil aircraft circumnavigate
contiguous prohibited areas
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 PICs of interceptor aircraft should be made aware

of the limitation of civil aircraft and the possibility
that the aircraft might be in a state of emergency
or unlawful interference
 Clear instructions to be issued to intercept control
units and PICs of interceptor aircraft
 All ATS units be provided with RTF emergency
frequency 121.5Mhz
 Secondary surveillance radar be made available to
identify aircraft
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

 DROPPING OBJECTS OR ARTICLES FROM

AIRCRAFT
A person shall not-
(a) Drop anything or spray any
substance from an aircraft in flight;
(b) Tow an aircraft or other object; or
(c) Make a parachute descent other
than an emergency descent;
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

Except in accordance with

conditions prescribed by the
Authority and as indicated by
relevant information, advice and
clearance from the appropriate ATS
unit.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

ACROBATIC FLIGHTS
 A person shall not fly an aircraft
acrobatically except under conditions
prescribed by the Authority and as
indicated by relevant information,
advice or clearance from the appropriate
air traffic services unit;
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

A person shall not operate an aircraft in

acrobatic flight-
 (i) Over any city, town or settlement;
 (ii) Over an open air assembly of persons;
 (iii) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above
the surface;
 (iv) When the flight visibility is less than
five kilometres; and
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

A person shall not fly an aircraft in

manoeuvres exceeding a bank of sixty
degrees or pitch of thirty degrees from
level flight attitude unless all occupants
of the aircraft are wearing parachutes
packed by a qualified parachute rigger
in the past twelve months.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

FORMATION FLIGHTS
 A person shall not fly an aircraft in a
formation flight except by pre-arrangement
among the pilots-in-command of the
aircraft taking part in the flight and, for a
formation flight in controlled airspace, in
accordance with the conditions prescribed
by the appropriate air traffic services
authority, and these conditions include-
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

The formation operates as a single

 (a)

aircraft with regard to navigation and

position reporting;
(b) Separation between aircraft in the
flight shall be the responsibility of the
flight leader and the pilots-in-command
of the other aircraft in the flight.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

and shall include periods of transition when

aircraft are manoeuvring to attain their own
separation within the formation flight and
during join-up and break-away; and
(c) A distance not exceeding 1 km (0.5 nm)
laterally and longitudinally and 30 metres
(100 feet) vertically from the flight leader
shall be maintained by each aircraft.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES
REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT
 A person shall operate- a remotely

piloted aircraft in such a manner as to

minimize hazards to persons, property
or other aircraft, and in accordance
with the conditions specified in the
Second Schedule.
GENERAL FLIGHT RULES

UNMANNED FREE BALLOONS

 A person shall operate an unmanned
free balloon in such a manner as to
minimize hazards to persons, property
or other aircraft and in accordance
with the third schedule.
SEMI CIRCULAR RULE

 Semi-circular rule states that flight levels

shall be allocated in accordance with
aircraft magnetic tracks.
 Tracks are specified as either eastbound or
westbound.
 Eastbound tracks are 000 degrees
magnetic – 179 degrees magnetic and
Westbound 180 degrees magnetic- 359
degrees magnetic.
SEMI-CIRCULAR RULE

Specific levels are allocated to IFR

and VFR flights.
IFR are allocated whole thousands
of feet and VFR are allocated whole
thousands of feet plus 500 up to
FL285 according to ICAO and FL 145
in Tanzania.
SEMI-CIRCULAR RULE

 In order to apply vertical separation inside

CAS, ATC will allocate specific flight levels
to individual aircraft which may or may
not comply with semi-circular rule.
 However for flight planning purposes and
outside CAS pilots should select the
required cruising levels from the ICAO
table of cruising levels.
SEMI-CIRCULAR RULE

Eastbound levels are described as

ODD and Westbound as EVEN from
the first two digits of the FL number.
WESTBOUND (EVEN) EASTBOUND (ODD)
180-359 000-179
IFR VFR IFR VFR

40 180 45 30 270 35
200 50 290
60 220 65 70 310 55
240 90 330
80 260 85 110 350 75
280 130 370
100 320 105 150 390 95
340 170 410
120 360 125 190 115
140 380 210
160 400 145 230 135
250
URGENCY AND DISTRESS SIGNALS

 Distress - an aircraft or vessel is in grave

and imminent danger and requests
immediate assistance
 A distress message is preceded by the
word MAY DAY spoken three times
Visual signals from aircraft in distress
 A succession of RED pyrotechnics.
 A RED parachute flare.
WESTBOUND (180 - 359 EASTBOUND (000 - 179

440 430

450 470

490 510

520 550
URGENCY AND DISTRESS
SIGNALS
Urgency – an aircraft has an urgent
message to transmit concerning the
safety of a ship, aircraft, vehicle or
other property of a person on board
or in sight.
An urgency message is preceded by
the word PAN spoken three times.
NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION

If an aircraft has a communication

failure or a malfunction that makes
it imperative that the aircraft lands
but the pilot does not require any
other assistance the pilot shall;
Repeatedly switch on and off
landing lights or navigation lights.
 EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES
If an aircraft fails to establish contact
with the control station on the published
frequencies it shall attempt to call on;
121.500 Mhz and 243.000 Mhz
(aeronautical distress frequencies) or
2182 Khz (maritime distress frequency)
VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

A flight where navigation is done

with visual reference to the surface
features.
A VFR flight may only be conducted
in Visual Meteorological Conditions.
VISUAL FLIGHT RULES
WESTBOUND (180 - 350 EASTBOUND (000 - 179

440 430

450 470

490 510

520 550
EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES

Call during the international silence

period 15-18 minutes past each hour
and 45-48 minutes past each hour.
SIGNALS FOR AERODROME TRAFFIC

Rules of the Air and Air Traffic

Control Regulations require that all
aircraft flying or operating on the
manoeuvring area of an aerodrome
shall carry a radio equipment for
communication.
SIGNALS FOR AERODROME TRAFFIC

However in cases of radio failure the

following signals shall be used
between aircraft and control tower
to facilitate communication.
 FROM AERODROME CONTROL TO
LIGHT
AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND

STEADY GREEN CLEARED TO LAND CLEARED TO TAKE OFF

STEADY RED GIVE WAY TO OTHER STOP

AIRCRAFT CONTINUE
CIRCLING

GREEN FLASHES RETURN FOR LANDING AND CLEARED TO TAXI

AWAIT LANDING
CLEARANCE

RED FLASHES AERODROME UNSAFE DO TAXI CLEAR OF THE

NOT LAND LANDING AREA
WHITE FLASHES LAND AT THIS AERODROME RETURN TO THE STARTING
AFTER RECEIVING POINT ON THE
CLEARANCE TO LAND AND AERODROMEE
THEN PROCEED TO APRON

RED PYROTECHNIC NOT WITHSTANDING ANY

(FLARE) PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS
DO NOT LAND FOR THE TIME
BEING
VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

DEFINITION
A flight whereby navigation is
conducted with visual reference to
the ground.
 VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

 ESSENCE OF VFR
 The pilot of a VFR aircraft must be able to
see other aircraft and his aircraft must be
seen by other aircraft.
 For this reason VFR flights may only be
conducted under conditions where this can
reasonably be expected to be achieved.
VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

 VFR flights are therefore not permitted to

operate in Tanzania when;
 1. The reported weather is below VMC
 2. At night
 3. At supersonic or transonic speeds
 4. In Class A airspace
 5. Above FL145
 In Class A airspace
 Above FL145
CHANGE FROM VFR TO IFR

A VFR flight wishing to change to

IFR shall contact the appropriate
ATC unit and request an ATC
clearance at least 10 minutes before
entering controlled airspace.
 CHANGE FROM IFR TO VFR
 A pilot of an IFR flight who wishes to change
to VFR shall notify the appropriate ATC unit
using the phraseology;
 CANCEL MY IFR FLIGHT PLAN
 The ATC unit will acknowledge the
cancellation using the phraseology
 ROGER IFR PLAN CANCELLED AT….(time)
 The pilot will then proceed at an appropriate
VFR level.
INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES

 DEFINITION
 A flight whereby navigation is conducted
with reference to flight instruments.
INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES

REQUIREMENTS FOR IFR FLIGHT

 The pilots must hold appropriate pilot
licenses including INSTRUMENT RATING
 The aircraft must be suitably equipped with
navigation and communications instruments
required for the route of flight, destination
and alternate aerordromes.
 A flight plan must be filed and ATC clearance
obtained.
INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES

The pilots must fly in accordance

with the clearance given.