CTO Clearance Delivery & Ground Control 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard lost communication procedure for an IFR aircraft that has not yet departed?
- The pilot should depart VFR and proceed to destination
- The pilot should remain on the ground and attempt communication on guard frequency 121.5 (Correct answer)
- The aircraft should return to the gate and notify airline operations
- The pilot should squawk 7600 and depart on the filed route after the clearance void time
Correct answer: The pilot should remain on the ground and attempt communication on guard frequency 121.5
An IFR aircraft that loses communication before departure should remain on the ground and attempt contact on the emergency guard frequency 121.5 MHz.
Question 2: What does 'expect further clearance (EFC) time' provide to a pilot holding on the ground?
- Permission to depart at the stated time
- An estimate of when ATC expects to issue an amended or onward clearance (Correct answer)
- A guarantee that the aircraft will depart within that time
- The time at which the IFR flight plan expires
Correct answer: An estimate of when ATC expects to issue an amended or onward clearance
EFC time gives the pilot an estimated time when ATC anticipates being able to issue further clearance, assisting fuel and contingency planning.
Question 3: Which agency has ultimate authority for movement on the ramp area (non-movement area) of a commercial airport?
- Ground Control (ATC)
- Airport authority or airline ramp control (Correct answer)
- TSA security
- Customs and Border Protection
Correct answer: Airport authority or airline ramp control
The non-movement area (ramp) is under the jurisdiction of the airport authority or airline ramp control, not ATC, unless specifically delegated.
Question 4: A departing aircraft requests to expedite taxi due to a fuel concern. Ground Control should:
- Deny the request and maintain normal sequencing
- Prioritize the aircraft's movement while ensuring safety and coordinating with Local Control (Correct answer)
- Declare a fuel emergency on the aircraft's behalf
- Transfer the aircraft to Local Control immediately
Correct answer: Prioritize the aircraft's movement while ensuring safety and coordinating with Local Control
Ground Control should accommodate reasonable operational requests by prioritizing the aircraft's movement within safety constraints and coordinating with Local Control.
Question 5: What is the maximum taxi speed typically authorized for jet aircraft on an airport movement area without specific restrictions?
- 10 knots
- There is no FAA-mandated maximum; operators follow company procedures (Correct answer)
- 25 knots on straight taxiways
- 15 knots at all times
Correct answer: There is no FAA-mandated maximum; operators follow company procedures
The FAA does not mandate a specific taxi speed for jet aircraft; operators follow company operations specifications, though ATC may advise caution.
Question 6: What coordination is required before Ground Control can authorize an aircraft to enter a runway for intersection departure?
- No coordination needed if the runway is clear
- Local Control must approve the intersection entry since it has runway jurisdiction (Correct answer)
- The pilot must obtain approval from the airline dispatcher
- ARTCC must approve all intersection departures
Correct answer: Local Control must approve the intersection entry since it has runway jurisdiction
Any aircraft entering a runway, including for an intersection departure, requires Local Control's approval as the controller responsible for the runway.
Question 7: When a controller issues the instruction 'Give way to the B737 on your left,' what is the pilot expected to do?
- Stop and hold position until the B737 passes
- Yield by slowing or stopping to allow the B737 priority (Correct answer)
- Increase speed to clear the path before the B737 arrives
- Contact the B737 directly on ground frequency to coordinate
Correct answer: Yield by slowing or stopping to allow the B737 priority
'Give way' means the pilot must yield right-of-way by slowing or stopping to allow the other aircraft to proceed first.
CTO Clearance Delivery & Ground Control 5
What is the standard lost communication procedure for an IFR aircraft that has not yet departed?