FEAST Air Traffic Controller Knowledge 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What phraseology does a controller use to instruct a pilot to fly a specific magnetic heading?
- 'Fly heading [number]' (Correct answer)
- 'Turn to bearing [number]'
- 'Navigate course [number]'
- 'Steer azimuth [number]'
Correct answer: 'Fly heading [number]'
The standard ATC phraseology is 'Fly heading [degrees]' when assigning a specific magnetic heading to an aircraft.
Question 2: What does a flashing green light signal from the control tower mean to an aircraft on the ground?
- Cleared to taxi (Correct answer)
- Cleared for takeoff
- Return to starting point
- Stop immediately
Correct answer: Cleared to taxi
A flashing green light directed at a ground vehicle or aircraft means it is cleared to taxi.
Question 3: The acronym 'MVA' in ATC stands for:
- Minimum Vectoring Altitude (Correct answer)
- Maximum Visibility Approach
- Military Vectoring Area
- Minimum Velocity Airspace
Correct answer: Minimum Vectoring Altitude
MVA (Minimum Vectoring Altitude) is the lowest altitude controllers may assign to radar-vectored IFR aircraft in a given sector.
Question 4: Which transponder squawk code indicates a radio communication failure?
- 7600 (Correct answer)
- 7700
- 7500
- 0000
Correct answer: 7600
Squawk 7600 alerts ATC that the aircraft has lost two-way radio communication capability.
Question 5: A 'wake turbulence' separation standard primarily applies to which situation?
- A light aircraft following a heavy aircraft on the same approach path (Correct answer)
- Two jets flying in formation at the same altitude
- A helicopter hovering near a runway
- An aircraft departing into a headwind
Correct answer: A light aircraft following a heavy aircraft on the same approach path
Wake turbulence separation protects smaller aircraft from the vortices shed by heavier aircraft ahead of them on approach or departure.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 'Traffic Information Service' (TIS) datalink?
- Provides cockpit display of nearby transponder-equipped traffic (Correct answer)
- Transmits weather radar data to the aircraft
- Issues automated clearances during high-workload periods
- Controls aircraft transponder codes remotely
Correct answer: Provides cockpit display of nearby transponder-equipped traffic
TIS downlinks radar-derived traffic data to appropriately equipped aircraft, displaying nearby traffic positions in the cockpit.
Question 7: When a controller says 'expedite,' the pilot is expected to:
- Comply with the clearance with increased urgency (Correct answer)
- Acknowledge and comply at normal pace
- Request clarification before proceeding
- Increase altitude immediately
Correct answer: Comply with the clearance with increased urgency
The word 'expedite' signals urgency and requires the pilot to execute the instruction without delay.
FEAST Air Traffic Controller Knowledge 3
What phraseology does a controller use to instruct a pilot to fly a specific magnetic heading?