Aviation Air Traffic Control 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the emergency transponder code that all pilots should squawk when declaring an emergency?
- 7500
- 7600
- 7700 (Correct answer)
- 7777
Correct answer: 7700
Squawk 7700 is the universal emergency code that alerts ATC radar systems to an aircraft declaring an emergency.
Question 2: What does it mean when ATC says 'IDENT' over the radio?
- Identify yourself verbally
- Press the transponder IDENT button so your return appears distinctly on radar (Correct answer)
- Acknowledge the transmission
- Report your current altitude
Correct answer: Press the transponder IDENT button so your return appears distinctly on radar
When ATC says 'IDENT,' the pilot should press the transponder's IDENT button, causing the radar return to blossom or highlight on the controller's scope.
Question 3: What is the standard phraseology when reading back a runway assignment and hold-short instruction?
- 'Roger'
- Read back the runway number and hold-short point verbatim (Correct answer)
- Say 'Wilco'
- State only your callsign
Correct answer: Read back the runway number and hold-short point verbatim
FAA regulations and the AIM require pilots to read back runway assignments and hold-short instructions verbatim to prevent runway incursions.
Question 4: What does a pilot request when asking for a 'Practice ILS' approach at a towered airport?
- A practice approach using the ILS system for training under VFR conditions (Correct answer)
- Permission to fly the ILS in actual IMC
- An IFR clearance to the airport
- A simulated engine-out approach
Correct answer: A practice approach using the ILS system for training under VFR conditions
A practice ILS approach is a training approach flown under VFR where the pilot follows the ILS glideslope and localizer to maintain instrument currency or proficiency.
Question 5: What is 'progressive taxi' when provided by ATC?
- Taxi clearance for high-speed aircraft only
- Step-by-step taxi instructions provided by ATC to guide an unfamiliar pilot to the destination (Correct answer)
- Permission to taxi without stopping
- Taxi clearance for construction-zone routing
Correct answer: Step-by-step taxi instructions provided by ATC to guide an unfamiliar pilot to the destination
Progressive taxi is a service where ATC provides step-by-step taxi guidance to help pilots navigate complex or unfamiliar airport surfaces.
Question 6: What does a steady green light signal from the tower mean to an aircraft in flight?
- Return immediately
- Cleared to land (Correct answer)
- Exercise caution
- Give way to other aircraft
Correct answer: Cleared to land
A steady green light from the control tower to an aircraft in flight means cleared to land.
Aviation Air Traffic Control 1
What is the emergency transponder code that all pilots should squawk when declaring an emergency?