Air Traffic Control Coordination Flashcards
7 cards from real DADE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Air Traffic Control Coordination flashcards as text
During an in-flight emergency, the captain declares a MAYDAY. What is the dispatcher's immediate ATC-coordination responsibility?
Answer: Monitor communications, coordinate with ATC facilities along the route and at the planned diversion point, and provide the PIC with all needed operational support
The dispatcher supports the emergency by coordinating with ATC, arranging diversion resources, and maintaining continuous communication with the PIC per 14 CFR 121.557.
A flight operating under an IFR clearance encounters an unexpected thunderstorm cell blocking the cleared route. The PIC deviates without a prior ATC clearance. What must the PIC do, and how does the dispatcher support?
Answer: The PIC notifies ATC of the deviation as soon as practicable; the dispatcher monitors and may coordinate an amended clearance with ATC on behalf of the operator
14 CFR 91.3 allows deviation from ATC clearances to meet an emergency; the PIC must notify ATC, and the dispatcher supports by coordinating the amended routing.
When issuing a revised dispatch release for a flight that has already received an ATC IFR clearance with a different route, the dispatcher must:
Answer: Coordinate with the PIC so the crew can request an amended ATC clearance reflecting the new route before departing
The dispatch release and ATC clearance must be consistent; the PIC must request an amended clearance from ATC to match any revised routing on the release.
What does a 'hard altitude' assigned by ATC during departure mean for a crew-requested altitude change?
Answer: The aircraft must maintain that specific altitude and cannot deviate without an explicit ATC amendment
A hard altitude is a specific ATC-assigned altitude that the crew must maintain precisely; it is not a block altitude and cannot be changed without ATC authorization.
Under 14 CFR 121.663, a dispatcher may release a flight on an IFR flight plan only if the weather at the destination meets or exceeds:
Answer: The applicable weather minimums for the instrument approach to be used, or the alternate requirements if an alternate is required
14 CFR 121.663 requires destination weather to meet applicable approach minimums at ETA, and if not, an alternate must be filed with weather meeting alternate minimums.
What is the purpose of the ATC 'Flow Evaluation Area' (FEA) used in Traffic Flow Management?
Answer: A defined geographic area used to count flights transiting a congested airspace corridor for metering purposes
An FEA is a geographic boundary defined in TFMS to measure and control the number of flights transiting a congested sector or corridor.
A dispatcher receives a Pilot Weather Report (PIREP) of severe icing at FL240 along the planned route, which ATC has not yet actioned. The dispatcher's correct response is:
Answer: Coordinate with the PIC to assess the hazard, amend the dispatch release with a revised altitude or route, and ensure ATC is informed of the safety concern
The dispatcher has an independent safety obligation to act on hazard reports; coordinating with the PIC and ensuring ATC awareness fulfills the joint-authority mandate.