ATSA Reading Comprehension Skills 3

Question 1

A regulation excerpt states: 'No person may operate an aircraft in controlled airspace under IFR unless that person has filed an IFR flight plan and received an appropriate ATC clearance.' A pilot is flying IFR in Class E airspace without having filed a flight plan. What has the pilot violated?

Accepted Answer

A mandatory regulation requiring both a filed plan and ATC clearance for IFR in controlled airspace

Answer

Class E is controlled airspace, and the regulation explicitly requires both a filed IFR flight plan and an ATC clearance to operate IFR within it.

Question 2

A training manual passage reads: 'When issuing a speed adjustment, controllers should consider that jet aircraft require more distance to decelerate than propeller-driven aircraft.' A controller needs to sequence a jet and a turboprop to the same fix. What does this passage suggest about timing?

Accepted Answer

Issue the deceleration instruction to the jet earlier than to the turboprop

Answer

Because jets require more distance to decelerate, the passage implies the jet needs more lead time, so its speed adjustment should be issued earlier.

Question 3

A facility directive states: 'Coordination between sectors must be completed prior to the transfer of communication, unless an emergency exists.' A controller hands off a flight without coordinating first due to heavy workload but no emergency. What does the directive indicate about this action?

Accepted Answer

It violates the directive, as the exception applies only to actual emergencies

Answer

The directive's only exception is an actual emergency; heavy workload does not qualify, making the handoff without prior coordination a violation of the directive.

Question 4

A passage reads: 'Altitude filters on radar displays can be used to declutter the scope by suppressing returns from aircraft outside a selected altitude band.' A controller sets a filter to show only aircraft between 6,000 and 18,000 feet. An aircraft at 5,500 feet enters the sector. What happens to its return?

Accepted Answer

It is suppressed and will not appear on the display

Answer

The passage states filters suppress returns outside the selected band; 5,500 feet is below the 6,000-foot lower limit, so the return will be suppressed.

Question 5

An LOA between two facilities reads: 'Eastbound traffic crossing the boundary above FL240 must be at FL260 or above and on a published airway.' An aircraft is eastbound, crossing at FL250, on a direct routing not on a published airway. How many LOA conditions does this flight violate?

Accepted Answer

Two — both the altitude and the routing violate the LOA

Answer

The LOA requires eastbound crossings above FL240 to be at FL260 or above AND on a published airway; FL250 fails the altitude requirement and a direct routing fails the airway requirement.

ATSA - Air Traffic Skills Assessment Practice Test

ATSA - Air Traffic Skills Assessment Practice Test

ATSA Reading Comprehension Skills 3