TBAS - Test of Basic Aviation Skills Directional Orientation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Your UAV is flying on a heading of 090° (East). From the UAV's perspective, which direction corresponds to the target located directly behind you?
- North
- South
- East
- West (Correct answer)
Correct answer: West
With a heading of 090° (East), the front of the UAV points East. The direction directly behind the UAV (180° opposite its heading) would be West (090° + 180° = 270°). Therefore, the target directly behind you is to the West.
Question 2: You are piloting a UAV on a direct Southerly heading (180°). A request comes in to identify the target to your left. Which cardinal direction is to the UAV's left?
- North
- East (Correct answer)
- South
- West
Correct answer: East
When heading South (180°), the UAV's nose is pointing down on a standard map. A 90-degree turn to the left from a Southerly heading will point you towards East (180° - 90° = 090°). Therefore, the target to your left is East.
Question 3: A UAV is currently oriented on a heading of 270° (West). From the pilot's point of view, where is the Northern target located?
- Directly ahead
- To the right (Correct answer)
- Behind
- To the left
Correct answer: To the right
The UAV is heading West (270°). North (360°/0°) is 90 degrees clockwise, or to the right, of West. Therefore, from the pilot's perspective, the Northern target is to the right.
Question 4: Which of the following scenarios is correct? Your UAV is heading 360° (North) and the target to the West is requested.
- The target is to the right.
- The target is directly ahead.
- The target is to the left. (Correct answer)
- The target is behind you.
Correct answer: The target is to the left.
When heading North (360°/0°), East is to the right (090°), South is behind (180°), and West is to the left (270°). Therefore, the Western target is located to the UAV's left.
Question 5: Your UAV is on a heading of 045° (Northeast). From your perspective in the UAV, the Southern target would be located generally...
- Ahead and to the right
- Behind and to the left
- Behind and to the right (Correct answer)
- Ahead and to the left
Correct answer: Behind and to the right
Your heading is Northeast (045°). South is at 180°. The relative direction is 180° - 045° = 135° to your right. This places the Southern target behind you and to your right.
Question 6: Imagine your UAV is flying with a heading of 315° (Northwest). A command instructs you to locate the Eastern target. Where would you look from the UAV's cockpit?
- Behind and to the left
- Directly to the right
- Ahead and to the right
- Behind and to the right (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Behind and to the right
Your heading is Northwest (315°). East is at 090°. The angular difference is 135 degrees clockwise (to the right). A turn greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees to the right places the target behind you and to your right.
Your UAV is flying on a heading of 090° (East).
From the UAV's perspective, which direction corresponds to the target located directly behind you?