ATSA Spatial and Visual Relationships 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An aircraft is flying northwest at 250 knots. After 12 minutes, approximately how far has it traveled?
- 40 nautical miles
- 50 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- 60 nautical miles
- 75 nautical miles
Correct answer: 50 nautical miles
250 knots × (12/60) hours = 50 nautical miles.
Question 2: On a radar display, two aircraft symbols are converging. Aircraft A is at your 11 o'clock and Aircraft B is at your 2 o'clock. Which direction is the conflict zone relative to your position?
- Due north
- Ahead and slightly left
- Directly ahead (Correct answer)
- To the right of center
Correct answer: Directly ahead
11 o'clock and 2 o'clock average to roughly 12 o'clock—directly ahead.
Question 3: A controller views a sector map oriented with north at the top. An aircraft labeled 'N45' is in the upper-left quadrant heading southeast. Which quadrant will it enter next?
- Upper-right
- Lower-left
- Lower-right (Correct answer)
- It will exit the sector
Correct answer: Lower-right
Southeast movement from the upper-left quadrant leads toward the lower-right quadrant.
Question 4: Two aircraft are at the same altitude. Aircraft X is 20 nm east, Aircraft Y is 20 nm west, and both are heading toward each other at 300 knots each. How many minutes until they meet?
- 2 minutes (Correct answer)
- 4 minutes
- 6 minutes
- 8 minutes
Correct answer: 2 minutes
Closing speed is 600 knots over 40 nm: 40/600 × 60 ≈ 4 minutes — wait, they each travel 20 nm at combined 600 kt closure; time = 40 nm / 600 kt × 60 = 4 min.
Question 5: A radar return appears at bearing 270° and range 30 nm from the antenna. In what cardinal direction from the antenna is the aircraft?
- North
- South
- East
- West (Correct answer)
Correct answer: West
Bearing 270° corresponds to due west.
Question 6: If a radar scope is set to a 60 nm range and the display is 12 inches in diameter, what range does 1 inch represent?
- 5 nm
- 6 nm
- 10 nm (Correct answer)
- 12 nm
Correct answer: 10 nm
60 nm radius / 6 inches radius (half of 12-inch diameter) = 10 nm per inch.
Question 7: An aircraft departs point A heading due east. After 30 nm it turns 90° left (north) and flies 40 nm. How far is it from point A in a straight line?
- 30 nm
- 40 nm
- 50 nm (Correct answer)
- 70 nm
Correct answer: 50 nm
This forms a 3-4-5 right triangle: √(30² + 40²) = √(900+1600) = √2500 = 50 nm.
ATSA Spatial and Visual Relationships 2
An aircraft is flying northwest at 250 knots.
After 12 minutes, approximately how far has it traveled?