CFC Flight Operations & Coordination 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'flow control' mean in the context of traffic management?
- Managing fuel flow on turbine engines
- Regulating the rate at which aircraft enter a congested airspace or airport to match capacity (Correct answer)
- Controlling the flow of passenger boarding
- Adjusting autopilot pitch for optimal descent
Correct answer: Regulating the rate at which aircraft enter a congested airspace or airport to match capacity
Flow control is a traffic management technique that regulates departure and arrival rates to match the capacity of a congested fix, sector, or airport.
Question 2: A crew reports an on-board medical emergency and requests priority landing. What should the flight communicator coordinate?
- Advise them to divert to the nearest VFR airport
- Coordinate priority handling with ATC, alert airport emergency services, and relay medical information to receiving ground crews (Correct answer)
- File a medical report after landing
- Notify only the airline's medical desk
Correct answer: Coordinate priority handling with ATC, alert airport emergency services, and relay medical information to receiving ground crews
Medical emergencies require immediate coordination with ATC for priority landing, activation of airport emergency services, and pre-positioning of medical personnel — all simultaneously.
Question 3: What is the significance of 'EDCT' in departure flow management?
- Estimated Distance to Conflict Track
- Expect Departure Clearance Time — a wheels-up window issued to manage en route traffic (Correct answer)
- Engine Data Capture Time
- Expected Destination Clearance Time
Correct answer: Expect Departure Clearance Time — a wheels-up window issued to manage en route traffic
EDCT (Expect Departure Clearance Time) is a departure window issued by the ATCSCC, typically within ±5 minutes, to meter traffic into congested areas.
Question 4: When reading back altitude assignments, a pilot says 'climb and maintain flight level three five zero.' Which ATC response confirms this is correct?
- 'Roger'
- 'Affirmative'
- 'Readback correct' (Correct answer)
- 'Cleared as filed'
Correct answer: 'Readback correct'
'Readback correct' is the standardized controller response confirming that the pilot accurately repeated the clearance.
Question 5: In oceanic airspace, what is the standard longitudinal separation between aircraft on the same track and altitude?
- 50 nm
- 80 nm
- 10 minutes or as specified in letters of agreement (Correct answer)
- 5 nm
Correct answer: 10 minutes or as specified in letters of agreement
Oceanic longitudinal separation is typically time-based (commonly 10 or 15 minutes) or distance-based depending on position reporting capability and the applicable LOA.
Question 6: What action should a flight communicator take when a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is activated over an area where a flight is currently operating?
- Log the TFR and include it in the post-flight debrief
- Immediately notify the crew so they can coordinate with ATC to exit or avoid the TFR before violation occurs (Correct answer)
- Wait for ATC to contact the aircraft
- File a NOTAM for the crew to read on arrival
Correct answer: Immediately notify the crew so they can coordinate with ATC to exit or avoid the TFR before violation occurs
Immediate crew notification is required when a TFR activates in their operating area so they can coordinate with ATC before inadvertently violating the restriction.
Question 7: Which document serves as the primary legal authority for ATC procedures in the United States?
- FAA Advisory Circulars
- FAA Order 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control) (Correct answer)
- ICAO Doc 4444
- AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual)
Correct answer: FAA Order 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control)
FAA Order 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control) is the primary regulatory document governing ATC procedures and phraseology in US airspace.
CFC Flight Operations & Coordination 5
What does the term 'flow control' mean in the context of traffic management?