AAAE ACE OPERATIONS MODULE 1
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What are some types of flexible pavement? Answer: Grass, dirt,
gravel and asphalt
⩥ Why are paved surfaces necessary at airports? Answer: To support the
critical loads imposed on them; to produce a smooth, skid-resistant and
safe-riding surface
⩥ Airport surfaces are distinguished by operational control and FAA
design standards into what two areas? Answer: Movement and non-
movement
⩥ What constitutes the movement area on an airport? Answer: Runways
and taxiways. At ATCT controlled airports, the surfaces under ATC
control. These areas must meet Part 139 design restrictions.
⩥ What constitutes the non-movement area of an airport? Answer:
Taxiways and aprons not under ATCT control
,⩥ How are movement and non-movement areas determined at an airport
with an ATCT? Answer: By Letter of Agreement (LOA) between the
airport and the ATCT.
⩥ What is the benefit of using a rigid pavement such as Portland Cement
Concrete? Answer: It is about half the lifetime cost of asphalt, with a
service life of 30+ years versus 5-15 years for asphalt. Concrete is more
expensive up front though, so asphalt is common at low revenue airports
such as GA.
⩥ What are two major elements that make pavements deteriorate?
Answer: weathering and aircraft loads
⩥ For bearing strengths of 12,500lbs or greater, what method is used to
express the effect of an individual aircraft on different pavements?
Answer: Comparing ACN to PCN (Aircraft Classification Number-
Pavement Classification Number) ACN less than or equal to PCN
⩥ What does the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) represent to
the operator/pilot? Answer: PCN is the maximum pavement bearing
strength for unrestricted aircraft operations.
⩥ What is the Load Classification Number (LCN) used to describe?
Answer: Pavement bearing strengths less than 12,500lbs
, ⩥ What are the five major categories of pavement distress? Answer:
cracking, joint seal damage, disintegration, distortion, loss of skid
resistance
⩥ Edges of abutting pavement or pavement and other areas must be no
more than how many inches in elevation difference? Answer: 3 inches
⩥ What are the maximum dimensions of a hole that are allowed by Part
139? Answer: Any hole with a diameter greater than 5 inches and either
3 inches deep or a slope of greater than 45 degrees
⩥ How far are landing distances increased on wet pavement? Answer:
By 15 percent or more
⩥ What are the three types of hydroplaning? Answer: Dynamic, viscous,
and rubber reversion
⩥ What are three pavement elements that help to mitigate hydroplaning?
Answer: pavement grooving, porous friction course, wire combing
⩥ At what point should rubber removal occur on a runway? Answer:
Based on a friction evaluation, frequency of turbo-jet landings, or when
40% of the grooves are 1/8'' or less in depth or width for a distance of
1,500ft
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What are some types of flexible pavement? Answer: Grass, dirt,
gravel and asphalt
⩥ Why are paved surfaces necessary at airports? Answer: To support the
critical loads imposed on them; to produce a smooth, skid-resistant and
safe-riding surface
⩥ Airport surfaces are distinguished by operational control and FAA
design standards into what two areas? Answer: Movement and non-
movement
⩥ What constitutes the movement area on an airport? Answer: Runways
and taxiways. At ATCT controlled airports, the surfaces under ATC
control. These areas must meet Part 139 design restrictions.
⩥ What constitutes the non-movement area of an airport? Answer:
Taxiways and aprons not under ATCT control
,⩥ How are movement and non-movement areas determined at an airport
with an ATCT? Answer: By Letter of Agreement (LOA) between the
airport and the ATCT.
⩥ What is the benefit of using a rigid pavement such as Portland Cement
Concrete? Answer: It is about half the lifetime cost of asphalt, with a
service life of 30+ years versus 5-15 years for asphalt. Concrete is more
expensive up front though, so asphalt is common at low revenue airports
such as GA.
⩥ What are two major elements that make pavements deteriorate?
Answer: weathering and aircraft loads
⩥ For bearing strengths of 12,500lbs or greater, what method is used to
express the effect of an individual aircraft on different pavements?
Answer: Comparing ACN to PCN (Aircraft Classification Number-
Pavement Classification Number) ACN less than or equal to PCN
⩥ What does the Pavement Classification Number (PCN) represent to
the operator/pilot? Answer: PCN is the maximum pavement bearing
strength for unrestricted aircraft operations.
⩥ What is the Load Classification Number (LCN) used to describe?
Answer: Pavement bearing strengths less than 12,500lbs
, ⩥ What are the five major categories of pavement distress? Answer:
cracking, joint seal damage, disintegration, distortion, loss of skid
resistance
⩥ Edges of abutting pavement or pavement and other areas must be no
more than how many inches in elevation difference? Answer: 3 inches
⩥ What are the maximum dimensions of a hole that are allowed by Part
139? Answer: Any hole with a diameter greater than 5 inches and either
3 inches deep or a slope of greater than 45 degrees
⩥ How far are landing distances increased on wet pavement? Answer:
By 15 percent or more
⩥ What are the three types of hydroplaning? Answer: Dynamic, viscous,
and rubber reversion
⩥ What are three pavement elements that help to mitigate hydroplaning?
Answer: pavement grooving, porous friction course, wire combing
⩥ At what point should rubber removal occur on a runway? Answer:
Based on a friction evaluation, frequency of turbo-jet landings, or when
40% of the grooves are 1/8'' or less in depth or width for a distance of
1,500ft
