AAAE ACE Operations Module 1 Exam 2026/2027 -
Actual Questions with Verified Answers &
Rationales | NPIAS, Airport Classifications & AIP
Funding | Graded A+
SECTION I: NATIONAL PLAN OF INTEGRATED AIRPORT
SYSTEMS (NPIAS)
Question 1
How many airports are included in the NPIAS, and what are the three types of
airports included?
A) 2,500 airports; commercial service, cargo service, and general aviation
B) 3,380 airports; commercial service, reliever, and select general aviation
C) 5,000 airports; primary, reliever, and general aviation
D) 14,400 airports; commercial service, reliever, and general aviation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There are approximately 14,400 private-use airports and 5,000 public-
use airports in the U.S. Approximately 3,380 of these public-use facilities are
included in the NPIAS. The three types of airports included are commercial service,
reliever, and select general aviation airports.
Question 2
What are the three defining characteristics of a commercial service airport?
A) Publicly owned, receive cargo service, at least 5,000 annual enplanements
B) Open to the public, receive scheduled passenger service, at least 2,500 annual
enplanements
,C) Privately owned, receive scheduled passenger service, at least 10,000 annual
enplanements
D) Open to the public, receive unscheduled passenger service, at least 2,500
annual enplanements
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Commercial service airports are defined as publicly owned airports that
have at least 2,500 passenger boardings each calendar year and receive scheduled
passenger service.
Question 3
A commercial service airport with more than 10,000 annual enplanements is
classified as a:
A) Nonprimary Commercial Service Airport
B) Primary Airport
C) Reliever Airport
D) General Aviation Airport
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Primary airports are commercial service airports that have more than
10,000 passenger boardings each year. Nonprimary commercial service airports
have between 2,500 and 10,000 annual enplanements.
Question 4
Primary airports are split into four hub categories. What are they, and how are
they defined?
A) National, Regional, Local, Basic; based on based aircraft
B) Large, Medium, Small, Nonhub; based on number of operations
C) Large Hub (>1% of annual U.S. enplanements), Medium Hub (0.25% to 1%),
, Small Hub (0.05% to 0.25%), Non-Hub (10,000 to 0.05%)
D) Class I, II, III, IV; based on aircraft size
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hub categories for Primary Airports are defined as a percentage of
total passenger boardings within the United States. Large hubs receive 1% or more
of annual U.S. commercial enplanements; medium hubs receive 0.25% to 1.0%;
small hubs receive 0.05% to 0.25%; and non-hubs receive less than 0.05% but
more than 10,000 annual enplanements.
Question 5
What characterizes a reliever airport?
A) Receives scheduled passenger service with at least 2,500 annual enplanements
B) Open to the public, has 100 or more based aircraft or 25,000 annual
operations, and relieves congestion at a commercial service airport
C) Has scheduled service with less than 2,500 annual passenger boardings
D) Serves only cargo operations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reliever airports are designated by the FAA to relieve congestion at
Commercial Service Airports and to provide improved general aviation access to
the community. They may be publicly or privately owned and must have 100 or
more based aircraft or 25,000 annual operations.
Question 6
A nonprimary commercial service airport has between ______ annual
enplanements.
A) 0 and 2,500
B) 2,500 and 10,000
Actual Questions with Verified Answers &
Rationales | NPIAS, Airport Classifications & AIP
Funding | Graded A+
SECTION I: NATIONAL PLAN OF INTEGRATED AIRPORT
SYSTEMS (NPIAS)
Question 1
How many airports are included in the NPIAS, and what are the three types of
airports included?
A) 2,500 airports; commercial service, cargo service, and general aviation
B) 3,380 airports; commercial service, reliever, and select general aviation
C) 5,000 airports; primary, reliever, and general aviation
D) 14,400 airports; commercial service, reliever, and general aviation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There are approximately 14,400 private-use airports and 5,000 public-
use airports in the U.S. Approximately 3,380 of these public-use facilities are
included in the NPIAS. The three types of airports included are commercial service,
reliever, and select general aviation airports.
Question 2
What are the three defining characteristics of a commercial service airport?
A) Publicly owned, receive cargo service, at least 5,000 annual enplanements
B) Open to the public, receive scheduled passenger service, at least 2,500 annual
enplanements
,C) Privately owned, receive scheduled passenger service, at least 10,000 annual
enplanements
D) Open to the public, receive unscheduled passenger service, at least 2,500
annual enplanements
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Commercial service airports are defined as publicly owned airports that
have at least 2,500 passenger boardings each calendar year and receive scheduled
passenger service.
Question 3
A commercial service airport with more than 10,000 annual enplanements is
classified as a:
A) Nonprimary Commercial Service Airport
B) Primary Airport
C) Reliever Airport
D) General Aviation Airport
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Primary airports are commercial service airports that have more than
10,000 passenger boardings each year. Nonprimary commercial service airports
have between 2,500 and 10,000 annual enplanements.
Question 4
Primary airports are split into four hub categories. What are they, and how are
they defined?
A) National, Regional, Local, Basic; based on based aircraft
B) Large, Medium, Small, Nonhub; based on number of operations
C) Large Hub (>1% of annual U.S. enplanements), Medium Hub (0.25% to 1%),
, Small Hub (0.05% to 0.25%), Non-Hub (10,000 to 0.05%)
D) Class I, II, III, IV; based on aircraft size
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hub categories for Primary Airports are defined as a percentage of
total passenger boardings within the United States. Large hubs receive 1% or more
of annual U.S. commercial enplanements; medium hubs receive 0.25% to 1.0%;
small hubs receive 0.05% to 0.25%; and non-hubs receive less than 0.05% but
more than 10,000 annual enplanements.
Question 5
What characterizes a reliever airport?
A) Receives scheduled passenger service with at least 2,500 annual enplanements
B) Open to the public, has 100 or more based aircraft or 25,000 annual
operations, and relieves congestion at a commercial service airport
C) Has scheduled service with less than 2,500 annual passenger boardings
D) Serves only cargo operations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reliever airports are designated by the FAA to relieve congestion at
Commercial Service Airports and to provide improved general aviation access to
the community. They may be publicly or privately owned and must have 100 or
more based aircraft or 25,000 annual operations.
Question 6
A nonprimary commercial service airport has between ______ annual
enplanements.
A) 0 and 2,500
B) 2,500 and 10,000
