ATSA - Air Traffic Skills Assessment Deductive Reasoning Scenarios Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An air traffic control center has the following rules for assigning flight levels: 1) Eastbound flights must be assigned an odd altitude (e.g., 31,000 ft). 2) Westbound flights must be assigned an even altitude (e.g., 32,000 ft). 3) Turbojet aircraft must be assigned an altitude at or above 29,000 ft. 4) Propeller aircraft must be assigned an altitude below 25,000 ft. A controller is assigning an altitude to a turbojet aircraft flying westbound. Which of the following is a valid altitude assignment?
- 28,000 ft
- 31,000 ft
- 34,000 ft (Correct answer)
- 29,000 ft
Correct answer: 34,000 ft
The aircraft is a turbojet, so its altitude must be at or above 29,000 ft. It is also westbound, so its altitude must be an even number. Of the choices, only 34,000 ft meets both criteria.
Question 2: A controller is sequencing departures with the following constraints: 1) Flight 50 must depart sometime before Flight 70. 2) Flight 60 must depart immediately after Flight 80. 3) Flight 90 must depart last. Which of the following is a valid departure sequence?
- 50, 80, 60, 70, 90 (Correct answer)
- 80, 60, 90, 50, 70
- 70, 50, 80, 60, 90
- 80, 50, 60, 70, 90
Correct answer: 50, 80, 60, 70, 90
This sequence is valid because Flight 50 departs before Flight 70, Flight 60 departs immediately after Flight 80, and Flight 90 is the last to depart, satisfying all three rules.
Question 3: At a control tower, the following staffing rules apply: 1) If the weather is below VFR minimums, then Sam must work the radar position. 2) If Sam works the radar position, then Maria must assist. 3) If Maria assists, then Tom cannot be on break. The weather is currently below VFR minimums. Which of the following statements must be true?
- Sam is not working radar.
- Maria is not assisting.
- Tom is on break.
- Tom cannot be on break. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Tom cannot be on break.
The weather is below VFR, which triggers the first rule, meaning Sam must work radar. This triggers the second rule, meaning Maria must assist. This, in turn, triggers the third rule, which concludes that Tom cannot be on break. The logic flows directly from the initial condition through all three rules.
Question 4: Three aircraft (A, B, C) are in a holding pattern with these altitude restrictions: 1) Aircraft A and Aircraft B must have at least 1,000 feet of vertical separation. 2) Aircraft C must be at a higher altitude than Aircraft A. 3) Aircraft B is holding at 10,000 feet. Which of the following is a permissible set of altitudes for Aircraft A and Aircraft C?
- A = 10,000 ft, C = 11,000 ft
- A = 11,000 ft, C = 10,000 ft
- A = 9,000 ft, C = 12,000 ft (Correct answer)
- A = 10,500 ft, C = 11,500 ft
Correct answer: A = 9,000 ft, C = 12,000 ft
Aircraft A must be at least 1,000 feet away from Aircraft B (10,000 ft), so 9,000 ft is valid. Aircraft C must be higher than Aircraft A, and 12,000 ft is higher than 9,000 ft. All aircraft maintain at least 1,000 feet of separation from each other (A-B is 1000 ft, A-C is 3000 ft, B-C is 2000 ft).
Question 5: An airport uses two runways, 18 and 36, based on these operational rules: 1) If the wind is from the north (340-020 degrees), only Runway 36 is used. 2) If the wind is from the south (160-200 degrees), only Runway 18 is used. 3) If there is a crosswind (all other wind directions), both runways are available but heavy jets must use Runway 36. The current wind is 240 degrees. What can be concluded?
- Only Runway 18 is in use.
- A heavy jet can land on Runway 18.
- A light aircraft can land on Runway 18. (Correct answer)
- Only Runway 36 is in use.
Correct answer: A light aircraft can land on Runway 18.
The wind is from 240 degrees, which is a crosswind. According to rule #3, this means both runways are available. However, heavy jets are restricted to Runway 36. A light aircraft is not restricted and can therefore use either runway, including Runway 18.
Question 6: To be cleared for a specific RNAV procedure, an aircraft must meet two conditions: its onboard GPS must be certified, AND its pilot must be currently rated for the procedure. If an aircraft is not cleared for the procedure, it must be given radar vectors. A controller is handling an aircraft whose pilot is currently rated, but its GPS is not certified. Which of the following actions is correct?
- The aircraft can be cleared for the RNAV procedure.
- The aircraft must be given radar vectors. (Correct answer)
- The pilot's rating allows for a conditional clearance.
- The aircraft must hold until the GPS is certified.
Correct answer: The aircraft must be given radar vectors.
The rule states that BOTH the GPS and the pilot rating are required. Since the GPS is not certified, the aircraft does not meet the conditions for the RNAV procedure. The subsequent rule dictates that if an aircraft is not cleared for the procedure, it must be given radar vectors.
ATSA - Air Traffic Skills Assessment Deductive Reasoning Scenarios Questions and Answers
An air traffic control center has the following rules for assigning flight levels: 1) Eastbound flights must be assigned an odd altitude (e.g., 31,000 ft). 2) Westbound flights must be assigned an even altitude (e.g., 32,000 ft). 3) Turbojet aircraft must be assigned an altitude at or above 29,000 ft. 4) Propeller aircraft must be assigned an altitude below 25,000 ft.
A controller is assigning an altitude to a turbojet aircraft flying westbound.
Which of the following is a valid altitude assignment?