ATSA Deductive Reasoning Scenarios 2

Question 1

Aircraft Alpha is at FL350 and must descend to FL240 before reaching a fix 60 miles ahead. It is currently flying at 480 knots groundspeed. How many minutes does the crew have to complete the descent?

Accepted Answer

7.5 minutes

Answer

At 480 knots, the aircraft covers 8 miles per minute, so 60 miles takes 7.5 minutes.

Question 2

A controller issues a heading of 270° to separate two aircraft. Aircraft A is on 090° and Aircraft B is on 270°. What is the relationship between these headings?

Accepted Answer

They are reciprocal (opposite) headings

Answer

090° and 270° are exactly 180° apart, making them reciprocal (opposite) headings.

Question 3

Two aircraft are 10 miles apart laterally with no vertical separation. Aircraft A is at 300 knots and Aircraft B is at 180 knots, both converging head-on. Approximately how long before they reach the same point?

Accepted Answer

1 minute

Answer

Combined closure rate is 300+180=480 knots (8 miles/min), so 10 miles ÷ 8 = ~1.25 minutes, closest to 1 minute.

Question 4

A pilot reports leaving FL280 at time 1432. Standard descent rate is 1,000 ft/min. At what time should the aircraft reach FL180?

Accepted Answer

1442

Answer

10,000-foot descent at 1,000 ft/min takes 10 minutes, so 1432 + 10 = 1442.

Question 5

If an aircraft on heading 360° is turned left 45°, what is its new heading?

Accepted Answer

315°

Answer

360° minus 45° equals 315°.

ATSA - Air Traffic Skills Assessment Practice Test

ATSA - Air Traffic Skills Assessment Practice Test

ATSA Deductive Reasoning Scenarios 2