ATC BASICS CORE EXAM 2026 TEST QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS SCORED A+
✔✔When are votices created and discontinued? - ✔✔Rotation and landing
✔✔What is the average sink rate of the vortices? - ✔✔300-500 feet per minute down to
500-1000 below the A/C.
✔✔Close to the ground with zero wind, vortices will more laterally ______ - ✔✔2 to 3
kts
✔✔With crosswind of 1-5 kts what will happen to the vortices? - ✔✔One will stall out,
the other will be pushed laterally.
✔✔What is induces roll? - ✔✔Force wake turbulence has on an A/C. When no counter
roll control the A/C could roll completely.
✔✔Counter control is most effective and toll is minimal when the wingspan and the
ailerons extend beyond the ______ of the Vortex. - ✔✔Edges.
✔✔Hazardous conditions occur when the induced roll exceeds the level of _______ -
✔✔Roll control.
✔✔A slow hover of a helicopter will generate _______ - ✔✔Downwash
✔✔down-wash can travel up to how far? - ✔✔Three times the diameter of the rotor.
✔✔What must a helicopter be doing to generate wingtip vortices? - ✔✔Forward Flight
✔✔Why is the controller not responsible for anticipating the existence or effects of wake
turbulence? - ✔✔Because it is unpredictable.
✔✔Wake turbulence has the greatest impact on ATC in the areas of _______
A. Damage and money.
B. Increased separation and traffic management delays.
C. Resources and delays - ✔✔B. Increased separation and traffic management delays.
✔✔Aircraft ______ are used for providing runway separation - ✔✔Categories
✔✔Describe CAT 1 aircraft - ✔✔12,500 lbs or less. Single engine. Propeller driven. All
helicopters.
✔✔Describe CAT 2 aircraft - ✔✔12,500 lbs or less. Twin engine. Propeller driven
, ✔✔Describe CAT 3 aircraft - ✔✔All jets. Anything not in CAT 1 and 2
✔✔Aircraft weighing more than 41,000 lbs. Maximum certified takeoff weight up to but
not including 300,000 lbs. - ✔✔Large weight class.
✔✔Aircraft capable of takeoff weights of 300,000 lbs or more whether operating at that
weight or not. - ✔✔Heavy weight class.
✔✔Aircraft weighing 41,000 lbs or less maximum certified takeoff weight. - ✔✔Small
weight class
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at 10,000 feet MSL and below, speed between 100-160
knots with a climb rate of 1,000 feet per minute or less - ✔✔CAT 1 operating
characteristics
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at below FL 200 speed between 90-160 knots with a
climb rate of 500-2,50 feet per minute. - ✔✔Helicopters
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at FL 240 and below, speed between 160-250 knots with
a climb rate of 1,000-2,000 feet per minute - ✔✔CAT 2 operating characteristics
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at FL 450 and below, speed between 300-550 knots with
a climb rate of 2,000-4,000 feet per minute. - ✔✔CAT 3 operating characteristics
✔✔Designators may have as many as ______ characters, but no less than _______
A. 8;4
B. 6;3
C. 4;2
D. 3;1 - ✔✔C. 4;2
✔✔An aircraft designator must consist of letters only
True or False - ✔✔False
✔✔The first character in an aircraft designation must be a/an.
A. Number
B. Letter
C. Letter or number
D. N - ✔✔B. Letter
✔✔What are the Nine identification features? - ✔✔Size, Engine location and number,
Engine type, Wing placement, Wing configuration, Tail configuration, Windows,
Fuselage shape, Landing gear
SOLUTIONS SCORED A+
✔✔When are votices created and discontinued? - ✔✔Rotation and landing
✔✔What is the average sink rate of the vortices? - ✔✔300-500 feet per minute down to
500-1000 below the A/C.
✔✔Close to the ground with zero wind, vortices will more laterally ______ - ✔✔2 to 3
kts
✔✔With crosswind of 1-5 kts what will happen to the vortices? - ✔✔One will stall out,
the other will be pushed laterally.
✔✔What is induces roll? - ✔✔Force wake turbulence has on an A/C. When no counter
roll control the A/C could roll completely.
✔✔Counter control is most effective and toll is minimal when the wingspan and the
ailerons extend beyond the ______ of the Vortex. - ✔✔Edges.
✔✔Hazardous conditions occur when the induced roll exceeds the level of _______ -
✔✔Roll control.
✔✔A slow hover of a helicopter will generate _______ - ✔✔Downwash
✔✔down-wash can travel up to how far? - ✔✔Three times the diameter of the rotor.
✔✔What must a helicopter be doing to generate wingtip vortices? - ✔✔Forward Flight
✔✔Why is the controller not responsible for anticipating the existence or effects of wake
turbulence? - ✔✔Because it is unpredictable.
✔✔Wake turbulence has the greatest impact on ATC in the areas of _______
A. Damage and money.
B. Increased separation and traffic management delays.
C. Resources and delays - ✔✔B. Increased separation and traffic management delays.
✔✔Aircraft ______ are used for providing runway separation - ✔✔Categories
✔✔Describe CAT 1 aircraft - ✔✔12,500 lbs or less. Single engine. Propeller driven. All
helicopters.
✔✔Describe CAT 2 aircraft - ✔✔12,500 lbs or less. Twin engine. Propeller driven
, ✔✔Describe CAT 3 aircraft - ✔✔All jets. Anything not in CAT 1 and 2
✔✔Aircraft weighing more than 41,000 lbs. Maximum certified takeoff weight up to but
not including 300,000 lbs. - ✔✔Large weight class.
✔✔Aircraft capable of takeoff weights of 300,000 lbs or more whether operating at that
weight or not. - ✔✔Heavy weight class.
✔✔Aircraft weighing 41,000 lbs or less maximum certified takeoff weight. - ✔✔Small
weight class
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at 10,000 feet MSL and below, speed between 100-160
knots with a climb rate of 1,000 feet per minute or less - ✔✔CAT 1 operating
characteristics
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at below FL 200 speed between 90-160 knots with a
climb rate of 500-2,50 feet per minute. - ✔✔Helicopters
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at FL 240 and below, speed between 160-250 knots with
a climb rate of 1,000-2,000 feet per minute - ✔✔CAT 2 operating characteristics
✔✔Aircraft normally operating at FL 450 and below, speed between 300-550 knots with
a climb rate of 2,000-4,000 feet per minute. - ✔✔CAT 3 operating characteristics
✔✔Designators may have as many as ______ characters, but no less than _______
A. 8;4
B. 6;3
C. 4;2
D. 3;1 - ✔✔C. 4;2
✔✔An aircraft designator must consist of letters only
True or False - ✔✔False
✔✔The first character in an aircraft designation must be a/an.
A. Number
B. Letter
C. Letter or number
D. N - ✔✔B. Letter
✔✔What are the Nine identification features? - ✔✔Size, Engine location and number,
Engine type, Wing placement, Wing configuration, Tail configuration, Windows,
Fuselage shape, Landing gear
