Air Traffic Controller Flashcards

What does 'Class B airspace' typically surround in the United States?

Answer: The nation's busiest airports

Class B airspace surrounds the nation's busiest airports and requires an ATC clearance to enter.

A pilot reports turbulence as 'severe.' What does this mean for the aircraft?

Answer: Rapid altitude and attitude changes, occupants forced violently against restraints

Severe turbulence causes rapid, extreme changes in altitude and attitude, forcing unsecured occupants violently against restraints.

What is the primary purpose of the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)?

Answer: To warn pilots of conflicting traffic and provide resolution advisories

TCAS warns pilots of potential mid-air collisions and issues resolution advisories (RAs) to increase vertical separation.

What is a 'go-around' instruction used for?

Answer: Instructing a landing aircraft to abort its approach and climb away

A go-around instruction tells the pilot to abort the landing approach and execute a climb-out for another attempt.

Which weather phenomenon is most hazardous during takeoff and landing and is caused by a microburst?

Answer: Windshear

Microbursts create severe windshear — a sudden change in wind speed and direction — that is extremely hazardous during the takeoff and landing phases.

What does 'ATC clears' mean when used in a clearance delivery?

Answer: The pilot is given authorization to proceed as stated

The phrase 'ATC clears' introduces an official authorization, meaning the pilot is cleared to proceed exactly as stated in the clearance.

What is the FAA-defined 'ceiling' of an airport?

Answer: The height of the lowest broken or overcast cloud layer

Airport ceiling is the height above ground of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC).