Reading Comprehension Skills Flashcards

A passage reads: 'Minimum fuel is not an emergency declaration but indicates a pilot cannot accept any undue delay. A pilot declaring minimum fuel must be afforded priority.' A pilot declares minimum fuel. The controller has a choice between two routings of equal distance. What should the controller do?

Answer: Select the routing that avoids any undue delay and prioritize the aircraft

The passage requires that a minimum fuel declaration result in priority handling to avoid undue delay, even though it is not a formal emergency.

A regulation states: 'An aircraft may not be cleared to land on a runway that is not clear of other aircraft or vehicles unless the pilot reports the runway in sight.' A runway has a ground vehicle still crossing. A pilot reports the runway in sight. May the controller issue the landing clearance?

Answer: No, because the runway must be physically clear before any landing clearance

The regulation requires the runway to be clear; the 'pilot reports the runway in sight' clause is an additional condition, not an alternative to runway clearance.

A passage about conflict alerts reads: 'A conflict alert indicates predicted loss of separation within approximately 2 minutes. Controllers must evaluate and resolve the conflict before separation is lost.' Two aircraft trigger a conflict alert. The controller calculates they will conflict in 90 seconds. What does the passage require?

Answer: Evaluate and resolve the conflict before separation is actually lost

The passage requires controllers to resolve the conflict before separation is lost, not after; with 90 seconds until conflict, immediate action is required.

A directive reads: 'Position relief briefings must include current traffic, active runways, NOTAMs, and any non-standard equipment status. The relieving controller must verbally confirm readiness before assuming the position.' A briefing covers traffic and runways but omits NOTAMs. The relieving controller confirms readiness and takes over. What requirement was not met?

Answer: The inclusion of NOTAMs in the briefing

The directive lists NOTAMs as a required element of the briefing; omitting them means the briefing was incomplete even though other elements were covered.

A passage states: 'Approach control assumes responsibility for aircraft transferred from en route control once communication is established and the transfer is completed.' En route transfers an aircraft to approach control. The pilot calls approach but approach does not respond. Who has responsibility for the aircraft?

Answer: En route control, because the transfer is not yet completed

The passage requires both communication establishment and completion of transfer; since approach did not respond, the transfer is incomplete and en route retains responsibility.

A manual passage reads: 'Runway visual range (RVR) is reported in hundreds of feet and represents the maximum horizontal distance at which a pilot can see runway markings or lights.' RVR is reported as 24. What does this value represent?

Answer: 2,400 feet of visibility along the runway

RVR is reported in hundreds of feet, so a reported value of 24 equals 2,400 feet of runway visibility.

A passage reads: 'When a pilot uses the phrase 'request flight following,' the controller may provide radar traffic advisories on a workload-permitting basis. This service does not replace the need for VFR pilots to maintain their own terrain and traffic separation.' A VFR pilot receiving flight following requests a lower altitude. What must the pilot still ensure?

Answer: That the pilot maintains their own terrain and traffic separation

The passage explicitly states that flight following does not replace the VFR pilot's responsibility to maintain their own terrain and traffic separation.