ATSA Spatial and Visual Relationships 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Aircraft A is at your 3 o'clock position moving toward your 9 o'clock. Aircraft B is at your 9 o'clock moving toward your 3 o'clock. Describe their relative paths.
- They are diverging
- They are on parallel tracks
- They are on a head-on collision course (Correct answer)
- They are in a crossing pattern
Correct answer: They are on a head-on collision course
Aircraft moving in directly opposite directions along the same east-west line are on a head-on course.
Question 2: A controller assigns an aircraft a left 360° orbit over a fix. After completing the orbit, in what direction is the aircraft facing compared to when it started?
- Opposite direction
- 90° left of original heading
- Same as the original heading (Correct answer)
- 180° from original heading
Correct answer: Same as the original heading
A complete 360° orbit returns the aircraft to its original heading.
Question 3: On a radar display, an aircraft's data block shows 'FL240 FL200↓'. What does this indicate?
- The aircraft is at FL240, cleared to FL200, and descending (Correct answer)
- The aircraft is at FL200 and was previously at FL240
- The aircraft is climbing from FL200 to FL240
- The aircraft has two transponder codes
Correct answer: The aircraft is at FL240, cleared to FL200, and descending
In ATC data blocks, the first altitude is current, the second with arrow shows cleared altitude and direction of flight.
Question 4: An aircraft is flying a 090° heading (due east). The controller tells it to turn right to 180°. How many degrees does the aircraft turn?
- 90 degrees (Correct answer)
- 180 degrees
- 270 degrees
- 45 degrees
Correct answer: 90 degrees
From 090° turning right (clockwise) to 180° is a 90° turn.
Question 5: A holding pattern is published as 'east of the VOR, right turns, 1-minute legs.' If an aircraft enters the hold flying westbound toward the VOR, which direction does it turn outbound?
- Left (south)
- Right (north) (Correct answer)
- It continues westbound
- It turns 180° immediately
Correct answer: Right (north)
Right-turn holding east of the VOR means the outbound leg is eastbound with a right turn from the inbound track (westbound).
Question 6: Two aircraft are at the same altitude. One is 10 nm north of a fix, the other is 10 nm south. Both are heading toward the fix at the same speed. When will they be in conflict?
- Immediately
- When they are each 5 nm from the fix
- When they reach the fix simultaneously (Correct answer)
- They are not in conflict because they approach from opposite sides
Correct answer: When they reach the fix simultaneously
Both aircraft will arrive at the same point (the fix) at the same time, creating a conflict at the fix.
Question 7: A radar scope is oriented north-up. An aircraft in the lower-right quadrant has a leader line pointing toward the upper-left. In what direction is the aircraft traveling?
- Southeast
- Northwest (Correct answer)
- Northeast
- Southwest
Correct answer: Northwest
Upper-left on a north-up display represents northwest.
ATSA Spatial and Visual Relationships 5
Aircraft A is at your 3 o'clock position moving toward your 9 o'clock.
Aircraft B is at your 9 o'clock moving toward your 3 o'clock.
Describe their relative paths.