ATC Midterm

What is the primary purpose of the ATC system?

to prevent a collision involving aircraft operating in the system

What else, in addition with the system, does ATC do?

Provides a safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic

Supports National Security and Homeland Defense missions

Are pilots required to abide by CFRs even if ATC instructs them to do something that goes against their rules?

Yes

First priority goes to:

separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts

(not first priority) given secondary:

support to national security activities, weather information and additional services to the extent possible

How does ATC provide air traffic control service to aircraft (some exceptions apply)?

on a “first come, first served” basis

What are some exceptions to the “first come, first served” rule?

1. Aircraft in distress (emergency)

2. “Medevac” aircraft

3. Presidential aircraft and entourage

4. Search and rescue missions

5. Special military operations

6. Flight check aircraft

7. IFR aircraft get priority over SVFR aircraft

8. Previously diverted aircraft

   (in order of importance)

Do pilots have to acknowledge all air traffic clearances and ATC instructions?

Yes

What must controllers ensure after giving instructions to pilots?

Items are read back correct

Pilots include their callsign when reading back any ATC clearance or instruction

T or F? Until a pilot acknowledges a controller’s clearance or instruction, a controller cannot know if a pilot will comply with the clearance or instruction

True

How should an aircraft having an ICAO 3-letter designator and other FAA authorized call sign state their call sign when in group form?

State the call sign followed by the flight number

When must ATC issue a low-level wind shear and microburst advisory to all arriving and departing traffic?

• a pilot reports it

• an integrated terminal weather system reports it

• wind shear detection systems report it

How long must a low-level wind shear/microburst advisory be included on the ATIS?

20 minutes

T or F? Controllers are responsible for separation while a pilot is performing a wind shear escape maneuver until the pilot informs the controller that the maneuver is complete

False

T or F? Pilots are required to establish two-way communications before entering Class B, C, or D Airspace

True

Have pilots report braking action as follows:

1. Good

2. Good to Medium

3. Medium

4. Medium to Poor

5. Poor

6. Nil

Do you need to include the type of aircraft that made the report in a braking report?

yes

ATC must separate departing aircraft from a preceding departing or arriving aircraft by ensuring it does not begin takeoff roll until one of the following:

• The preceding aircraft has departed and crossed the runway end or turned

• The preceding arrival has exited the runway

• The preceding aircraft is airborne, and the minimum distance exists between each
  aircraft

Same Runway Separation when only category I aircraft are involved:

3,000 ft

Same Runway Separation when a Category I aircraft is preceded by a Category II aircraft

3,000 ft

Same Runway Separation when either the succeeding or both are Category II aircraft

4,500 ft

Same Runway Separation when either is a category III aircraft

6,000 ft

Separate aircraft taking off from the same runway or parallel runway separated by less than 2,500 feet (or more than 2,500 if flight paths will cross) must wait how long if behind a super?

3 minutes

Separate aircraft taking off from the same runway or parallel runway separated by less than 2,500 feet (or more than 2,500 if flight paths will cross) must wait how long if behind a heavy?

2 minutes

When does the time interval for separation on the same runway or a parallel runway that is separated by less than 2,500 feet begin?

when the preceding aircraft begins its takeoff roll

T or F? ATC can approve pilot requests to deviate from time interval for separation on the same runway or a parallel runway that is separated by less than 2,500 feet

False

Issue wake turbulence advisories to arriving/departing aircraft that are following an arriving/departing aircraft with a higher weight class when:

• Operating on the same runway

• Operating on parallel runways separated by less than 2,500 feet

T or F? A low approach with an altitude restriction of at least 500 feet AGL may be authorized except over an aircraft holding in position or a departing aircraft

True

Can ATC clear aircraft for a restricted low approach over personnel if airport authorities have not yet advised them that the approaches will be conducted?

No

What is the vertical separation minima between IFR aircraft at Flight Level 410 and below?

1,000 ft

What is the vertical separation minima between IFR aircraft above Flight Level 410?

2,000 ft

What is the vertical separation minima between a VFR aircraft and an IFR aircraft?

500 ft

What is the vertical separation minima between VFR aircraft?

none

Does an aircraft on an ILS have to be advised if the glideslope is out of service?

yes

Where do standard instrument approach procedures need to begin?

at the initial approach fix (IAF)

T or F? Do not clear an aircraft direct to the FAF unless it is also an IAF and a procedure turn is expected

True

T or F? Intercept angles greater than 90 degrees may be used when a procedure turn is used

True

T or F? Circling approach instructions can only be given to aircraft landing at controlled airports

True

An approach clearance automatically authorizes the aircraft to execute the published missed approach procedure (PMAP) except for what?

VFR practice approaches

IFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches must be afforded approved separation of what?

1,000 ft vertical or 3nm lateral

Where procedures require application of IFR separation to VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches what is the vertical separation applied between VFR and IFR aircraft?

500 ft vertical separation

T or F? Where separation services are not provided to VFR practice approaches, the controller must advise the pilot that separation services are not provided

True

T or F? All VFR aircraft must be instructed to maintain VFR on initial contact or as soon as possible

True

T or F? VFR aircraft executing a practice instrument approach are not required to comply with VFR flight rules

False

T or F? VFR aircraft are automatically authorized to execute the published missed approach procedure

False

Issue traffic information to the following aircraft whose targets appear likely to merge unless the aircraft are separated by more than the appropriate vertical separation minima:

• All aircraft at 10,000 feet and above

• All jet aircraft at any altitude

• Presidential aircraft at any altitude

When tower observes a departing aircraft target within 1 mile of the runway end at controlled airports what is required?

a verbal or nonverbal rolling notification to radar

What are some secondary radar/beacon identification methods?

• IDENT

• Assign a beacon code

• request pilot change transponder to standby, assure loss of target, then have them return to normal position

An action taken to transfer the radar identification of an aircraft from one controller to another controller if the aircraft will enter the receiving controller’s airspace and radio communications are transferred with it

handoff

The term used when a handoff is accepted by the receiving controller

radar contact

An action taken by a controller to transfer the radar ID of an aircraft to another controller if the aircraft will enter the receiving controller’s airspace but radio
communications will not be transferred

point out

A term used to transfer radar ID to another controller when the aircraft will be in close proximity to another controller’s airspace or affecting their traffic
- Communications are not transferred
- Often used in conjunction with a point-out

traffic

The term used to inform the initiating controller that traffic is identified, and restrictions issued are understood

traffic observed

A process to ensure that correlated radar targets do not touch

target resolution

Separate IFR aircraft by the following minima for single sensor ASR when less than 40 miles from the radar antenna:

3 miles

Separate IFR aircraft by the following minima for single sensor ASR when 40 or more miles from the radar antenna

5 miles (only one that is 5)

Separate IFR aircraft by the following minima for Fusion radar systems fusion target symbol

3 miles

Separate IFR aircraft by the following minima for Fusion radar systems fusion target symbol with “ISR” (Increased Separation Required) displayed

5 miles

Aircraft not laterally separated may be vertically separated by one of the following methods

• Assign altitudes to aircraft if the aircraft has a valid Mode C readout

• Assign an altitude to an aircraft after the aircraft previously at that altitude has
  been issued a climb/descent and is observed leaving that altitude

• Consider aircraft performance or wake turbulence criteria

• Should not be given with a “pilot’s discretion” clearance

Aircraft are on opposite/reciprocal courses, and you have observed that they have passed each other

passing

Aircraft are on the same or crossing courses and one of the aircraft has crossed the projected course of the other, and the angular difference between their
courses is at least 15 degrees

divergence

T or F? Aircraft being vectored for an RNAV approach must always intercept the final approach course at least 2 miles outside the approach gate (no exceptions)

True

Vector arriving aircraft to intercept the final approach course at least ___ miles outside the approach gate (some exceptions apply)

2

When vectoring to final approach course Provide at least ____ feet vertical separation between aircraft on opposing bases unless another form of separation is provided

1,000

T or F? For a precision approach, vector an aircraft to intercept the final approach
course at an altitude at or below the glideslope/glidepath and above the
minimum glideslope intercept altitude specified on the approach chart

True

T or F? For a precision approach, vector an aircraft to intercept the final approach
course at an altitude which will allow descent in accordance with the published procedure

False (for non-precision)

T or F? communicate with law enforcement aircraft on unique frequencies whenever possible

True

A pilot who encounters an urgency condition should use the word

pan-pan

A pilot who encounters an distress condition should use the word

mayday