ATSA Air Traffic Controller Entry 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the ATSA's memory section, a candidate is shown a list of items and later asked to recall them. This primarily measures which ability important to controllers?
- Spatial reasoning
- Working memory capacity (Correct answer)
- Reading comprehension
- Mechanical aptitude
Correct answer: Working memory capacity
Working memory is critical for controllers who must retain aircraft callsigns, altitudes, headings, and pilot requests while simultaneously managing other tasks.
Question 2: What is a 'hold short' instruction in airport surface operations?
- An instruction telling a pilot to stop and not cross a specific point such as a runway hold-short line (Correct answer)
- An instruction to reduce airspeed to minimum safe speed
- An order to hold in a published airspace fix
- A request for the aircraft to shorten its filed route
Correct answer: An instruction telling a pilot to stop and not cross a specific point such as a runway hold-short line
A 'hold short' instruction requires the pilot to stop before crossing a designated point, most critically a runway threshold, to prevent runway incursions.
Question 3: What is the difference between 'traffic advisories' and 'safety alerts' issued by ATC?
- Traffic advisories warn of nearby aircraft; safety alerts warn of immediate dangerous situations like terrain or conflict (Correct answer)
- They are different names for the same service
- Safety alerts are only issued to military aircraft
- Traffic advisories are issued by pilots, safety alerts by controllers
Correct answer: Traffic advisories warn of nearby aircraft; safety alerts warn of immediate dangerous situations like terrain or conflict
Traffic advisories inform pilots of potentially conflicting traffic, while safety alerts are urgent warnings of immediate collision or terrain hazards requiring prompt pilot action.
Question 4: A controller working a radar position loses radar display for all aircraft in their sector. What should the controller do FIRST?
- Immediately close the sector and go home
- Declare a system emergency and notify pilots to squawk 7700
- Notify the supervisor, switch to non-radar separation procedures, and coordinate with adjacent sectors (Correct answer)
- Ask pilots to self-separate using TCAS only
Correct answer: Notify the supervisor, switch to non-radar separation procedures, and coordinate with adjacent sectors
Loss of radar requires immediate supervisor notification and transition to non-radar (procedural) separation standards while coordinating traffic with adjacent sectors.
Question 5: Which statement best describes 'visual separation' as applied by a tower controller?
- The controller uses binoculars to check aircraft paint schemes
- The controller visually observes two aircraft and determines they are not a collision risk, or has the pilot of one aircraft visually acquire and maintain separation from another (Correct answer)
- Pilots are required to turn on landing lights so the controller can see them
- Separation achieved solely by ADS-B display without radar
Correct answer: The controller visually observes two aircraft and determines they are not a collision risk, or has the pilot of one aircraft visually acquire and maintain separation from another
Visual separation allows a tower controller (or a pilot who has traffic in sight) to ensure separation without applying standard distance or altitude minimums.
Question 6: What is the ATSA's 'dials' subtest designed to measure?
- Mathematical ability to calculate fuel burn rates
- The ability to read and compare analog gauge values quickly and accurately (Correct answer)
- Verbal instructions comprehension under noise
- Typing speed for data entry tasks
Correct answer: The ability to read and compare analog gauge values quickly and accurately
The dials subtest assesses rapid and accurate reading of analog instrument displays, reflecting the need to monitor multiple gauges and indicators in an ATC environment.
Question 7: Under FAA regulations, how long must an on-duty controller work before being entitled to a break from controlling duties?
- No more than 2 consecutive hours of controlling (Correct answer)
- Exactly 4 hours before any break is required
- Controllers may work up to 8 hours without a break
- Breaks are voluntary and not regulated
Correct answer: No more than 2 consecutive hours of controlling
FAA policy limits controllers to a maximum of 2 hours of continuous radar or position work before a mandatory break to reduce fatigue-related errors.
ATSA Air Traffic Controller Entry 5
In the ATSA's memory section, a candidate is shown a list of items and later asked to recall them.
This primarily measures which ability important to controllers?