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Saturday 30th August 2008
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Brainteasers Interactive Quiz #18:
Operating At Tower-Controlled Airports

Whenever you fly into or out of an airport with an operating control tower, your every move and transmission is under the FAA microscope. Better know the rules, or you risk getting that dreaded request to "phone the tower." Pretty confident you know your stuff? Try taking this interactive quiz and find out for sure!

by Irv Siegel

The questions is this Brainteaser quiz are based on Chapters 4 and 5 of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

Answer the questions as best you can, then click on the "score" 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.

1. You've been cleared by ground control to taxi to RWY 18. You could taxi to the approach end of the 7000' runway, but your taxi route takes you past an intersection that's 1000' prior to the approach end, giving you 6,000' of runway, more than enough for departure in your single-engine aircraft at this sea level airport. Indeed, there's a runup area at that intersection, and you've seen aircraft depart from there in the past. You may:
a. use that runup area and call "ready for departure" from that intersection.
b. not use that runup area and intersection unless you receive an amended clearance from ground control.
2. You have completed your run-up and you are ready for a VFR departure with a right turnout at an intersection (Alpha Two) that is 1,000' from the approach end of RWY 18. You tune in the tower frequency and find the tower extremely busy. When there's an opening on frequency to transmit, you should tell the tower:
a. "Smalltown Tower, Bugsmasher 1234 Foxtrot, ready for takeoff."
b. "Smalltown Tower, Bugsmasher 1234 Foxtrot, ready runway 18, request right turnout."
c. "Smalltown Tower, Bugsmasher 1234 Foxtrot, ready runway 18 at Alpha Two, request right turnout."
3. You would like to know more about ATC procedures and would like to visit the control tower of a local airport.
a. Forget it. Only FAA and certain other U.S. Government employees are allowed into an FAA control tower. Better write a letter.
b. It's doable, but you must fill out a copy of FAA Form 90-14.3 ("Request to Visit ATC Facility") and submit at least ten working days prior to the date you want to visit. You will then receive a written appointment confirmation which you must bring with you in order to gain entry to the control tower.
c. Sure! The FAA encourages pilots to visit air traffic control facilities and familiarize themselves with the ATC system. However, it's a good idea to phone first to make sure they're not too busy to accomodate your visit.
4. You are approaching a controlled airport for the purpose of landing. Prior to contacting the tower, you tune in the ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service), and hear the wind velocity and altimeter setting, but do not hear any information regarding clouds or visibility. This means that:
a. the airport has weather conditions below VFR minimums, and you must obtain either an IFR or special VFR clearance in order to land at the airport.
b. the ceiling is greater than 5000' and the visibility is greater than 5 miles.
c. the tower does not have the equipment necessary to measure ceiling and visibility.
5. You have been cleared to "taxi into position and hold" on runway 24, and you have acknowledged and complied with that instruction. Your request for a right turnout has been approved. When you are cleared for takeoff you should respond as follows:
a. Just do it. There's no need for you to reply to ATC, since the controller can see you begin your takeoff roll.
b. "Bugsmasher 1234 Foxtrot."
c. "Bugsmasher 1234 Foxtrot, roger."
d. "Bugsmasher 1234 Foxtrot, cleared for takeoff with a right turnout."
6. You are south of, and inbound to, a controlled airport that has parallel runways 36L and 36R. ATC tells you that you are "cleared to land, runway 36." Your action should be to:
a. land on either runway 36L or 36R, your choice.
b. acknowledge receipt of the landing clearance, and then land on either runway 36L or 36R, your choice.
c. query ATC regarding which is your assigned runway.
7. You are on final approach and have been told by ATC to follow another aircraft. You believe that you will not have sufficient separation to land. Without further ATC clearance you may:
a. make shallow "S" turns.
b. make a 360 degree turn.
c. land on another runway.
d. None of the above.
8. You have executed one of your usual "squeaker" landings and have slowed to normal taxi speed. While still on the runway, you see a taxiway exit on your left, but have not received any ATC instruction to exit the runway. You should:
a. exit the runway without delay.
b. slow down or stop and ask ATC where you should exit the runway.
c. continue to taxi on the runway until ATC tells you where to exit.
d. None of the above.
9. You have been calling a local control tower for several minutes without receiving a reply. Indeed, you have heard no other aircraft on the frequency. The first thing you should do is:
a. squawk 7600 and continue inbound to the airport.
b. divert to a non-controlled airport.
c. fly over the airport above traffic pattern altitude and watch for light gun signals.
d. check for a stuck microphone button.
e. a & c.
10. The tower replies to your transmission by saying, "Aircraft calling tower, carrier only, no voice." You should:
a. squawk 7600 and continue inbound to the airport.
b. divert to a non-controlled airport.
c. fly over the airport above traffic pattern altitude and watch for light gun signals.
d. check that your microphone plug is correctly seated in the jack.
e. a & c.

If you enjoyed taking this interactive quiz and would like to see more like it, please let us know. 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.

Return to the AVweb Brainteasers page.






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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.

Return to the AVweb Brainteasers page.

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