SPC Airport and Airspace Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum speed below 10,000 feet MSL in the contiguous United States?
- 200 knots
- 250 knots (Correct answer)
- 300 knots
- Unlimited unless ATC restricts
Correct answer: 250 knots
FAR 91.117 limits aircraft speed to 250 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) below 10,000 feet MSL.
Question 2: What floor altitude defines Class E airspace in most areas of the US where it extends upward from the surface?
- 700 feet AGL
- 1,200 feet AGL (Correct answer)
- 3,000 feet AGL
- 5,000 feet AGL
Correct answer: 1,200 feet AGL
In most areas, Class E airspace begins at 1,200 feet AGL where it is the default controlled airspace above Class G.
Question 3: When approaching an uncontrolled airport, on which side of the runway should the traffic pattern be flown if no other information is available?
- Right side
- Left side (Correct answer)
- Either side at pilot's discretion
- The side with the segmented circle
Correct answer: Left side
The standard traffic pattern at US airports is left-hand (left turns), unless otherwise specified by a right-hand traffic pattern indicator.
Question 4: What does a displaced threshold on a runway mean for landing aircraft?
- The runway is closed beyond that point
- Landing must begin at or beyond the displaced threshold (Correct answer)
- Landing before the displaced threshold is permitted but the area cannot be used for takeoff roll
- The area before the displaced threshold is only usable for helicopter operations
Correct answer: Landing must begin at or beyond the displaced threshold
A displaced threshold means the landing threshold is moved from the runway's physical beginning; pilots must touch down at or beyond the displaced threshold markings.
Question 5: What is the correct phraseology for a pilot-controlled lighting system (PCL) to activate runway lights at full intensity?
- Click the mic 3 times within 5 seconds
- Click the mic 5 times within 5 seconds
- Click the mic 7 times within 5 seconds (Correct answer)
- Transmit your aircraft identifier twice
Correct answer: Click the mic 7 times within 5 seconds
Clicking the microphone 7 times within 5 seconds activates PCL runway lights at full (high) intensity.
Question 6: What type of airspace is the airspace within 30 nautical miles of a Class B primary airport, from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL, used for?
- Class C airspace
- Class B airspace
- Mode C veil requiring transponder with altitude encoding (Correct answer)
- Class A airspace
Correct answer: Mode C veil requiring transponder with altitude encoding
The 30 NM 'Mode C veil' around Class B airports requires an altitude-reporting (Mode C) transponder from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL.
Question 7: What does the absence of a tetrahedron or wind sock indication at an uncontrolled airport require of a pilot?
- Land on the longest runway
- Determine wind direction by observing smoke or water and land into the wind (Correct answer)
- Request a PIREP from another aircraft
- Declare an emergency and contact ATC
Correct answer: Determine wind direction by observing smoke or water and land into the wind
Without visual wind indicators, the pilot must determine wind direction from other visual cues such as smoke drift or water surface ripples and land into the wind.
SPC Airport and Airspace Procedures 3
What is the maximum speed below 10,000 feet MSL in the contiguous United States?