CTO Airport Operations & Traffic Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct phraseology for instructing an aircraft to enter a holding pattern at a fix?
- 'Hold short of [fix], expect further clearance'
- 'Hold [direction] of [fix] on the [course], [leg length], right/left turns, expect further clearance [time]' (Correct answer)
- 'Circle [fix] until advised, maintain [altitude]'
- 'Maintain [altitude], expect approach clearance [time], standby'
Correct answer: 'Hold [direction] of [fix] on the [course], [leg length], right/left turns, expect further clearance [time]'
FAA Order 7110.65 specifies holding instructions must include direction, fix, course, leg length if non-standard, turn direction, and EFC time.
Question 2: Which surface movement area requires an explicit ATC clearance to enter at a Class B airport?
- Ramp areas controlled by the airline
- Any taxiway, runway, or movement area as defined in the airport certification manual (Correct answer)
- Only active runways
- Areas within 200 feet of any jet blast hazard
Correct answer: Any taxiway, runway, or movement area as defined in the airport certification manual
At towered airports, the 'movement area' (taxiways, runways, and other areas requiring ATC clearance) is defined by airport certification documents and all require explicit ATC clearance.
Question 3: A pilot declares an emergency and requests an immediate landing. The runway is occupied by a crossing aircraft. What is the tower controller's first priority?
- Issue a go-around to the emergency aircraft to maintain sequence
- Remove the obstruction from the runway and clear the emergency aircraft to land (Correct answer)
- Notify the ARFF and then sequence the emergency aircraft normally
- Transfer the emergency aircraft to approach control
Correct answer: Remove the obstruction from the runway and clear the emergency aircraft to land
The controller must immediately clear the runway obstruction and provide the emergency aircraft unobstructed access to land, while simultaneously alerting ARFF.
Question 4: What does 'progressive taxi instructions' mean in ATC operations?
- Faster-than-normal taxi speed authorized by the tower
- Step-by-step routing instructions issued to assist a pilot unfamiliar with the airport (Correct answer)
- Priority taxi clearance given to an air carrier over a GA aircraft
- Taxi instructions that allow crossing multiple runways in one clearance
Correct answer: Step-by-step routing instructions issued to assist a pilot unfamiliar with the airport
Progressive taxi instructions provide turn-by-turn guidance to pilots unfamiliar with the airport layout or when complexity warrants incremental direction.
Question 5: When two aircraft are on a collision course and neither is clearly the right-of-way holder, the general rule is:
- The faster aircraft yields to the slower
- The aircraft on the left must give way to the aircraft on the right (Correct answer)
- The aircraft at lower altitude has the right of way
- Powered aircraft yield to other powered aircraft regardless of position
Correct answer: The aircraft on the left must give way to the aircraft on the right
14 CFR 91.113 states that when aircraft converge at approximately the same altitude, the aircraft on the other's right has the right of way.
Question 6: What action should a tower controller take when an aircraft fails to acknowledge a clearance after two attempts?
- Issue a light gun signal if the aircraft is visible and continue attempting radio contact (Correct answer)
- Hand off to the TRACON and document the event
- Declare a communications failure and issue an ATC Zero
- Request another aircraft on frequency to relay the message only
Correct answer: Issue a light gun signal if the aircraft is visible and continue attempting radio contact
When radio contact fails, controllers use light gun signals to communicate with aircraft within visual range while continuing radio attempts on all available frequencies.
Question 7: Which term describes the area at an airport designated for aircraft deicing operations?
- Restricted movement area
- Ground deicing pad or deicing apron (Correct answer)
- Cold weather operations zone
- ARFF staging area
Correct answer: Ground deicing pad or deicing apron
Airports designate a specific deicing pad or apron where aircraft receive ground deicing/anti-icing treatment, separate from gates and taxiways.
CTO Airport Operations & Traffic Management 3
What is the correct phraseology for instructing an aircraft to enter a holding pattern at a fix?