SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Determine the optimum route for a flight 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252123  Determine the optimum route for a flight 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Aerospace Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Physical Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Persons credited with this unit standard are able to identify, evaluate, select and justify the optimum route for an operation, taking into consideration a range of requirements of the specific route to be flown. This unit standard is one of two that lays the foundation for learners to produce operational and Air Traffic Service (ATS) flight plans. Learners will also be able to facilitate the safety and efficiency of the operation by taking all applicable operational constraints and environmental factors into consideration in the flight planning process.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Assessing potential routes.
  • Assessing the impact of aircraft non-standard configuration and systems on operations.
  • Interpreting and applying operating minima. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Mathematics at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Communication at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Computer literacy at NQF Level 3 or equivalent.
  • Physical Science at NQF Level 4 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Factors of operational significance include but are not limited to hazardous meteorological conditions, aero-political constraints, non-standard aerodrome conditions and infra-structure constraints.
  • Environmental factors which are relevant to all phases of flight include but are not limited to meteorological phenomena, aerodrome physical characteristics and terrain clearance considerations.
  • Aero-political constraints include but are not limited to Foreign Operator Permits, over-flight and landing permissions, traffic rights and political unrest, civil disturbances and industrial action. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Assess potential routes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Possible routes for an operation are evaluated for feasibility. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Feasibility may include but are not limited to safety, legal compliance, passenger comfort, aero-political constraints, and cost-efficiency of operation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Flight sector requirements and potential hazards are identified and explained in terms of their impact on route optimisation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Flight sector requirements include but are not limited to Extended Twin Operations (ETOPS) and decompression requirements, terrain clearance considerations and distance, time and fuel limitations. Potential hazards include but are not limited airspace restrictions, severe weather phenomena and communication deficiencies/failures.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The route to be flown is selected and justification for the choice given. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Assess the impact of aircraft non-standard configuration and systems deviations on operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Aircraft non-standard configuration and systems deviations are explained in terms of their relevance to the operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The impact of the aircraft non-standard configuration and systems deviations is investigated and explained with relevant evidence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The operation is justified with reference to the non-standard configuration and systems deviations. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Interpret and apply operating minima. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Operating minima may include but are not limited to take-off, landing and alternate aerodromes and shall be in compliance with requirements of regulatory authorities, manufacturer's performance specifications and company policy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The planning minima are identified in order to determine their usage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Take-off, en-route, destination and alternate weather applicable minima are established in order to determine flight initiation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The established minima are verified for compliance with the requirements of regulatory authorities, manufacturer's performance specifications and company policy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The established minima are applied in performance of the required flight planning activities. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Rules of the air.
  • Aviation terminology.
  • Aeronautical information.
  • Meteorological information.
  • Aero-political constraints.
  • Potential hazards.
  • Flight sector limitations.
  • Special enroute limits, including special rules.
  • International and national regulations.
  • Manufacturer's performance specifications.
  • Company policy and procedures related to Flight Dispatch. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions, using critical and creative thinking have been made when evaluating potential routes for an operation in terms of safety, feasibility, legal compliance, passenger comfort and cost-efficiency and explaining the impact of aircraft non-standard and systems deviations on the route to be flown. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities in such a way as to ensure that the full range of requirements of the route to be flown are taken into consideration. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information when justifying the selected route to be flown and interpreting and analysing meteorological data. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology to gather, capture, store and process information to derive the applicable minima for take-off, landing and alternative aerodromes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by determining the impact of factors of operational significance, environmental factors and non-standard configuration and systems deviations on the route to be flown. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    In order to contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development at large, it must be the intention underlying any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts in the pursuit of performing duties in a transparent way. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  59256   National Diploma: Flight Dispatch  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2016-12-31  TETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.