Air Law

Air law is the rule book of flying. It tells you who may fly, what you must carry, where you may go, how to avoid other aircraft and what to do when something goes wrong. Most of it comes from international agreements, so the same rules apply from Amman to Istanbul to Toronto, with some local differences each country publishes in its AIP.

1. The international framework

Modern air law starts with the Chicago Convention (1944). It created the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency based in Montreal, and set the principle that every state has full sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.

ICAO writes Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in 19 Annexes. States turn them into national law and publish any differences. The Annexes a private pilot meets most often:

• Annex 1 – Personnel licensing
• Annex 2 – Rules of the air
• Annex 6 – Operation of aircraft
• Annex 7 – Aircraft nationality and registration marks
• Annex 8 – Airworthiness of aircraft
• Annex 11 – Air traffic services
• Annex 12 – Search and rescue
• Annex 13 – Aircraft accident and incident investigation
• Annex 14 – Aerodromes
• Annex 15 – Aeronautical information services (AIP, NOTAMs)

Each country publishes its rules, procedures and charts in its AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication). Temporary changes – a closed runway, an unserviceable navaid, a restricted area – are published as NOTAMs. Always check both before a flight.

2. Nationality and registration

Every civil aircraft is registered in one state and carries its nationality and registration marks. The prefix shows the country:

• JY- Jordan (e.g. JY-RAF) · YI- Iraq · YK- Syria · OD- Lebanon
• SU- Egypt · HZ- Saudi Arabia · TC- Türkiye · A6- United Arab Emirates

3. The pilot licence

A PPL (Private Pilot Licence) lets you fly as pilot-in-command for non-commercial purposes: you may carry passengers but may not be paid for flying them. Typical requirements under ICAO and EASA rules:

• Minimum age 17 for the licence (16 for a first solo).
• At least 45 hours of flight instruction, including 25 hours dual and 10 hours supervised solo, of which 5 hours solo cross-country, including one cross-country flight of at least 270 km (150 NM) with full-stop landings at two aerodromes other than the departure aerodrome.
• A valid Class 2 medical certificate.
• Passing the theory exams and a skill test with an examiner.

To carry passengers you must have made at least 3 take-offs and 3 landings in the preceding 90 days in an aircraft of the same type or class.

4. Documents on board

For an international flight the aircraft normally carries: certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness, radio station licence, insurance, journey log book, the flight manual and the crew's licences and medical certificates. The pilot-in-command is responsible for the flight and has the final authority over the aircraft while in command.

5. Rules of the air

Right of way

• Converging at about the same level: the aircraft that has the other on its right gives way.
• Head-on: both aircraft alter heading to the right.
• Overtaking: the aircraft being overtaken has the right of way; the overtaking aircraft keeps out of the way by turning to the right.
• Landing: an aircraft landing or on final has priority over aircraft in flight or on the ground; the lower of two landing aircraft has priority (but must not cut in front of another on final).
• Between categories, the less manoeuvrable has priority: powered aircraft give way to airships, gliders and balloons; airships give way to gliders and balloons; gliders give way to balloons. Aircraft towing gliders or objects also have priority over other powered aircraft.

Minimum heights (VFR)

• Over congested areas (cities, towns, crowds): at least 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within 600 m of the aircraft.
• Elsewhere: at least 500 ft above the ground or water.
• Except when taking off or landing, or with permission.

6. VFR weather minima (VMC)

Where	Flight visibility	Distance from cloud
At and above FL100 (classes B–G)	8 km	1,500 m horizontally, 1,000 ft vertically
Below FL100, above 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft above terrain (whichever is higher)	5 km	1,500 m horizontally, 1,000 ft vertically
At or below 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft above terrain, classes F and G	5 km (states may allow less at low speed)	Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight

In a control zone, VFR take-offs and landings normally need a ceiling of at least 1,500 ft and ground visibility of at least 5 km; below that you need a Special VFR clearance.

7. Airspace classes

Class	Flights allowed	ATC service
A	IFR only	All flights separated
B	IFR and VFR	All flights separated from each other
C	IFR and VFR	IFR separated from IFR and VFR; VFR gets traffic information on other VFR
D	IFR and VFR	IFR separated from IFR; everyone gets traffic information
E	IFR and VFR	IFR separated from IFR; VFR needs no clearance
F	IFR and VFR	Advisory service for IFR
G	IFR and VFR	Flight information service only

Classes A–E are controlled airspace; F and G are uncontrolled. Also look out for prohibited (P), restricted (R) and danger (D) areas on the chart.

8. Altimetry and cruising levels

• QNH: altimeter shows altitude above mean sea level – used below the transition altitude.
• QFE: altimeter shows height above the aerodrome.
• Standard (1013.25 hPa): altimeter shows a flight level – used above the transition altitude.
• Climbing, change from QNH to standard at the transition altitude; descending, change from standard to QNH at the transition level.

Semicircular cruising levels (by magnetic track):

• Track 000°–179°: IFR odd levels (FL70, 90, 110…); VFR odd + 500 (FL75, 95…).
• Track 180°–359°: IFR even levels (FL80, 100, 120…); VFR even + 500 (FL85, 105…).

9. Transponder codes and signals

Code	Meaning
7500	Unlawful interference (hijack)
7600	Radio communication failure
7700	Emergency
7000	VFR conspicuity code (in many countries; 1200 in North America)
2000	No code assigned, entering from an area without a transponder requirement

Light signals from the tower

Signal	Aircraft in flight	Aircraft on the ground
Steady green	Cleared to land	Cleared for take-off
Flashing green	Return for landing	Cleared to taxi
Steady red	Give way to other aircraft and continue circling	Stop
Flashing red	Aerodrome unsafe, do not land	Taxi clear of the landing area
Flashing white	Land at this aerodrome and proceed to the apron	Return to the starting point on the aerodrome
Red pyrotechnic	Do not land for the time being, whatever previous instructions	–

10. Flight plans

A flight plan is required for IFR flights, for flights in controlled airspace that need ATC service, and for flights crossing international borders. File it at least 60 minutes before departure (earlier on some routes). If you land somewhere else or the flight is delayed, tell ATS – a flight plan that is never closed starts the search and rescue process.

11. Accidents and incidents

• Accident: someone is seriously or fatally injured, the aircraft suffers substantial damage, or it is missing.
• Serious incident: circumstances where an accident nearly occurred.
• Investigations (Annex 13) look for causes to prevent the next accident – not to blame people.

Flying it at Levant

On IVAO these rules apply exactly as in real life: respect the airspace class, fly the right cruising level for your track, use the correct transponder code and follow ATC. Your flight plan from the Levant SimBrief planner already carries the RMK/IVAOVA/LVT remark that identifies you as a Levant pilot.

Check yourself

1. Two aircraft converge at the same level. Which one gives way? The one that has the other on its right.
2. You fly VFR on a magnetic track of 090° below FL195. Which level could you choose? An odd level + 500, e.g. FL55, FL75 or FL95.
3. What code do you squawk after a radio failure? 7600.
4. The tower shows you a flashing red light while you are on final. What does it mean? The aerodrome is unsafe – do not land.
5. What is the minimum height over a town? 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within 600 m.

This lesson summarises ICAO standards and common EASA practice for flight simulation training. Real-world flying always follows the current regulations and AIP of the country you fly in.