CFC Aviation Communication Protocols & Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a pilot reports 'minimum fuel,' what action should ATC take?
- Declare an emergency on behalf of the aircraft
- Acknowledge and provide expeditious handling while monitoring the situation (Correct answer)
- Immediately clear all traffic and give the aircraft priority landing
- Instruct the pilot to declare an emergency
Correct answer: Acknowledge and provide expeditious handling while monitoring the situation
'Minimum fuel' is an advisory, not an emergency; ATC should acknowledge and expedite handling but not declare an emergency for the pilot.
Question 2: Which phraseology correctly acknowledges a readback of a clearance?
- 'Roger'
- 'Affirmative'
- 'Correct' or callsign only (Correct answer)
- 'Wilco'
Correct answer: 'Correct' or callsign only
ATC should respond with 'Correct' or simply use the aircraft's callsign to confirm an accurate readback.
Question 3: A controller issues a heading of 270. The pilot reads back 'Heading 260.' What must the controller do?
- Accept the readback since it is close enough
- Issue a correction immediately: 'Negative, heading 270' (Correct answer)
- Re-issue the clearance only if the pilot has already turned
- Wait to see if the pilot turns to the correct heading
Correct answer: Issue a correction immediately: 'Negative, heading 270'
Any incorrect readback must be corrected immediately to prevent a deviation.
Question 4: What is the correct phraseology to cancel an IFR clearance for a VFR-capable flight?
- 'Cancel IFR, [callsign]' (Correct answer)
- '[Callsign], IFR flight plan closed'
- '[Callsign], squawk VFR'
- 'Cancel approach clearance, [callsign]'
Correct answer: 'Cancel IFR, [callsign]'
The standard phraseology is 'Cancel IFR' followed by the aircraft callsign.
Question 5: Which item is NOT required in an initial position report on a non-radar route?
- Aircraft identification
- Altitude
- ETA for the next reporting point
- Aircraft type and color (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Aircraft type and color
Position reports require identification, position, time, altitude, and next fix ETA — not aircraft type or color.
Question 6: What does 'ATIS' stand for, and what is its primary purpose?
- Automated Terminal Information Service — provides continuous weather and airport info (Correct answer)
- Air Traffic Information System — relays NOTAMs to pilots
- Automated Traffic Identification System — assigns squawk codes
- Airspace Terminal Integration Service — coordinates IFR separations
Correct answer: Automated Terminal Information Service — provides continuous weather and airport info
ATIS is the Automated Terminal Information Service, broadcasting continuous terminal weather and operational data.
Question 7: A pilot is instructed to 'hold short of runway 28L.' What readback is required?
- No readback is required for hold-short instructions
- Read back the hold-short instruction including the runway designation (Correct answer)
- Simply acknowledge with 'Roger'
- Read back only if the instruction was issued by ground control
Correct answer: Read back the hold-short instruction including the runway designation
FAA regulations require pilots to read back all runway hold-short instructions, including the specific runway.
CFC Aviation Communication Protocols & Procedures 2
When a pilot reports 'minimum fuel,' what action should ATC take?