ATSA Reading Comprehension Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'Minimum fuel is not an emergency declaration but indicates a pilot cannot accept any undue delay. A pilot declaring minimum fuel must be afforded priority.' A pilot declares minimum fuel. The controller has a choice between two routings of equal distance. What should the controller do?
- Issue the routing with fewer radio frequency changes to reduce workload
- Select the routing that avoids any undue delay and prioritize the aircraft (Correct answer)
- Treat the flight the same as other traffic since no emergency was declared
- Request the pilot squawk 7700 to signal the condition to other facilities
Correct answer: Select the routing that avoids any undue delay and prioritize the aircraft
The passage requires that a minimum fuel declaration result in priority handling to avoid undue delay, even though it is not a formal emergency.
Question 2: A regulation states: 'An aircraft may not be cleared to land on a runway that is not clear of other aircraft or vehicles unless the pilot reports the runway in sight.' A runway has a ground vehicle still crossing. A pilot reports the runway in sight. May the controller issue the landing clearance?
- Yes, because the pilot reporting the runway in sight satisfies the regulation's condition
- No, because the runway must be physically clear before any landing clearance (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if the vehicle clears before the aircraft reaches the threshold
- No, because the pilot must also report the vehicle in sight before landing
Correct answer: No, because the runway must be physically clear before any landing clearance
The regulation requires the runway to be clear; the 'pilot reports the runway in sight' clause is an additional condition, not an alternative to runway clearance.
Question 3: A passage about conflict alerts reads: 'A conflict alert indicates predicted loss of separation within approximately 2 minutes. Controllers must evaluate and resolve the conflict before separation is lost.' Two aircraft trigger a conflict alert. The controller calculates they will conflict in 90 seconds. What does the passage require?
- Wait until the aircraft are 1 minute apart before taking action
- Evaluate and resolve the conflict before separation is actually lost (Correct answer)
- Transfer both aircraft to the adjacent sector immediately
- Issue traffic alerts and let pilots exercise see-and-avoid
Correct answer: Evaluate and resolve the conflict before separation is actually lost
The passage requires controllers to resolve the conflict before separation is lost, not after; with 90 seconds until conflict, immediate action is required.
Question 4: A directive reads: 'Position relief briefings must include current traffic, active runways, NOTAMs, and any non-standard equipment status. The relieving controller must verbally confirm readiness before assuming the position.' A briefing covers traffic and runways but omits NOTAMs. The relieving controller confirms readiness and takes over. What requirement was not met?
- The relieving controller's verbal confirmation of readiness
- The inclusion of NOTAMs in the briefing (Correct answer)
- The transfer of current traffic to the incoming controller
- The active runway information in the briefing
Correct answer: The inclusion of NOTAMs in the briefing
The directive lists NOTAMs as a required element of the briefing; omitting them means the briefing was incomplete even though other elements were covered.
Question 5: A passage states: 'Approach control assumes responsibility for aircraft transferred from en route control once communication is established and the transfer is completed.' En route transfers an aircraft to approach control. The pilot calls approach but approach does not respond. Who has responsibility for the aircraft?
- Approach control, because the pilot initiated communication
- En route control, because the transfer is not yet completed (Correct answer)
- The pilot, because they are responsible for their own navigation
- Neither facility, creating a gap in coverage
Correct answer: En route control, because the transfer is not yet completed
The passage requires both communication establishment and completion of transfer; since approach did not respond, the transfer is incomplete and en route retains responsibility.
Question 6: A manual passage reads: 'Runway visual range (RVR) is reported in hundreds of feet and represents the maximum horizontal distance at which a pilot can see runway markings or lights.' RVR is reported as 24. What does this value represent?
- 24 statute miles of visibility along the runway
- 2,400 feet of visibility along the runway (Correct answer)
- 24 meters of visibility, used for international operations
- 240 feet of visibility, below all minimums
Correct answer: 2,400 feet of visibility along the runway
RVR is reported in hundreds of feet, so a reported value of 24 equals 2,400 feet of runway visibility.
Question 7: A passage reads: 'When a pilot uses the phrase 'request flight following,' the controller may provide radar traffic advisories on a workload-permitting basis. This service does not replace the need for VFR pilots to maintain their own terrain and traffic separation.' A VFR pilot receiving flight following requests a lower altitude. What must the pilot still ensure?
- That ATC approves the altitude change before descending
- That the pilot maintains their own terrain and traffic separation (Correct answer)
- That a new flight plan is filed reflecting the new altitude
- That the destination airport is notified of the altitude change
Correct answer: That the pilot maintains their own terrain and traffic separation
The passage explicitly states that flight following does not replace the VFR pilot's responsibility to maintain their own terrain and traffic separation.
ATSA Reading Comprehension Skills 5
A passage reads: 'Minimum fuel is not an emergency declaration but indicates a pilot cannot accept any undue delay.
A pilot declaring minimum fuel must be afforded priority.' A pilot declares minimum fuel.
The controller has a choice between two routings of equal distance.
What should the controller do?