AVOP Practice Test

The Airside Driving Test is a high-stakes assessment where even minor errors in understanding airfield lighting or right-of-way can lead to a runway incursion and immediate disqualification.

Whether you are booking the GTAA AVOP practice test style written exam at Toronto Pearson, the AVOP Written Assessment in Calgary or the theory exam at Montréal-Trudeau, the questions are drawn from that airport's own traffic directives, so read the local handbook first and then use the practice questions below to check what actually stuck.

AVOP Written Test at a Glance

Toronto Pearson (GTAA): 30 questions for GA/DA and DA permits, 40 for the D permit, 90 percent to pass plus the mandatory site-identification map question; the administrator may correct up to three answers on request; rewrite after one week, 30 days after a second fail, full re-training after a third fail. Calgary (YYC): 90 percent to pass, maximum three attempts at least 16 hours apart, then a Notice of AVOP Ineligibility. Montréal (ADM): theory exam of about 45 minutes for a D/A permit and 60 minutes for a D permit, followed by the radiotelephony exam for D applicants. (source) (source)

GTAA AVOP Practice Test: What the Toronto Pearson Written Exam Covers

The GTAA AVOP written test is built entirely from the Airport Traffic Directives (ATD), the three-book set Toronto Pearson publishes each year. Requirements and Administration covers applications, renewals, vehicle marking and lighting rules, and the infraction and appeal process. ATD DA AVOP covers apron surfaces, uncontrolled taxiways and service roads, plus the pavement markings, signs and lights you will meet there. ATD D AVOP adds the radiotelephone protocols used at Pearson and the markings, signage and lighting of taxiways and runways.

According to the 2026 ATD, GA/DA and DA candidates answer 30 questions and D candidates answer 40, all selected from those books. A 90 percent score is required, and the mandatory site-identification map question must be answered correctly regardless of your overall score, which is why labelling the training map from memory is the single most valuable drill before test day. On request, the administrator will review the paper with you and correct up to three wrong answers if time permits. A failed written test means a one-week wait before rewriting; if only the map portion failed, you can book the next available session. Written sessions are appointment-only and are booked through the AVOP page on torontopearson.com.

A good GTAA AVOP practice test should therefore mirror that split: apron markings, signage and lighting for DA candidates, plus radio phraseology and runway/taxiway identification for D candidates. Calgary's YYC written assessment uses the same 90 percent passing mark with a maximum of three attempts spaced at least 16 hours apart, and Montréal's ADM theory exam runs about 45 minutes for a D/A permit and 60 minutes for a D permit, so the practice sets on this page work for all three airports.

Check your employment contract. Most major airlines and ground handlers cover 100% of the AVOP application and testing fees for their staff.

Ready to Master the Airfield?

Get instant access to our full library of AVOP Exam Questions and practice materials today, or download the free AVOP practice test PDF above to study offline before your written session.

Always check your permit expiration date. Operating airside with an expired AVOP is a serious security violation and can lead to immediate termination of your airside access privileges.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample AVOP - Airside Vehicle Operator's Permit Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free AVOP - Airside Vehicle Operator's Permit practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. You are driving on an airside vehicle corridor when you see an Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle approaching from behind with its emergency lights and siren activated. Which of the following actions is required?

   • A. Increase your speed to stay ahead of the emergency vehicle.
   • B. Flash your headlights to acknowledge them and then maintain your course and speed.
   • C. Safely pull over to the side of the roadway, come to a complete stop, and wait for the vehicle to pass.
   • D. Contact ATC on the radio to ask the ARFF vehicle for its destination.

Answer: C. Safely pull over to the side of the roadway, come to a complete stop, and wait for the vehicle to pass.

Standard procedure on any road, including airside, is to yield the right-of-way to responding emergency vehicles. This involves pulling over to the side safely and stopping completely to provide a clear path for the emergency response.

Answer: D. A runway.

Runways are part of the maneuvering area and are under the strictest control of ATC. No aircraft or vehicle may enter a runway without explicit permission from the tower controller.

Answer: C. "Ground, Maintenance 1 plus two."

Standard radio phraseology requires the lead escort vehicle to identify itself by its call sign followed by 'plus' and the number of vehicles being escorted. This provides a clear and concise message to ATC about the total size of the vehicle movement.

Answer: A. Clear the runway or taxiway — there is danger

A flashing red light directed at a vehicle means to clear the runway or taxiway immediately because there is danger.

Take the full AVOP - Airside Vehicle Operator's Permit practice test

Official Resources

• Toronto Pearson (GTAA) Airside Vehicle Operator's Permits — the official AVOP page with the current Airport Traffic Directives, written test schedule, appointment booking and renewal requirements.
• Calgary International Airport (YYC) AVOP Office — Calgary Airports' AVOP Office page with the Airside Traffic Directives and AVOP Manual, appointment booking for written and practical assessments, and contact details.
• Transport Canada TP 312 Aerodromes Standards and Recommended Practices — the federal standard for airport markings, signs and lighting that every Canadian airport's AVOP directives are written to comply with.