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Wednesday 20th August 2008
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Brainteasers Interactive Quiz #21:
Operation at Non-Towered Airports

Non-pilots often believe that a non-towered airport is inherently unsafe, and many pilots who do most of their flying at airports with operating control towers are uncomfortable when flying in or out of non-towered fields. Even pilots who have extensive experience operating at non-towered airports have picked up bad habits over the years. Regardless of your experience at non-towered airports, Irv Siegel's latest interactive quiz is sure to get you thinking about good operating practices at such airports.

by Irv Siegel

The answers to the quiz questions are based on material in the following FAA publications:

  • Aeronautical Information Manual.
  • AC 90-42F Traffic Advisory Practices At Airports Without Operating Control Towers.
  • AC 90-48C Pilots' Role In Collision Avoidance.
  • AC 90-66A Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns And Practices For Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers.

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. As you approach a non-towered airport for the purpose of landing, from how far out
a. 5 miles
b. 10 miles
c. 15 miles
d. 20 miles
should you monitor and communicate, as appropriate, on the appropriate frequency (unless
the Federal Aviation Regulations or local procedures require otherwise)?

2. After departing from a non-towered airport, until how far out should you monitor and
a. 5 miles
b. 10 miles
c. 15 miles
communicate on the appropriate frequency (unless the Federal Aviation Regulations or local
d. 20 miles
procedures require otherwise)?

3. The "appropriate frequency" mentioned in the first two questions is, of
a. unicom
b. multicom
c. FSS frequency
course, the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). This could be


d. (closed or part-time) tower frequency
e. any of the above
4. In preparation for landing at a non-towered airport, you want to set your altimeter
a. on the CTAF frequency itself.
b. from an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) frequency
c. from a nearby airport's Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)
d. all of the above.
for the local area. This information is sometimes available

5. You intend to conduct practice instrument approaches at a non-towered airport What
ATC


a. when departing the final approach fix, inbound
announcement(s) should you make on the CTAF?


b. when established on the final approach segment or immediately upon being released by
c. upon completion or termination of the approach
d. upon executing the missed approach procedure
e. all of the above
6. You are approaching Strawn Airport, a non-towered, non-FSS field with Unicom
Strawn.


a. Strawn unicom, Bugsmasher 1234X entering left downwind, runway one seven, touch and go,
available, for the purpose of making a touch and go landing. As you enter the downwind,
b. Strawn unicom, Bugsmasher 1234X, entering left downwind, runway one seven, touch and go.
c. Strawn traffic, Bugsmasher 1234X entering left downwind, runway one seven, touch and go.
d. Strawn traffic, Bugsmasher 1234X entering left downwind, runway one seven, touch and go,
e. Strawn traffic, Bugsmasher 1234X entering left downwind, runway one seven.
f. Any of the above.
what radio transmission should you make on the CTAF?

7. You wish to depart a non-towered airport on an IFR flight plan, which you have
a. Depart in VFR conditions and contact ATC when airborne. Maintain VFR until you get
already filed. According to the FAA, what is the appropriate way to get your IFR
b. Telephone or transmit via radio to a FSS and get a clearance, which will contain a
c. Make a radio transmission to a UNICOM licensee that's arranged to relay ATC
clearance void time.


d. Contact ATC directly on the appropriate frequency.
e. Any of the above are acceptable methods.
messages.


your IFR clearance.

8. When approaching an unfamiliar non-towered airport, you choose to fly over the
a. 300'
airport to observe the aircraft layout, any local traffic in the area, and the wind and
b. 500'
c. 1000'
d. 2000'
pattern altitude?


traffic direction indicators. Such a fly-over should be at how many feet above the traffic
9. You are very familiar with a local airport, which has a part-time control tower. All
a. fly right hand traffic for Runway 18
b. fly left hand traffic for Runway 36
c. either a or b
during the day, you've often been told by ATC to enter right traffic for Runway 18. One
evening, as you're approaching from the west after the tower has closed, the AWOS reports
runways at this airport have standard left hand traffic. When approaching from the west
the wind as 250 at 4 knots. You may

10. You wish to practice some landings at a non-towered airport. After takeoff, you
a. 200'
b. 300'
c. 400'
d. Do not begin your turn to crosswind until you have reached traffic pattern altitude.
should not begin your turn to the crosswind leg until you are within how many feet of
traffic pattern altitude?


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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