ATSA ATC Collision Simulation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Two aircraft are on converging courses at the same altitude. Aircraft A is to the left of Aircraft B. Under right-of-way rules, which aircraft must give way?
- Aircraft A gives way to Aircraft B
- Aircraft B gives way to Aircraft A (Correct answer)
- Both aircraft must turn right
- The slower aircraft gives way
Correct answer: Aircraft B gives way to Aircraft A
The aircraft on the left (Aircraft A) has the right-of-way, so Aircraft B must give way by turning right.
Question 2: A controller issues a traffic alert: 'Traffic, 2 o'clock, 5 miles, same altitude, northbound.' What does '2 o'clock' indicate?
- The traffic is directly ahead
- The traffic is slightly right of the aircraft's nose (Correct answer)
- The traffic is at a 90-degree angle to the right
- The traffic is behind and to the right
Correct answer: The traffic is slightly right of the aircraft's nose
The clock position '2 o'clock' indicates traffic slightly to the right of the aircraft's 12 o'clock nose position.
Question 3: During a conflict resolution simulation, the minimum radar separation standard in en route airspace below FL600 is:
- 3 nautical miles
- 5 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- 7 nautical miles
- 10 nautical miles
Correct answer: 5 nautical miles
The standard radar separation in en route airspace is 5 nautical miles horizontally.
Question 4: An aircraft's TCAS issues a Resolution Advisory (RA). What is the ATC controller's primary responsibility?
- Issue an immediate new clearance to override the RA
- Maintain current instructions until the pilot reports clear of conflict
- Do not issue instructions contrary to the RA (Correct answer)
- Immediately coordinate with adjacent facilities
Correct answer: Do not issue instructions contrary to the RA
Controllers must not issue instructions that conflict with a TCAS RA because flight crews are required to follow RAs.
Question 5: In a simulation, two IFR aircraft are at the same altitude on crossing tracks. The preferred method of separation is:
- Require one aircraft to change altitude
- Issue speed adjustments to create time-based separation
- Vector one aircraft to pass behind the other
- All of the above are acceptable (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above are acceptable
Controllers may use altitude, speed, or vectoring techniques — all are valid methods to achieve required separation.
Question 6: A 'near mid-air collision' (NMAC) is defined as an incident where aircraft came within what distance of each other?
- 100 feet vertically or 500 feet horizontally
- 500 feet of each other (Correct answer)
- 200 feet vertically or 1,000 feet horizontally
- 1 nautical mile of each other
Correct answer: 500 feet of each other
An NMAC is defined as an occurrence associated with aircraft in flight where the possibility of collision existed, with separation of 500 feet or less.
Question 7: When vectoring an aircraft for conflict resolution, a controller should ensure the assigned heading will not take the aircraft:
- Below its filed cruise altitude
- Through a MOA without coordination
- Into another aircraft's flight path or restricted airspace (Correct answer)
- Outside of radar coverage
Correct answer: Into another aircraft's flight path or restricted airspace
Vectors must be carefully planned to ensure the resolution heading doesn't create a new conflict or violate airspace boundaries.
ATSA ATC Collision Simulation 2
Two aircraft are on converging courses at the same altitude.
Aircraft A is to the left of Aircraft B.
Under right-of-way rules, which aircraft must give way?