How do you manage unstable approach criteria under pressure?

Define hard gates in advance, monitor trend, and execute go-around discipline when criteria fail.

How do you decide between holding and diversion in worsening weather?

Recalculate margin, set a hard decision point, and communicate early with ATC and crew.

Show trigger detection, cross-check, mode correction, and CRM workload split.

What is the conversion method for wind speed from m/s to kt?

To quickly convert wind speed from m/s to kt, you can use the following rule of thumb : kt \approx m/s \times 2 Example: 10 m/s \approx 20 kt

Fuel flow is 2200 kg/h and groundspeed is 300 kt. How much fuel will be burned over a distance of 180 NM?

Step 1 - Calculate the time: Time = Distance / Groundspeed \to 180 \div 300 = 0.6 h Step 2 - Multiply by fuel flow: Fuel = Fuel flow \times Time \to 2200 \times 0.6 = 1320 kg ✅ You will burn approximately 1320 kg of fuel over 180 NM at a groundspeed of 300 kt and fuel flow of 2200 kg/h.

Engine failure scenario (jet aircraft): Fuel flow = 2400 kg/h Fuel onboard = 5000 kg Groundspeed = 270 kt What is the approximate maximum distance you can fly before getting into the 30 minutes of final reserves?

Step 1 - Calculate total endurance: 5000 \div 2400 \approx 2.08 h Step 2 - Subtract 0.5 h of final reserve: 2.08 - 0.5 = 1.58 h available before final reserves Step 3 - Multiply by groundspeed to get distance: 1.58 \times 270 \approx 427 NM ✅ You can fly approximately 427 NM before reaching the final 30 minutes of fuel reserve.

An aircraft is cruising at FL340 and is cleared to descend to FL260, to be level 10 NM before a specific waypoint. Average groundspeed is 360 kt and the descent rate is 1800 ft/min. How many nautical miles before the waypoint should the descent be initiated?

Step 1 - Altitude to lose: FL340 - FL260 = 8,000 ft Step 2 - Time to descend: 8,000 \div 1800 \approx 4.44 minutes Step 3 - Distance covered at 360 kt: (360 \div 60) \times 4.44 \approx 6 \times 4.44 = 26.7 NM Step 4 - Add the 10 NM buffer: 26.7 + 10 = 36.7 NM Arrondi : 37 NM ✅ The descent should begin approximately 37 NM before the waypoint to be level 10 NM in advance.

Aircraft A and aircraft B are cruising toward each other at FL330 and FL340 respectively. - Aircraft A groundspeed: 400 kt - Aircraft B groundspeed: 500 kt - Distance between them: 1800 NM After how much time will they cross each other?

Step 1 - Combine both groundspeeds: 400 + 500 = 900 kt Step 2 - Time = Distance / Relative speed: 1800 \div 900 = 2.0 hours ✅ The aircraft will cross each other after 2 hours .

An aircraft is cruising at FL300 and is cleared to descend to FL120, to be level by a specific waypoint. Average groundspeed is 300 kt and the descent rate is 1500 ft/min. How many nautical miles before the waypoint should the descent be initiated?

Member-only answer