AVweb Quiz #162: Global Consistency Is Near

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Aug. 1, 2011

Interactive Quiz #162:
Global Consistency Is Near

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." The FAA is on an unstoppable quest to achieve universality in aviation terminology. See if your answers are consistently correct in this quiz.

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the questions as best you can, then click on the "Score my quiz answers" button to see your score and read the explanations. If you don't like your score the first time around, you can change some of your answers and resubmit. To get the most out of this quiz, we suggest you keep trying until you get a perfect score.

NOTE: When more than one answer is true, only the most complete, correct answer will be scored as correct. The answers are assumed to apply within the United States unless otherwise noted.

1. "In an effort to promote global consistency" the FAA recently (June 30, 2011) reported that it had tweaked NOTAM formats slightly, changing some keywords. What we in the colonies used to call the "ramp" is now ICAO-compliantly referred to as the (_____). (Fill in the blank.)
a. Apron
b. Skirt
c. Kilt
d. Waistcoat

2. Now that you've correctly identified what a ramp is called in ICAO NOTAM lingo, ask a HEMS pilot to interpret this statement from the FAA's Instrument Procedures Handbook (IPH): "The TLOF is normally centered in the FATO." In polite society, such a statement might warrant a slap in the face, but here TLOF means Touchdown and Lift-Off Area, and FATO means (_____) Area. (HEMS means Helicopter Emergency Medical Services, but you knew that.)
a. Failed Approach and Takeoff
b. Full Approach and Takeoff
c. Final Approach and Terminal Operations
d. Final Approach and Takeoff
e. Found Airport Tried Oscillating

3. Tower controllers divide airport real estate into two broad categories: one where ATC has control, and the other includes all the airport surface area where trucks, baggage carts and mowers skittle about without first communicating with the tower. According to the Pilot/Controller Glossary, what is the airport ground space called where aircraft and vehicles must have an ATC clearance prior to using?
a. Taxiway
b. Runway
c. Nonmovement Area
d. Movement Area

4. What is the term the FAA uses in its Instrument Procedures Handbook (worth note to VFR pilots, too) to describe "Locations on a particular airport that historically have hazardous intersections"?
a. Runway Alert Zones
b. Runway Hotspots
c. Runway Critical Areas
d. Runway Red Spots

5. Both VFR and IFR pilots should know what VOT means. Tell us, please: What does VOT mean?
a. Vertical Obstacle Transition
b. Variable Obstacle Terrain
c. VHF Omni Test
d. VOR Test signal

6. VDP is an important IFR acronym, but it doesn't hurt for VFR pilots to know of its existence. So, all you IFR pilots, tell your VFR buddies what VDP means:
a. Visual Descent Point
b. VFR Descent Point
c. VOR Descent Point
d. Vertical Decision Point

7. Sticking with the V theme, V_x is the speed for best angle of climb, and V_y is best rate of climb speed. Complete this statement from the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A): "... as altitude increases, the speed for best angle of climb (_____), and the speed for best rate of climb (_____) ..."
a. Decreases, increases
b. Increases, decreases
c. Increases, increases
d. Decreases, decreases

8. Continuing with the quote from the previous question, fill in the blank: "The point at which these two speeds (V_x and V_y) meet is the (_____) of the airplane."
a. Absolute ceiling
b. Service ceiling
c. Demonstrated ceiling
d. Pressure ceiling

9. Everyone appreciates TGIF, but only the best pilots -- like you -- can correctly decode VGSI. So give us your best: What does VGSI mean?
a. VFR Glide Slope Indicator
b. Visual Ground Surface Indicator
c. Variable Glide Slope Indicator
d. Visual Glide Slope Indicator

10. Last V-themed question: What does VCOA mean?
a. Visual Climb Over Airport
b. VFR Cancellation On Arrival
c. Visual Cancellation Over Airport
d. Very Capable Old Aviator

11. Bonus opinion essay question: Now that ICAO has eliminated "ramp" from the aviation lexicon (see Question 1 above), what do we call the kid who runs the fuel truck, since we can no longer use the term "ramp rat"? Remember, as with all opinions, there are no wrong answers, only wrong reasons. We'll report the results in a future Brainteaser Quiz.
a. Select this answer, and then on the results page you'll have the opportunity to enter a suggestion.
b. Please don't select this answer, even if you don't intend to enter a suggestion. It is here for technical reasons, so that your final quiz score will be accurate.

If you enjoyed taking this interactive quiz and would like to see more like it, go to the AVweb Brainteaser page. And if you thought it was unfair, confusing, or a waste of time, we'd like you to tell us that, too. And if you have an idea for a subject that you think would make a good future Brainteaser quiz, be sure to let us know.

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Interactive Quiz #162: Global Consistency Is Near

Interactive Quiz #162:
Global Consistency Is Near