ADX Communication and Monitoring 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an aircraft dispatcher loses two-way radio communication with a flight, what is the first action required?
- Immediately declare an emergency on behalf of the flight
- Attempt to contact the aircraft through any available means including relay through ATC (Correct answer)
- Notify the FAA Flight Standards District Office
- Ground all other flights under the dispatcher's authority
Correct answer: Attempt to contact the aircraft through any available means including relay through ATC
The dispatcher must attempt contact via any available means, including requesting ATC relay, before escalating to an emergency declaration.
Question 2: Under 14 CFR Part 121, which document must a dispatcher use to continuously monitor weather along the route of flight?
- Pilot's weather briefing form
- Meteorological watch bulletins and SIGMET advisories (Correct answer)
- Company operations manual only
- NOTAM D notices exclusively
Correct answer: Meteorological watch bulletins and SIGMET advisories
Dispatchers must monitor SIGMETs, meteorological watch bulletins, and all other official weather advisories throughout the flight.
Question 3: A dispatcher notes a SIGMET for severe turbulence over the aircraft's planned route. The pilot-in-command disagrees and wants to proceed. Who has final authority?
- The dispatcher, who can ground the flight
- The pilot-in-command, who has final authority once airborne (Correct answer)
- The chief dispatcher, who must be consulted
- The FAA Air Traffic Control Center
Correct answer: The pilot-in-command, who has final authority once airborne
Once airborne, the pilot-in-command has final authority over the operation of the aircraft, though the dispatcher retains joint responsibility for safety.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a PIREP (Pilot Report) in the context of dispatcher communication monitoring?
- Official weather forecast issued by the National Weather Service
- Real-time weather observations reported by pilots in flight used to update route assessments (Correct answer)
- A dispatcher's formal report to the FAA about flight conditions
- ATC advisory about traffic separation requirements
Correct answer: Real-time weather observations reported by pilots in flight used to update route assessments
PIREPs provide real-time inflight weather observations from pilots, which dispatchers use to assess and update route conditions.
Question 5: A dispatcher receives a UUA (Urgent Pilot Report) indicating severe icing at FL220 along a flight's route. What should the dispatcher do?
- Log the report and review it at the next scheduled check-in
- Immediately relay the information to the affected flight crew and evaluate rerouting options (Correct answer)
- File a report with the NWS and take no further action
- Divert all flights below FL180 as a precaution
Correct answer: Immediately relay the information to the affected flight crew and evaluate rerouting options
UUAs are urgent and must be relayed immediately to affected crews, and the dispatcher must evaluate whether a reroute or altitude change is necessary.
Question 6: Which communication system is used by air carriers to transmit operational messages between aircraft and dispatch during flight?
- VHF voice radio exclusively
- ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) (Correct answer)
- HF single-sideband radio only
- Satellite telephone systems only
Correct answer: ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System)
ACARS is the standard datalink system used by commercial air carriers to send operational messages between the aircraft and the dispatch office.
Question 7: How often must a dispatcher monitoring a transoceanic flight typically receive a position report if SELCAL or ACARS is not available?
- Every 30 minutes
- At intervals not to exceed those specified in the operations specifications, typically every 60 minutes (Correct answer)
- Only at departure and arrival
- Every 2 hours
Correct answer: At intervals not to exceed those specified in the operations specifications, typically every 60 minutes
Position reporting intervals over oceanic routes are specified in the carrier's operations specifications, typically every 60 minutes when automated systems are unavailable.
ADX Communication and Monitoring 2
When an aircraft dispatcher loses two-way radio communication with a flight, what is the first action required?