CPC Aircraft Performance & Systems Knowledge for Controllers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) issue to pilots, and how should controllers respond?
- Resolution advisories (RAs) that pilots must follow; controllers must not issue conflicting instructions during an RA (Correct answer)
- Traffic advisories only; controllers maintain full separation responsibility
- Ground proximity warnings; controllers should issue immediate climb clearance
- Altitude deviations that controllers must approve before the pilot acts
Correct answer: Resolution advisories (RAs) that pilots must follow; controllers must not issue conflicting instructions during an RA
When a TCAS Resolution Advisory (RA) is issued, pilots must follow it even if it conflicts with ATC instructions; controllers must not countermand an RA and should resume normal separation after the RA is resolved.
Question 2: A pilot announces 'TCAS RA, climbing.' What should the controller do immediately?
- Issue an immediate stop-climb instruction to maintain separation
- Acknowledge the TCAS RA, do not issue conflicting instructions, and clear the airspace above if possible (Correct answer)
- Transfer the aircraft to another sector immediately
- Issue a traffic alert to all nearby aircraft
Correct answer: Acknowledge the TCAS RA, do not issue conflicting instructions, and clear the airspace above if possible
The controller must acknowledge the RA, avoid issuing instructions that conflict with the RA maneuver, and monitor the situation until the crew reports 'clear of conflict.'
Question 3: What is GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System), and what immediate action should a controller take when a pilot reports a GPWS alert?
- Provide terrain information and resume normal operations
- Issue emergency handling and clear airspace for immediate climb (Correct answer)
- Verify the aircraft's altitude on radar and advise accordingly
- Transfer to military radar for terrain avoidance
Correct answer: Issue emergency handling and clear airspace for immediate climb
A GPWS alert indicates potential controlled flight into terrain (CFIT); controllers must immediately provide unrestricted climb clearance and emergency handling without delay.
Question 4: What does an aircraft's 'V speeds' (e.g., V1, VR, V2) communicate to controllers about departure operations?
- The winds the aircraft requires for safe departure
- Critical decision, rotation, and safety speeds that determine abort/continue decisions and climb performance (Correct answer)
- The airspeeds at which the aircraft must be turned on departure
- Nothing — V speeds are internal crew information with no ATC relevance
Correct answer: Critical decision, rotation, and safety speeds that determine abort/continue decisions and climb performance
Understanding V speeds helps controllers appreciate why crews cannot stop after V1, and why departure separations must allow adequate runway and obstacle clearance time.
Question 5: What is 'engine-out performance' and why does it affect ATC handling of departures?
- Aircraft can accelerate faster with one engine inoperative
- Aircraft climb performance is significantly degraded, requiring special routing and altitude consideration (Correct answer)
- Engine failure always triggers an immediate emergency declaration
- Fuel burn doubles, requiring ATC to shorten all routes
Correct answer: Aircraft climb performance is significantly degraded, requiring special routing and altitude consideration
Engine-out climb performance is substantially less than all-engines-operating, meaning aircraft may be unable to climb at normal rates and may need specific departure routes to clear obstacles.
Question 6: What is the significance of 'aircraft category' (A, B, C, D) in approach operations?
- It determines the aircraft's transponder code
- It defines approach speed ranges that determine procedure turn timing, visibility requirements, and missed approach instructions (Correct answer)
- It sets the wake turbulence category for separation
- It indicates the aircraft's fuel type
Correct answer: It defines approach speed ranges that determine procedure turn timing, visibility requirements, and missed approach instructions
Aircraft approach categories (based on 1.3 times stall speed in landing configuration) determine the approach minima, timing, and procedure design for each aircraft type.
CPC Aircraft Performance & Systems Knowledge for Controllers 2
What does TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) issue to pilots, and how should controllers respond?