CFC International Communication Standards 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under ICAO Annex 10, which distress signal has absolute priority over all other transmissions?
- PAN-PAN
- SECURITE
- MAYDAY (Correct answer)
- URGENCY
Correct answer: MAYDAY
MAYDAY is the internationally recognized distress signal with absolute communications priority over all other transmissions.
Question 2: When a controller issues a conditional clearance such as 'Behind the landing Boeing 737, line up runway 28,' what must the pilot confirm before executing?
- Runway visual range
- The identified traffic (Correct answer)
- Wind direction and speed
- Altimeter setting
Correct answer: The identified traffic
The pilot must identify and confirm the reference traffic before executing a conditional clearance to ensure the condition is correctly understood.
Question 3: The ICAO phonetic alphabet was standardized primarily to:
- Speed up routine transmissions
- Reduce errors caused by similar-sounding letters over radio (Correct answer)
- Replace numeric codes in ATC clearances
- Allow non-English speakers to communicate more easily
Correct answer: Reduce errors caused by similar-sounding letters over radio
The phonetic alphabet replaces easily confused letters (e.g., B/D, M/N) with unique, internationally recognizable words to prevent miscommunication.
Question 4: What is the significance of the phrase 'NEGATIVE CONTACT' in ATC phraseology?
- The controller denies the clearance request
- Visual or radar contact with the aircraft has not been established (Correct answer)
- Communications frequencies are blocked
- The aircraft's transponder is not responding
Correct answer: Visual or radar contact with the aircraft has not been established
'NEGATIVE CONTACT' indicates the controller or pilot has not established the expected visual or radar contact with a specified aircraft or position.
Question 5: When ATC uses the phrase 'EXPEDITE,' what is the pilot's obligation?
- The instruction is advisory only
- The pilot must comply within 60 seconds
- The pilot must execute the instruction as quickly as safely possible (Correct answer)
- The pilot should request clarification before proceeding
Correct answer: The pilot must execute the instruction as quickly as safely possible
'EXPEDITE' directs the pilot to execute the instruction with maximum practical speed due to traffic or operational necessity.
Question 6: In international communications, what does 'QNH' refer to?
- The en-route transition altitude
- Altimeter setting giving altitude above mean sea level (Correct answer)
- The standard pressure setting of 29.92 inHg or 1013.25 hPa
- The airport elevation above ground level
Correct answer: Altimeter setting giving altitude above mean sea level
QNH is the altimeter sub-scale setting that makes the altimeter read the aircraft's altitude above mean sea level at the aerodrome.
Question 7: An aircraft transmitting 'PAN-PAN PAN-PAN PAN-PAN' is declaring:
- A distress condition requiring immediate assistance
- An urgency condition with a serious situation not requiring immediate assistance (Correct answer)
- A navigation warning for other aircraft in the area
- A medical emergency requiring priority handling only
Correct answer: An urgency condition with a serious situation not requiring immediate assistance
PAN-PAN signals an urgency condition — serious and requiring priority, but not the immediate grave danger that MAYDAY represents.
CFC International Communication Standards 4
Under ICAO Annex 10, which distress signal has absolute priority over all other transmissions?