CTO Air Traffic Control Procedures & Communications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a pilot reports 'minimum fuel,' what action must the tower controller take?
- Declare an emergency on the pilot's behalf
- Inform the appropriate ATC facilities and give priority handling (Correct answer)
- Immediately clear all other traffic from the airport
- Request the pilot divert to the nearest alternate airport
Correct answer: Inform the appropriate ATC facilities and give priority handling
A 'minimum fuel' advisory requires the controller to relay the information to relevant ATC facilities and provide priority handling, though it is not yet an emergency declaration.
Question 2: What phraseology should a controller use when issuing a wake turbulence caution to a small aircraft following a heavy jet?
- 'Caution, wake turbulence, heavy jet 3 miles ahead'
- 'Caution, wake turbulence' (Correct answer)
- 'Traffic alert, heavy aircraft'
- 'Avoid slipstream from preceding heavy jet'
Correct answer: 'Caution, wake turbulence'
FAA Order 7110.65 specifies the standard phraseology 'Caution, wake turbulence' when warning pilots of potential wake turbulence.
Question 3: A pilot reads back a runway assignment incorrectly. The controller's required response is to:
- Issue a SIGMET and update the ATIS
- Immediately re-issue the correct clearance and verify readback (Correct answer)
- Note the error and monitor the aircraft's position
- Contact the supervisor before taking any action
Correct answer: Immediately re-issue the correct clearance and verify readback
Controllers must immediately correct any erroneous readback to prevent runway incursions or other safety hazards.
Question 4: What does the term 'position and hold' (now 'line up and wait') authorize a pilot to do?
- Take off immediately
- Taxi to and hold on the assigned runway without taking off (Correct answer)
- Cross an active runway and hold on the far side
- Enter the runway and await further clearance from approach control
Correct answer: Taxi to and hold on the assigned runway without taking off
'Line up and wait' authorizes the aircraft to taxi onto the assigned runway and hold in takeoff position without crossing further.
Question 5: Which radar service is available to VFR aircraft in Class D airspace upon pilot request?
- Mandatory radar sequencing
- Stage III radar service only
- Basic radar traffic advisory service (Class D services) (Correct answer)
- Full TRACON approach service
Correct answer: Basic radar traffic advisory service (Class D services)
Tower controllers may provide basic radar traffic advisories to VFR aircraft in Class D airspace when workload permits.
Question 6: A 'LAHSO' clearance requires the pilot to land and hold short of an intersecting runway. What must the controller verify before issuing this clearance?
- Runway length exceeds 10,000 feet
- Pilot acceptance and the available landing distance (ALD) is sufficient (Correct answer)
- No IFR traffic is within 20 miles
- All taxiways are clear of ground traffic
Correct answer: Pilot acceptance and the available landing distance (ALD) is sufficient
Controllers must verify that the pilot accepts the LAHSO clearance and that the available landing distance meets the aircraft's performance requirements.
Question 7: When two aircraft are cleared to the same runway for intersection departures, what is the minimum separation standard?
- 1 minute or 3 miles radar separation (Correct answer)
- Visual separation only, at controller discretion
- 6,000 feet or traffic in sight
- Wake turbulence separation always applies regardless of aircraft weight class
Correct answer: 1 minute or 3 miles radar separation
FAA Order 7110.65 requires at least 1 minute or 3 miles radar separation between intersection departures using the same runway.
CTO Air Traffic Control Procedures & Communications 2
When a pilot reports 'minimum fuel,' what action must the tower controller take?