AVweb Quiz #164: Down to Minimums

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Oct 3, 2011

Interactive Quiz #164:
Down to Minimums

ATC does not treat IFR and VFR pilots equally, but VFR pilots can benefit from a grasp of IFR procedures. See how much you know about the dark art of instrument procedures by unraveling 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. Departing an airport IFR often involves following a published departure procedure (DP). VFR pilots are wise to use these routes and associated altitude restrictions when departing unfamiliar airports at night. DPs come in two flavors: the ODP (Obstacle Departure Procedure) and the SID (Standard Instrument Departure). Which procedure is always printed graphically?
a. ODP
b. SID

2. Whenever an airport receives a published instrument approach procedure (IAP), it is also surveyed for a possible DP. At airports such as Flatlandia, Kan., where the tallest obstacle is wheat, the FAA might decide that there's no need for a published departure procedure. But! That doesn't mean departing aircraft should climb out at any old leisurely rate or gradient and expect to remain clear of obstacles or terrain. So, when no DP is published, the IFR departure is expected to cross the departure end of the runway at least (_____) feet above the departure end of runway elevation and climb to (_____) feet above the departure end of runway elevation before turning. (Fill in the blanks.)
a. 25, 200
b. 35, 400
c. 45, 500
d. 55, 600

3. When no DP exists or a DP does not specify a minimum climb rate/gradient until reaching the en route segment, the IFR departure is expected to climb at:
a. 200 feet per minute
b. 300 feet per minute
c. 500 feet per minute
d. 200 feet per mile

4. MSAW is an ATC service commonly offered by radar approach-control facilities. MSAW means:
a. Minimum Safe Altitude Warning
b. Minimum Safety Alert Warning
c. Military Safety Alert Warning
d. Marginal Safety Alert System

5. When flying the old-fashioned way along federal airways built by the WPA in the 1930s, the IFR pilot needs to be aware of published minimum altitudes. According to the Pilot/Controller Glossary, the lowest published altitude between radio fixes on VOR airways, which meets obstacle clearance requirements for the entire route segment and which assures acceptable navigational signal coverage only within 22 nautical miles of a VOR, is called the:
a. MSA (Minimum Safe Altitude)
b. MEA (Minimum En Route IFR Altitude)
c. MRA (Minimum Reception Altitude)
d. MOCA (Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude)

6. Scenario: You're operating IFR and receiving ATC radar service (that happens when a controller says, "Radar contact"). In the radar environment, the approach controller assigns IFR altitudes that are at or above the Minimum Vectoring Altitudes (MVA). The MVA will never be lower than a MEA or MOCA along an airway in the same vicinity.
a. True
b. False

7. FAR 91.119 sets minimum safe altitudes to be flown by VFR pilots, such as no lower than 500 feet above the surface over "other than congested areas." As mentioned in the previous question, a radar approach controller is more concerned with MVAs than FARs. Imagine operating VFR through Class C airspace, and you're level at 2500 feet (MSL). The controller's MVA in your area is 3000 feet. Is ATC permitted to radar vector your target at an altitude below the MVA? (Assume no conflicting traffic.)
a. No. The aircraft must be at or above MVA.
b. Yes, after ATC verifies the pilot sees and can avoid terrain.
c. No, unless ATC uses MSAW.
d. Yes, provided ATC has not assigned an altitude.

8. Minimum altitudes for IFR operations are called -- you guessed it -- Minimum IFR Altitudes (MIA). MEA and MOCA are two examples of published MIAs. When flying IFR off airway where no minimum altitude is published, the pilot is expected to maintain at least (_____) feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown in designated mountainous areas; or (_____) feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown other than mountainous areas. (Fill in the blanks.)
a. 1000, 5000
b. 2000, 1000
c. 500, 1000
d. 1000, 1500

9. In question #4 we mentioned MSAW, and you, of course, correctly identified it. That makes you special, and, being special, you also know that only special radar targets receive MSAW service from ATC. Which radar targets receive MSAW monitoring service from ATC? (Choose the best answer.)
a. All VFR and IFR
b. IFR only
c. IFR and VFR by pilot request
d. IFR and SVFR only

10. It can be so embarrassing being an instructor when students ask questions, the answers to which you should know but don't. It's almost as bad when a computer does the same thing. Recently (Sept. 15, 2011), DUATS refused to speak "plain language" to an admittedly old computer and issued a "non-translated" TAF (terminal forecast), a portion of which read: 13004KT P6SM VCSH OVC060 Please translate that into plain language.
a. Wind 130 at 4 knots, visibility possibly 6 smoke, volcanic ash (causing overcast skies at 6000 feet AGL
b. Wind 130 at 4 knots, visibility plus (more than) 6 statute miles, rain shower in the vicinity
c. On the 13th at 00Z wind at 4 knots, visibility plus (more than) 6 statute miles, variable showers in the vicinity
d. Wind 130 at 4 knots, visibility plus (more than) 6 nautical miles, rain variable snow showers in the vicinity

11. This isn't a question. In Brainteaser #163 we asked, "What is the dumbest phraseology you routinely hear on CTAF?" Choose answer a below to see the results.
a. Select this answer, and then on the answers page you'll have the opportunity to look at the results of the feedback request.

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 #164:Down to Minimums

Interactive Quiz #164:
Down to Minimums