Written Exam: Airspace, Communications and Radar Services Flashcards
A new ATIS recording is made every _______.
hour
Absence of sky condition and visibility on ATIS means:
There is at least a ceiling of 5,000’ and visibility is at least 5 miles or more.
What is an ATIS? Where are ATIS’s given?
A continuous broadcast of recorded information about the wind, weather, runway, and other information about the airport. They are given in selected high activity terminal areas.
What are three things that FSS (Flight Service Station) tells you?
- Pilot weather briefings
- Filing flight plans
- They initiate search and rescue (if you don’t show up at your location and close your flight plan)
What information can pilots get when flying en route from Flight Service workers?
- Updated weather
- TFRs (temporary flight restrictions)
- Status of special use airspace or MTRs (military training routes)
Why do you always use your radio when landing, even if the airport is desolate?
So you can get advisories to avoid running into other aircraft.
What does it mean if there is a little letter C inside a blue circle on the sectional chart?
means there is a CTAF for that TOWERED airport.
What does it mean if there is a little letter C inside a magenta circle on the sectional chart?
means there is a CTAF for that NON-TOWERED airport.
When inbound to an airport, at about how many miles out should you make your first call on the CTAF?
10 miles out
What does an L with an asterisk (*) mean if shown at an airport on a sectional chart?
The lights at that airport have some kind of limitation (lights don’t work at all hours, it’s pilot-controlled lighting, etc.)
To figure out the exact limitation to lights at an airport, where would you find this information?
The Chart Supplement
What does a star next to the Control Tower (CT) frequency on a sectional chart tell you?
the operating hours are not continuous (probably shuts down at night time)
What does it mean if there is a C in a circle next to the CT frequency on a sectional chart?
This means the CT frequency is ALSO the CTAF frequency when the CT is not in operation.
What CTAF frequency is usually used at airports that don’t have a UNICOM (which means there is nobody on the ground to talk to you)? What is this frequency called?
122.9; called the MULTICOM frequency
What does it mean to be “transmitting in the blind”?
when you transmit without knowing who might be listening.
Prior to entering an Airport Advisory Area, a pilot should:
Contact the local FSS for airport and traffic advisories.
What does it mean to Squawk VFR? What does this tell the controller?
Put the squawk code 1200 in your transponder. Since you’re squawking VFR, this tells the controllers you are below 18,000’ , since you cannot fly VFR above 18,000’.
A Mode C transponder is a transponder that has _________ on it.
altitude
When operating under VFR below 18,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise authorized, what transponder code should be selected?
Mode 3/A code 1200.
While on a VFR cross country and not in contact with ATC, what frequency would you use in the event of an emergency?
121.5 MHz
What is the emergency squawk code?
7700
What is the lost communications squawk code? What does this mean?
7600; you have lost communications, but you still have electrical capability of the aircraft.
What is the hijack squawk code?
7500
ATC traffic is given to you in reference of your aircraft’s:
ground track
When do you know you have established communications with the controller?
When the controller uses your aircraft number.
What do you have to do before entering CLASS C airspace?
Establish two-way communications.
As a VFR aircraft in Class C Airspace, what do you receive in this airspace from controllers?
- Basic Radar Service: traffic advisories, safety alerts, limited radar vectoring
- Sequencing of ALL aircraft
- Separation from all IFR aircraft
When flying a VFR aircraft in Class C Airspace, what is the level of separation you receive from IFR aircraft?
500 ft of vertical separation
In order to depart a Class C Airspace, what do you need to get and when?
You need to get a clearance BEFORE you taxi.
Who/from where do you get your clearance to depart a Class C airspace?
On a separate frequency called Clearance Delivery (which is sometimes combined with ground control frequency)
On a sectional chart, Class B Airspace is identified with what kind of lines?
Solid, blue lines
What do you have to do before entering into CLASS B Airspace?
You have to establish communications AND get a clearance.
As a VFR aircraft in CLASS B Airspace, what do you receive in this airspace from controllers?
- Sequencing of ALL aircraft (both VFR and IFR) to the airport.
- Separation from ALL aircraft (both VFR and IFR) and with greater separation standards.
How is a Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA) indicated on a sectional chart?
Gray lines
How is a TRSA (Terminal Radar Service Area) different from Class C Airspace? What does this mean you can expect?
A TRSA gives you the SAME service as in Class C Airspace, but participation for a VFR aircraft is voluntary. So, you can only expect separation from all other PARTICIPATING aircraft.
In what airspace classes are transponders required at? In what other two places is it required?
Class A,B, and C airspace; also required in the Mode C veil and in all airspace at and above 10,000’ MSL, excluding airspace at or below 2,500’ AGL (above the ground)
What is a Mode C veil?
the airspace within 30 nm from a Class Bravo primary airport
Where is ADS-B Out equipment required?
Everywhere a transponder is required as of January 1, 2020.
You know when looking at a chart that the floor of Class E airspace is 700 feet AGL when it’s within:
The fuzzy side of the magenta vignette.
Does a VFR pilot flying in Class G airspace have increased or reduced cloud and visibility restrictions? Why?
Reduced restrictions because it’s unlikely that IFR traffic will be operating in Class G Airspace.
With certain exceptions, Class E airspace extends upward from either 700 feet or 1,200 feet AGL to, but does not include,
18,000’ MSL
A blue segmented circle on a Sectional Chart depicts which class airspace?
Class Delta Airspace
Airspace at an airport with a part-time control tower is classified as Class D Airspace only:
when the associated control tower is in operation.
A non-tower satellite airport, within the same Class D airspace as that designated for the primary airport, requires radio communications be established and maintained with the:
primary airport’s control tower
When a control tower, located on an airport within Class D airspace, ceases operation for the day, what happens to the airspace designation?
It becomes Class E airspace, or a combination of Class E and G airspace.
The vertical limit of Class C airspace above the primary airport is normally:
4,000’ AGL
The normal radius of the procedural Outer Area of Class C airspace is normally:
20 nm
What minimum radio equipment is required for operation within Class C Airspace?
Two-way radio communications equipment, a 4096 code transponder, an encoding altimeter, and ADS-B Out equipment.
Which initial action should a pilot take prior to entering Class C airspace?
Contact approach control on the appropriate frequency.
What minimum pilot certification is required for operation within Class B airspace?
Private Pilot Certificate or Student Pilot Certificate with appropriate logbook endorsements.
What minimum radio equipment is required for VFR operation within Class B Airspace?
Two-way radio communications equipment, 4096-code transponder with an encoding altimeter, and ADS-B Out Equipment.
An operable 4096-code transponder and Mode C encoding altimeter are required in:
Class B airspace and within 30 nautical miles of the Class B primary airport.
In which type of airspace are VFR flights prohibited?
Class A
What type of aircraft are federal airways designed for? Why?
IFR airplanes; it provides controlled airspace for them
What type of airspace are federal airways? What is the floor and ceiling of these airways?
Controlled airspace, more specifically echo airspace; floor is 1,200’ AGL and goes up to the base of Class A airspace (18,000’ MSL). (SOMETIMES FLOOR IS NOT 1,200’ AGL, WHICH IS INDICATED BY A ZIPPER LOOKING LINE)
How wide are the federal airways in nautical miles?
8 nautical miles wide, so 4 nautical miles each side of the centerline.
Under what condition, if any, may pilots fly through a restricted area?
With the controlling agency’s authorization.
What is the difference between a restricted area and warning area?
They are the exact same, but warning areas go out to sea in international territory; which means you can fly in a warning area any time you want, but you shouldn’t.
Responsibility for collision avoidance in an alert area rests with:
all pilots
To figure out if military training routes are active, who can you call?
A flight service station
If a military training route has four numbers, what does this mean?
activity is below 1,500’ AGL
If a military training route has three numbers, what does this mean?
activity can be either above OR below 1,500’ AGL
What does it mean if a military training route has IR on it? What does it mean if it has VR?
IR= instrument conditions; the route could be conducted in instrument conditions.
VR= visual conditions; tells you the route must be restricted to visual conditions (pilots should be looking out the window)
National Wildlife Refuges request you fly no lower than ________ above these areas.
2,000’ AGL
If you want to fly VFR within 60 miles of Washington National Airport, you are required to do what two things?
- Complete a Special Awareness Training Course before you fly there.
- Have proof of the completion course with you at all times.
What is the area called that is represented on a sectional chart by blue jagged lines in a circle, 30 nm of Washington National Airport?
Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)
What are the three things needed to fly in Washington D.C. SFRA?
- You need to file an IFR flight plan, or for VFR, a SFRA flight plan.
- Mode C transponder with an assigned code.
- Two-way radio communications.
What is the area inside the SFRA called, that is indicated on the sectional chart by a blue hashed line?
Flight Restricted Zone.
What is the radius and vertical range of the flight restricted zone in Washington D.C?
Radius= 15 nm from Washington Country Airport
Vertical Range= surface up to, but not including 18,000’ MSL.
What are the two requirements in order to fly in the FRZ?
- A background check
- A personal identification number (PIN) from TSA
