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Friday 4th July 2008
Brainteasers
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Apr. 17, 2008

Brainteasers
Interactive Quiz #132:
Peek Behind the ATC Curtain

The Pilot/Controller Glossary contains terms used on both sides of the NAS fence. Too often, pilots don't understand controller phrases, and controllers don't know the pilot stuff. You'll know it all by acing 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. Everyone talks about the NAS, but few pilots ever define it. So, without looking at your P/C Glossary (Pilot/Controller, not Politically Correct), define NAS:
a. National Airspace System
b. National Aeronautical System
c. Nautican Aeornautica Systemema (ICAO)
d. Navigational Airspace System
2. When looking into the ATC mirror, the future may appear nearer than you think. And just as in the past, everyone will want to fly from Chicago to New York at the same time. No problem, we'll just finish paving over New Jersey and turn the Garden State Parkway into one big runway or, better yet, introduce IFR routes based on PBN. What does PBN mean?
a. Preferred-Base Navigation
b. Preference-Based Navigation
c. Performance-Based Navigation
d. Perforated-Basic Navigation
3. As ATC crams more traffic into the same corridors and airports, something's gotta give. So, separation standards give. Reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) are made possible through technological advances. Q-routes are high-altitude, closely spaced, parallel flight paths on high-density routes. That's working so well that a low-altitude version is being implemented, and those routes are called:
a. A-Routes
b. L-Routes
c. T-Routes
d. R-Routes
e. QB-Routes
4. If New York Times Puzzlemaster Will Shortz is sitting beside you, tell him to keep silent for a moment as we introduce an RNAV anagram: PALSVAPVAW. If you say "PALSVAPVAW" three times fast, people will think you require the Heimlich maneuver. But if you unscramble the letters, you'll fine three related satnav terms. What are they?
a. WAAS, LPV, APV
b. WASP, LPV, APV
c. PAAS, APV, PVL
d. WAAS, APV, VPL
5. The acronym APV appeared in each of the previous question's answers. (Didn't help much, did it?) It must be an important 21st-century term known by both pilots and controllers, so what does APV mean?
a. Approach Variable Grid
b. Approximate Vertical Grade
c. Approaching Vertical Guidance
d. Approach with Vertical Guidance
6. Pilot's read, and generally obey, the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations, a.k.a., CFRs -- Code of Federal Regulations). Rule interpretation, plus a few safety tips, are found in the AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual). But what do controllers read? What is the name of the ATC holy book all controllers must follow?
a. FAA Order 7210.65
b. FAA Handbook 8083-3A
c. FAA AC TSO 129(c)
d. FAA Order 7110.65
e. Bootleg Skies
7. Imagine: You're inbound to an airport located inside Class C airspace, VFR or IFR. You're talking to the Tower controller, who says, "Cleared to land." So, you land. As you roll out and turn at the first available taxiway -- not an intersecting runway -- the tower controller says, "Taxi to the ramp, monitor ground point niner." You should:
a. Taxi to the ramp and call Ground Control on 122.9.
b. Taxi to the ramp and call Ground Control on 121.9.
c. Taxi to the ramp and listen to Ground Control on 123.9.
d. Taxi to the ramp and listen to Ground Control on 121.9.
8. It's dawn, just after official sunrise, inside Class D surface airspace. Dew coats your wings as you preflight your airplane and load sleepy passengers into the baggage compartment. In your preflight weather briefing, the METAR reported temperature and dewpoint within kissing distance, separated by less than 2 degrees C. The wind is calm. As fog forms, you look toward the control tower, atop which sits the airport's rotating -- green and white -- beacon. You know that the tower's air traffic controllers are required to turn the airport rotating beacon on when the ceiling or visibility is below basic VFR minima. (Pick the best answer.)
a. True
b. False
c. True, but ...
9. Same Class D airport as the previous question, only the fog has dissipated, and you're ready to launch VFR. The ATIS reports wind calm. After you start and call Ground Control for taxi, you notice the windsock has begun to flicker ... a breeze is blowing. According the ATC manual (which you correctly identified in Question #6 above), the air traffic controller (tower) should assign the runway most nearly aligned with the wind when the wind is (_____) knots or more. Please fill in that blank. (No "runway use" program is in effect.)
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 7
10. So, all this ATC talk makes you want to quit your hedge fund job and become an air traffic controller? Hey, if you're young enough and gutsy enough, go for it. The Web sites of NATCA and the FAA will give you some hiring route tips. Once employed, your work-a-day life will be governed by the FAA's Facility Operation and Administration order. Since the FAA wants all controllers well-rested and sharp for the beginning of a shift, their own rules require that an air traffic controller work no more than (____) hours per day and have no less than (_____) hours off between shifts. (Please complete the blanks.)
a. 7.5, 16
b. 8, 12
c. 8, 10
d. 10, 8
11. Brainteaser Bonus Question: Beauty is in the eye of the designer. Identify the two-seat airplane pictured below.



a. Pitts Playboy
b. Stitts Sky Coupe
c. Piper TriPacer
d. Piper Colt