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
