Situational Awareness and Scanning Techniques Flashcards

A pilot reports a bird strike and requests immediate return to the airport. The controller's first action should be:

Answer: Check for available runways and clear the path of conflicting traffic

The controller must immediately clear the aircraft's return path of all conflicting traffic to ensure a safe approach.

During an ATSA simulation, a controller observes that two targets are 2.5 miles apart and closing. Standard separation is 3 miles. The correct action is to:

Answer: Issue an immediate turn instruction to one aircraft

Separation has already been violated; an immediate vector instruction is required to restore the required 3-mile separation.

A new aircraft checks in at an altitude that conflicts with an aircraft already on frequency. The FIRST transmission should:

Answer: Issue a traffic alert and altitude instruction before confirming receipt

When a conflict exists upon check-in, the safety instruction must be issued immediately as the first response.

In the ATSA, a candidate who anticipates where aircraft will be in 3–5 minutes is demonstrating which skill?

Answer: Proactive situational awareness

Projecting future aircraft positions is called proactive situational awareness and is a core competency tested on the ATSA.

An aircraft calls with an unfamiliar callsign. The controller cannot match it to any filed flight plan. The appropriate action is to:

Answer: Ask the aircraft to confirm its callsign and departure point

Requesting confirmation of callsign and departure allows the controller to identify the aircraft and verify its clearance.

After issuing a descent clearance, a controller notices the aircraft's altitude tag is not changing. The controller should:

Answer: Re-contact the aircraft to verify the clearance was received and is being executed

If an aircraft does not comply with a clearance within a reasonable time, the controller must verify the instruction was received and acted upon.