CFC Flight Operations & Coordination 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a pilot declares PAN-PAN, what level of urgency does this signal indicate?
- Routine traffic advisory
- Urgency — a serious condition not immediately threatening life (Correct answer)
- Distress — immediate danger to life or aircraft
- Weather advisory only
Correct answer: Urgency — a serious condition not immediately threatening life
PAN-PAN indicates an urgency condition that is serious but not immediately life-threatening, one step below MAYDAY.
Question 2: A flight communicator receives a PIREP indicating severe turbulence at FL350. To whom should this be immediately relayed?
- Only the originating aircraft
- All aircraft operating in that altitude range and ATC sectors affected (Correct answer)
- The airline dispatch office only
- Weather forecasting center only
Correct answer: All aircraft operating in that altitude range and ATC sectors affected
Severe turbulence PIREPs must be immediately relayed to all aircraft in the affected area and relevant ATC sectors to prevent accidents.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of an ATIS broadcast?
- To relay ATC clearances to departing aircraft
- To provide current weather and NOTAMs so pilots can reduce routine frequency congestion (Correct answer)
- To coordinate handoffs between approach and tower
- To broadcast emergency frequencies
Correct answer: To provide current weather and NOTAMs so pilots can reduce routine frequency congestion
ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) provides current airport weather and NOTAMs so pilots already have routine information before contacting ATC, reducing radio congestion.
Question 4: During a runway incursion, a flight communicator's FIRST action should be:
- File an incident report
- Alert ATC immediately so aircraft movements can be halted (Correct answer)
- Notify airport security
- Document the aircraft tail numbers involved
Correct answer: Alert ATC immediately so aircraft movements can be halted
Immediate notification to ATC is critical during a runway incursion so controllers can halt conflicting traffic and prevent a collision.
Question 5: Which phraseology correctly acknowledges a readback and confirms it is correct?
- 'Roger'
- 'Affirmative'
- 'Readback correct' (Correct answer)
- 'Wilco'
Correct answer: 'Readback correct'
'Readback correct' is the standard phraseology used by ATC to confirm that a pilot's readback of a clearance was accurate.
Question 6: A ground stop has been issued for an airport due to weather. Which flights are typically exempted?
- All commercial flights
- Medical emergencies and aircraft already airborne and declaring minimum fuel (Correct answer)
- VFR flights under 5,000 ft
- Cargo flights operating at night
Correct answer: Medical emergencies and aircraft already airborne and declaring minimum fuel
Ground stops typically exempt aircraft with declared emergencies such as medical situations or minimum fuel, as those safety situations override traffic management restrictions.
Question 7: What does the term 'wheels-up time' refer to in traffic flow management?
- The moment an aircraft actually lifts off the runway
- An assigned departure time window given by ATCSCC to manage en route traffic (Correct answer)
- The scheduled gate departure time
- The time when landing gear is retracted after takeoff
Correct answer: An assigned departure time window given by ATCSCC to manage en route traffic
In traffic flow management, 'wheels-up time' (or EDCT) is a departure window assigned by the Air Traffic Control System Command Center to regulate traffic into congested areas.
CFC Flight Operations & Coordination 2
When a pilot declares PAN-PAN, what level of urgency does this signal indicate?