FEAST Air Traffic Controller 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An aircraft declares a MAYDAY emergency. What is the ATC's FIRST required action?
- Notify the supervisor immediately
- Acknowledge the emergency and ask the pilot's intentions (Correct answer)
- Clear all other traffic from the frequency
- Contact rescue coordination center
Correct answer: Acknowledge the emergency and ask the pilot's intentions
ATC must first acknowledge the emergency and determine the pilot's intentions before taking any other action.
Question 2: What does the term 'final approach fix' (FAF) refer to in instrument approach procedures?
- The point where landing gear must be extended
- The point where the final descent to the runway begins (Correct answer)
- The missed approach point
- The threshold of the runway
Correct answer: The point where the final descent to the runway begins
The FAF is the designated point where the aircraft begins its final descent toward the runway during an instrument approach.
Question 3: When two aircraft are converging at the same altitude, which has the right of way according to FAA rules?
- The faster aircraft
- The aircraft on the left
- The aircraft to the other's right (Correct answer)
- The aircraft at higher gross weight
Correct answer: The aircraft to the other's right
FAA rules specify that when two aircraft converge at the same altitude, the aircraft to the other's right has the right of way.
Question 4: What squawk code should a pilot use when experiencing radio failure in VFR conditions?
- 7500
- 7600 (Correct answer)
- 7700
- 1200
Correct answer: 7600
Squawk 7600 is the transponder code reserved for lost communications (radio failure).
Question 5: An aircraft is at 5,000 ft MSL and the terrain elevation below is 3,500 ft. What is the aircraft's AGL altitude?
- 5,000 ft
- 3,500 ft
- 1,500 ft (Correct answer)
- 8,500 ft
Correct answer: 1,500 ft
AGL (above ground level) is calculated by subtracting terrain elevation from MSL altitude: 5,000 - 3,500 = 1,500 ft.
Question 6: What is the standard separation minimum between IFR aircraft at the same altitude in radar-controlled airspace?
- 3 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- 5 nautical miles
- 10 nautical miles
- 1 nautical mile
Correct answer: 3 nautical miles
The standard radar separation minimum for IFR aircraft at the same altitude is 3 nautical miles in most controlled airspace.
Question 7: What action should ATC take if an aircraft does not respond to a frequency change after repeated calls?
- Issue a NOTAM for the route
- Try broadcasting in the blind on guard frequency 121.5 MHz (Correct answer)
- Immediately declare an emergency for the aircraft
- Coordinate with adjacent sectors only
Correct answer: Try broadcasting in the blind on guard frequency 121.5 MHz
If an aircraft does not respond, ATC should attempt contact on the emergency guard frequency 121.5 MHz by broadcasting in the blind.
FEAST Air Traffic Controller 2
An aircraft declares a MAYDAY emergency.
What is the ATC's FIRST required action?