ACE Airport Communications Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a pilot declares a MAYDAY, what priority does ATC give to that aircraft?
- Standard sequencing with a notation
- Immediate priority over all other traffic (Correct answer)
- Priority only if the runway is clear
- Priority only during IFR conditions
Correct answer: Immediate priority over all other traffic
A MAYDAY declaration signals a life-threatening emergency, granting the aircraft absolute priority over all other traffic.
Question 2: What is the correct phraseology for a controller to instruct a pilot to stop transmitting temporarily?
- Stop talking
- Stand by (Correct answer)
- Hold your transmission
- Silence please
Correct answer: Stand by
'Stand by' is the standard ICAO/FAA phraseology instructing a station to wait and cease non-emergency transmissions.
Question 3: Which frequency is designated as the universal emergency frequency monitored by ATC and military facilities?
- 121.5 MHz (Correct answer)
- 123.45 MHz
- 118.0 MHz
- 126.2 MHz
Correct answer: 121.5 MHz
121.5 MHz is the international aeronautical emergency frequency continuously monitored by ATC and search-and-rescue agencies.
Question 4: An airport operations vehicle needs to cross an active runway. What must the driver do before proceeding?
- Flash headlights and proceed if no aircraft are visible
- Obtain explicit clearance from the control tower (Correct answer)
- Check the ATIS and proceed if winds are calm
- Notify airport operations center by cell phone
Correct answer: Obtain explicit clearance from the control tower
Explicit clearance from the air traffic control tower is mandatory before any vehicle crosses an active runway to prevent incursions.
Question 5: What does the term 'readback' mean in aviation communications?
- Recording a transmission for later playback
- Repeating a clearance or instruction back to the controller (Correct answer)
- Confirming receipt with a single 'Roger'
- Requesting re-transmission of a garbled message
Correct answer: Repeating a clearance or instruction back to the controller
A readback requires the recipient to repeat the clearance verbatim so the controller can verify it was received correctly.
Question 6: Which of the following items must always be read back to ATC?
- Taxiway names only
- Runway crossing and holding instructions, and altimeter settings (Correct answer)
- Weather advisories and ATIS codes
- Ground delay program information
Correct answer: Runway crossing and holding instructions, and altimeter settings
FAA Order 7110.65 requires mandatory readback of runway crossing, hold-short instructions, and altimeter settings to prevent misunderstandings.
Question 7: If airport ground staff cannot establish radio contact with the control tower, what visual signal indicates clearance to proceed onto the runway?
- Flashing white light
- Steady green light (Correct answer)
- Alternating red and green light
- Flashing red light
Correct answer: Steady green light
A steady green light from the tower light gun signals vehicles and aircraft that they are cleared to proceed.
ACE Airport Communications Procedures 2
When a pilot declares a MAYDAY, what priority does ATC give to that aircraft?