Airport Operations (ACS)

Question 1

(Airport Operations)
If an airport responds to a pilots radio comm with, “aircraft calling stand by.” Does this count as two way radio communication?

Answer 1

No

Response needs to acknowledge call sign or tail number for it to be two way radio communication.

Question 2

(Airport Operations)
What is flight following?

Answer 2

Flight following allows ATC to keep an eye on VFR flights and give advisories when workload permits. There is no great reason to not use it outside of the departure airport.

ATC will be able to give traffic advisories, safety alerts like obstruction or low altitude, or radar vectors if wanted.

Question 3

(Airport Operations)
If you want flight following how is it requested?

Answer 3

Contact tower before departure and they may coordinate by giving out a departure frequency and transponder code then hand you over after takeoff.

You can also pick up flight following inflight by contacting the local approach control or ARTCC.

Question 4

(Airport Operations)
What is 121.5?

Answer 4

The emergency broadcast frequency. Can also be referred to as the guard frequency.

Question 5

(Airport Operations)
What is a remote communications outlet used for?

Answer 5

RCO is a transceiver located at an airport on the ground meant to communicate with flight service stations prior to takeoff or after landing. In small satellite airports without a control tower it maybe impossible for an aircraft on the ground to contact the FSS. When tuned into the RCO frequency, radio communications are relayed between an FSS briefer and the calling aircraft.

RCO’s are generally used for IFR operations like clearances, IFR cancellations, and departure authorizations.

VFR pilots can use the RCO to talk to an FSS and they can also be used to cancel a VFR flight plan after landing.

RCO frequencies can be found on sectionals and chart supplements.

Question 6

(Airport Operations)
What is a Special VFR clearance?

Answer 6

Allows you to takeoff from or land at an airport that is below VFR weather minimums. Ceilings below 1,000’ AGL and visibility less than 3 statute miles.

Can only get a special VFR clearance in class B, C, D, or E airspace. It only applies to controlled airspace.

Question 7

(Airport Operations)
How does a private pilot request special VFR?

Answer 7

request from ATC, it isn’t offered freely. Call up tower or approach control and ask for it. If you want one from a non towered airport, FSS can relay the request to the appropriate control center.

Private pilots can request special VFR between sunrise and sunset. To get one at night you need to be instrument rated and equipped.

Question 8

(Airport Operations)
When approaching a towered airport of intended landing, your radio goes out. What do you do?

Answer 8

Squak 7600 on the transponder to let tower know that the radio is out.

Call the tower using the tower number in the chart supplement.

Look out for light signals

Use a backup radio when close enough for the signal to reach

(All are viable options and the AIM lays out more)

Question 9

(Airport Operations)
What are the light gun signals in the air?

Answer 9

Solid green: cleared to land
Flashing green: return for landing
Solid red: continue circling\
Flashing red: unsafe do not land
Alternating red and green: exercise extreme caution

Question 10

(Airport Operations)
What are the light gun signals on the ground?

Answer 10

Solid green: cleared for takeoff
Flashing green: cleared to taxi
Solid red: stop
Flashing red: taxi clear of the runway
Flashing white: return to the starting place on the airport surface.
Alternating red and green: exercise extreme caution

Question 11

(Airport Operations)
What is a PAPI and how can you tell if an airport has one?

Answer 11

Precision Approach Path Indicator lights gives the pilots visual path indication via a lighting system that is angled so that different colors show at different glide paths. For airport that have the standard glide path of 3 degrees it will show two white lights and two red lights when on a 3 degree glide slope which indicates the correct landing path.

PAPI presence will be noted on the chart supplement.

Question 12

(Airport Operations)
What are the rotating beacon colors used at different airport classifications?

Answer 12

-Civil land airports: alternating white and green
-Water airports: white and yellow
-Heliports: green, yellow, and white
-Military: white and green. White flash goes twice before the green flash.

Question 13

(Airport Operations)
What is the NTSB’s definition of an accident?

Answer 13

an occurence associate with an aircraft that happens between the time any person boards the aircraft with an intent to fly and when they disembark wherein. Any person dies, suffers serious injury, and or the aircraft receives substantial damage.

Question 14

(Airport Operations)
Define Death, Serious Injury, and Substantial damage as it pertains to an accident.

Answer 14

Death: It must occur within 30 days of the accident

Serious injury: could mean any of the following; hospitalization for over 48 hours within seven days of the accident, a fracture of any bone except a simple fracture of fingers toes or nose, severe hemerages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage, internal organ damage or a second or third degree burn.

Substantial damage: refers to damage that affects performance, structural integrity, or anything that requires major repair or replacement of the affected components.

Substantial damage is not: engine failure or damage if only one engine is affected, bent fairings or cowling, dented skin or puncture holes, ground damage to the propeller or damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, or wing tips.

Question 15

(Airport Operations)
What is the difference between an accident and an incident?

Answer 15

Incident: defined as anything other than an accident that affects or could affect the safety of operations.
-incident reports only need to be reported if requested.
-Serious incidents have their own set of requirements.

Accidents need to be immediately reported to the NTSB and a report filed within 10 days.

Question 16

(Airport Operations)
If an aircraft is suspected to be missing how long does someone have to report it?

Answer 16

7 days. An aircraft suspected to be missing should be reported within seven days.

Question 17

(Airport Operations)
What voluntary report might you want to file if you violate an FAA regulation?

Answer 17

File a report with the aviation safety reporting system ASRS.

It gives pilots the ability to report without the consequence being suspension or something else serious.

Question 18

(Airport Operations)
If you accidentally hit a taxi light and cause 10,000 dollars worth of damage to the airport do you have to immediately send a report to the NTSB?

Answer 18

No. For an accident or serious accident the NTSB requires that you notify them immediately. Damage to property needs to exceed 25,000 dollars to require immediate notification.

Question 19

(Airport Operations)
How is the weather gotten before arrival to an airport?

Answer 19

listen to the airports automated terminal information service as soon as it can be received. (ATIS)

ATIS is a continuous broadcast that has to do with weather, runways of use, important NOTAM’s, and any other pertinent information that the airport wants you to know.

Question 20

(Airport Operations)
If youre landing at a nontowered airport how will you communicate with the other traffic?

Answer 20

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). Report position and intent. Talk directly with traffic in the area by using tail numbers if necessary to maintain separation.

10 miles out
5 miles out
3 miles out

Question 21

(Airport Operations)
How do you know which frequency is the CTAF?

Answer 21

CTAF can be found on the chart supplement and the sectional chart.

Question 22

(Airport Operations)
When landing at a nontowered airport in class G or E airspace what approach and traffic pattern procedures should you follow?

Answer 22

follow the common traffic pattern procedure. Advisory circular AC90-66B discusses the indepth procedures when landing at a nontowered airport.

Question 23

(Airport Operations)
What are the right of way rules as they pertain to the different categories of aircraft?

Answer 23

FAR 91.113

Hot air balloon
Gliders
Airships
Airplanes
Rotorcraft

Question 24

(Airport Operations)
What do you do if you are converging with, overtaking, or approaching head on to another aircraft?

Answer 24

Converging with: whichever aircraft is on the right has the right of way.

Overtaking: whichever aircraft being overtaken has the right of way. overtake on the right.

Approaching head on: each aircraft needs to alter course to the right.

Question 25

(Airport Operations)
In what other circumstance would aircraft have the right of way over all other aircraft.

Answer 25

All other aircraft must give the right of way to an aircraft in distress.

Aircraft in distress if it is in imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. Squak 7700 when in distress.

Question 26

(Airport Operations)
Who has the right of way when 2 or more aircraft are coming in for landing?

Answer 26

FAR 91.113

An aircraft on final approach has the right of way over aircraft in flight or operating on the surface. The aircraft on final approach cannot force a plane that just landed off the runway, if it is that close perform a go around or have an extended downwind to give enough time.

The aircraft at a lower altitude has right of way over other traffic in the pattern. Pilots must not use this rule in a way that will force other aircraft out of the way.

Question 27

(Airport Operations)
What collision avoidance techniques will you use during aircraft operations?

Answer 27

See and avoid is the responsibility of all passengers. 91.113 states that maintaining vigilance for other aircraft is required by federal regulations.

-Keep your eyes outside.
-Pay special attention to ramp areas and intersections.
-Before entering the runway make sure you can get a look at the final approach path.
-Always use all available and appropriate aircraft lighting when entering the traffic/airport environment to increase visibility of your aircraft.
-Takeoff and Climb result in a very high amount of collisions and accidents.