CTO Light Gun Signals & Lost Communications 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under 14 CFR 91.185, when an IFR flight experiences radio failure in IMC, the pilot should fly the last assigned route unless a vector was issued, in which case the pilot flies:
- Direct to the destination
- The expected route from the last clearance received (Correct answer)
- Back to the departure airport
- A random heading toward the alternate
Correct answer: The expected route from the last clearance received
After a vector, the pilot should proceed via the route the ATC controller had expected the aircraft to fly per the last received clearance.
Question 2: What does a steady yellow light gun signal tell a taxiing aircraft?
- Stop immediately
- Exercise extreme caution
- Taxi with caution (Correct answer)
- Hold short of the runway
Correct answer: Taxi with caution
A steady yellow light directed at an aircraft on the ground means taxi with caution.
Question 3: For the altitude component of 14 CFR 91.185 lost communications procedures, a pilot should fly the HIGHEST of which three altitudes?
- Assigned, expected, or minimum IFR altitude for the route segment (Correct answer)
- Assigned, filed, or cruise altitude
- MEA, MOCA, or MVA
- Cruise, assigned, or MDA
Correct answer: Assigned, expected, or minimum IFR altitude for the route segment
The pilot should fly the highest of the assigned altitude, expected altitude, or minimum IFR altitude for the route segment.
Question 4: At a towered airport, a NORDO aircraft on final approach observes no light gun signals from the tower. What should the pilot do?
- Continue the approach and land, then contact the tower by phone (Correct answer)
- Divert to the nearest non-towered airport
- Circle the field until receiving a signal
- Return to the departure airport
Correct answer: Continue the approach and land, then contact the tower by phone
If no light gun signals are received, the pilot should continue the approach and land, then contact the tower by telephone after landing.
Question 5: The light gun used by tower controllers operates on which portion of the electromagnetic spectrum?
- Infrared
- Ultraviolet
- Visible light (Correct answer)
- Radio frequency
Correct answer: Visible light
Light guns emit beams of visible light (red, green, or white) that can be aimed at specific aircraft.
Question 6: A controller notices an aircraft maneuvering erratically near the airport with no radio contact. Which action should the controller take FIRST?
- Issue a NOTAM
- Attempt contact on guard frequency 121.5 MHz (Correct answer)
- Activate runway lighting to maximum intensity
- Call the FAA Command Center
Correct answer: Attempt contact on guard frequency 121.5 MHz
The first action should be to attempt radio contact on the emergency guard frequency 121.5 MHz.
Question 7: When directing a light gun signal at a specific aircraft, how does the controller ensure the signal reaches only the intended aircraft?
- By broadcasting on a discrete frequency simultaneously
- By aiming the directional beam at the aircraft and using short, focused bursts (Correct answer)
- By coordinating with radar to lock onto the transponder
- By using a rotating beacon pattern unique to each aircraft
Correct answer: By aiming the directional beam at the aircraft and using short, focused bursts
The controller aims the directional beam precisely at the intended aircraft to avoid confusing other traffic in the area.
CTO Light Gun Signals & Lost Communications 4
Under 14 CFR 91.185, when an IFR flight experiences radio failure in IMC, the pilot should fly the last assigned route unless a vector was issued, in which case the pilot flies: