CTO Approach & Departure Sequencing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When sequencing aircraft on final approach, what minimum wake turbulence separation is required between a heavy aircraft followed by a small aircraft?
- 3 nautical miles
- 4 nautical miles
- 5 nautical miles
- 6 nautical miles (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 6 nautical miles
A small aircraft following a heavy requires 6 nautical miles of radar separation to account for wake turbulence.
Question 2: An aircraft on a 5-mile final requests a go-around. What is the tower controller's FIRST action?
- Notify approach control
- Issue missed approach instructions (Correct answer)
- Sequence the aircraft back into the traffic flow
- Advise other aircraft of the go-around
Correct answer: Issue missed approach instructions
The controller must immediately issue missed approach instructions to ensure the aircraft climbs safely before coordinating further.
Question 3: What term describes the practice of issuing takeoff clearance while another aircraft is still on the runway but past the intersection in use?
- Conditional clearance
- Land and hold short
- Intersection departure
- Anticipated separation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Anticipated separation
Anticipated separation allows a departure clearance when the controller judges that required separation will exist when the departing aircraft reaches the runway.
Question 4: During simultaneous parallel runway operations, what is the minimum distance between centerlines of parallel runways for independent IFR approaches without specific authorization?
- 2,500 feet
- 3,000 feet
- 4,300 feet (Correct answer)
- 5,000 feet
Correct answer: 4,300 feet
Independent parallel IFR approaches require at least 4,300 feet between runway centerlines without special authorization.
Question 5: A pilot reports 'unable' when issued a speed restriction on final approach. What should the tower controller do?
- Cancel the approach clearance
- Coordinate alternate spacing with approach control (Correct answer)
- Issue a go-around immediately
- Reduce the restriction to a lower speed
Correct answer: Coordinate alternate spacing with approach control
When a pilot cannot comply with a speed restriction, the controller must coordinate with approach control to re-sequence or adjust spacing.
Question 6: What is the purpose of issuing a 'number one, cleared to land' callout to a sequenced aircraft?
- It assigns the aircraft a specific landing sequence position
- It confirms the aircraft is first for landing and cleared for the runway (Correct answer)
- It cancels any previous speed restrictions issued
- It authorizes the aircraft to deviate from the published approach
Correct answer: It confirms the aircraft is first for landing and cleared for the runway
Stating 'number one' confirms the aircraft's sequence position and the clearance authorizes landing on the specified runway.
Question 7: Which departure sequence technique involves assigning specific departure times to control flow into a congested en route sector?
- Miles-in-trail restriction
- Expect departure clearance time (EDCT) (Correct answer)
- Departure fix posting
- Flow control advisory
Correct answer: Expect departure clearance time (EDCT)
An EDCT is assigned by the Traffic Management Unit to meter departures and reduce congestion downstream.
CTO Approach & Departure Sequencing 2
When sequencing aircraft on final approach, what minimum wake turbulence separation is required between a heavy aircraft followed by a small aircraft?