CFC Safety & Emergency Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a pilot declares 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,' what priority does this transmission receive compared to all other communications?
- Equal priority to ATC clearances
- Absolute highest priority, all other traffic must yield (Correct answer)
- Priority only on emergency frequencies
- Priority only if acknowledged by ATC
Correct answer: Absolute highest priority, all other traffic must yield
A MAYDAY declaration gives absolute priority over all other communications on any frequency.
Question 2: Which squawk code should a pilot select when experiencing radio communication failure in VMC conditions?
- 7500
- 7600 (Correct answer)
- 7700
- 7000
Correct answer: 7600
Squawk 7600 indicates radio communication failure (NORDO) to ATC.
Question 3: A flight communicator receives a distress call but cannot determine the aircraft's position. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Broadcast the distress call to all stations
- Request the pilot to activate ELT immediately
- Ask the pilot to transmit for DF homing (Correct answer)
- Contact the nearest ARTCC
Correct answer: Ask the pilot to transmit for DF homing
Requesting the pilot to transmit continuously allows direction-finding equipment to locate the aircraft.
Question 4: Under FAR Part 91, a pilot experiencing an emergency may deviate from any rule to the extent necessary. What must the pilot do if requested by ATC after the emergency?
- File a written report within 48 hours
- Submit a written report to the FAA Administrator (Correct answer)
- Notify the NTSB immediately
- File an ASRS report within 10 days
Correct answer: Submit a written report to the FAA Administrator
FAR 91.3 requires pilots who deviate during an emergency to submit a written report to the FAA Administrator upon request.
Question 5: What does the phonetic alphabet word 'WILCO' mean in aviation communications?
- Message received and understood
- I have received your message and will comply (Correct answer)
- Standing by for further instructions
- Affirmative, cleared as requested
Correct answer: I have received your message and will comply
WILCO means 'I have received your message, understand it, and will comply with it.'
Question 6: During an in-flight emergency, a pilot on 121.5 MHz hears another aircraft's ELT signal. What action should the monitoring station take first?
- Immediately notify search and rescue
- Attempt to contact the ELT-equipped aircraft on 121.5 (Correct answer)
- Log the signal and monitor for 5 minutes
- Alert the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
Correct answer: Attempt to contact the ELT-equipped aircraft on 121.5
The first step is to attempt contact with the aircraft on 121.5 MHz to determine if it is a genuine emergency or an accidental activation.
Question 7: A flight communicator is informed of an overdue IFR aircraft. Which agency is responsible for coordinating search and rescue operations in the contiguous US?
- FAA Air Traffic Organization
- Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) (Correct answer)
- Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center
- National Search and Rescue Committee
Correct answer: Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC)
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) coordinates inland SAR operations in the contiguous United States.
CFC Safety & Emergency Communication 2
When a pilot declares 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,' what priority does this transmission receive compared to all other communications?