CTO Approach & Departure Sequencing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a VFR aircraft is sequenced behind an IFR aircraft on visual final, what responsibility does the tower transfer to the VFR pilot?
- Maintaining IFR separation standards
- Visual separation from the preceding IFR aircraft (Correct answer)
- Navigation via published approach procedures
- Compliance with ATC radar vectors
Correct answer: Visual separation from the preceding IFR aircraft
When the tower instructs a VFR pilot to follow traffic, the pilot assumes responsibility for visual separation from that traffic.
Question 2: What is a 'land and hold short operation' (LAHSO) and when may it be authorized?
- Landing with immediate turnoff before the end of the runway, authorized in IMC
- Landing and stopping before an intersecting runway or taxiway, authorized in VMC only (Correct answer)
- Landing with brakes held during rollout, authorized at all times
- Landing short of the threshold, authorized during low visibility
Correct answer: Landing and stopping before an intersecting runway or taxiway, authorized in VMC only
LAHSO requires the aircraft to stop before an intersecting runway or designated point and is only authorized in VMC with pilot concurrence.
Question 3: A heavy jet is departing and a light aircraft is ready at an intersection on the same runway. What wake turbulence consideration applies?
- The light aircraft may depart immediately after the heavy rotates
- The light aircraft must wait 3 minutes or until wake turbulence dissipates (Correct answer)
- The light aircraft should depart before the heavy to avoid wake turbulence
- No special consideration is needed since they are on the same runway
Correct answer: The light aircraft must wait 3 minutes or until wake turbulence dissipates
A 3-minute wake turbulence interval is required before a light aircraft departs behind a heavy from the same runway.
Question 4: What does 'in-trail spacing' refer to in departure sequencing?
- The horizontal distance between consecutive departures measured in nautical miles (Correct answer)
- The vertical separation between climbing aircraft on the same route
- The time interval between successive IFR departures on the same route
- The minimum runway occupancy time allowed for each departure
Correct answer: The horizontal distance between consecutive departures measured in nautical miles
In-trail spacing specifies the distance (NM) that must exist between consecutive aircraft on the same route or fix.
Question 5: When sequencing IFR arrivals in IMC, which separation standard primarily applies on final approach inside the outer marker?
- Vertical separation of 1,000 feet
- Radar separation of 3 nautical miles minimum (Correct answer)
- Wake turbulence time-based separation only
- Visual separation once aircraft are in sight
Correct answer: Radar separation of 3 nautical miles minimum
Inside the outer marker, approach control transfers aircraft to the tower, which must maintain at least 3 NM radar separation.
Question 6: An inbound aircraft is number three in sequence but reports a passenger medical emergency. How should the controller respond?
- Advise the pilot to maintain current position in the sequence
- Coordinate with approach to resequence the aircraft to number one and expedite handling (Correct answer)
- Declare an emergency on behalf of the aircraft and issue a go-around to the number one aircraft
- Issue direct vectors to final without coordinating with approach control
Correct answer: Coordinate with approach to resequence the aircraft to number one and expedite handling
Medical emergencies require expediting the aircraft by coordinating with approach control to move it ahead in the sequence.
Question 7: What information must a controller include when issuing a visual approach clearance?
- Runway, traffic to follow, and the words 'cleared visual approach' (Correct answer)
- Runway and current altimeter setting
- Runway, sequence number, and expected landing time
- Runway, winds, and field elevation
Correct answer: Runway, traffic to follow, and the words 'cleared visual approach'
A visual approach clearance must include the runway, preceding traffic to follow if applicable, and the clearance phrase.
CTO Approach & Departure Sequencing 3
When a VFR aircraft is sequenced behind an IFR aircraft on visual final, what responsibility does the tower transfer to the VFR pilot?