AAAE CERTIFIED MEMBER EXAM 300 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER WITH
RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY
GRADED A+
This comprehensive review guide for the AAAE Certified Member (C.M.)
exam contains 300 unique, multiple-choice questions organized into four
sections matching the Body of Knowledge modules: Finance and
Administration, Planning/Construction/Environmental, Airport Operations
and Maintenance, and Marketing and Community Relations. Each question
includes a correct answer and detailed rationale to reinforce understanding of
airport management principles, federal regulations, and industry best
practices. This resource serves as an effective study tool to help candidates
identify knowledge gaps, build confidence, and successfully prepare for the
C.M. certification examination.
Section 1: Finance and Administration
Question 1: The Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act) is considered a foundational
moment for U.S. aviation because it:
A) Created the Federal Aviation Administration
B) Authorized the Postmaster General to contract with private companies for
airmail service
C) Established the Airport Improvement Program
D) Created the Transportation Security Administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Kelly Act of 1925 allowed private commercial air carriers to carry
mail under government contract, establishing the principle that "only those who
use aviation pay for it" and marking the effective start of the commercial aviation
industry in the United States .
,Question 2: The Aeronautics Branch, the first federal agency overseeing civil
aviation, was created by which legislation?
A) Air Mail Act of 1925
B) Air Commerce Act of 1926
C) Federal Aviation Act of 1958
D) Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Air Commerce Act of 1926 created the Aeronautics Branch under
the Department of Commerce. Its responsibilities included fostering air commerce,
issuing and enforcing air traffic rules, licensing pilots, certifying aircraft, and
establishing airways and navigation aids .
Question 3: What event prompted the creation of the Federal Aviation Agency
(FAA) in 1958?
A) The first commercial jet flight
B) A mid-air collision over the Grand Canyon that killed 128 people
C) The 9/11 terrorist attacks
D) The airline deregulation movement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1956 mid-air collision of two aircraft over the Grand Canyon
highlighted the inadequacy of existing safety regulations in the jet age. This
prompted Congress to pass the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, which created the
Federal Aviation Agency (later Administration) .
Question 4: The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), created in 1940, was responsible
for three primary functions. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
A) Making safety rules
B) Conducting aircraft accident investigations
C) Economic regulation of airlines
D) Operating air traffic control facilities
Correct Answer: D
,Rationale: The CAB was responsible for safety rulemaking, accident
investigations, and economic regulation of airlines. The responsibility for operating
air traffic control facilities was not one of its primary functions .
Question 5: Which entity is responsible for the strategic direction of the airport?
A) The Airport Director
B) The Airport Executive
C) The elected officials who hired the Airport Director
D) The Operations Manager
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The elected officials (or governing board) are recognized by the FAA as
the "Airport Sponsor." They are responsible for the strategic vision and final policy
decisions. The Airport Executive acts as the tactical leader, implementing this
vision .
Question 6: What type of leader is the Airport Executive and what is he/she
responsible for?
A) Strategic leader responsible for final policy decisions
B) Tactical leader responsible for learning the issues, making recommendations,
and executing policy
C) Operational leader responsible for daily maintenance
D) Financial leader responsible for budget allocation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Airport Executive is a tactical leader responsible for learning the
issues, making recommendations, and executing the policy set by the elected
officials. They serve at the pleasure of the elected officials responsible for the
strategic vision .
Question 7: What is the significance of the Airport and Airway Development Act
of 1970?
A) It created the Transportation Security Administration
B) It established the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and the Airport Development
Aid Program (ADAP)
C) It dissolved the Federal Aviation Administration
D) It prohibited federal funding for airports
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1970 Act created dedicated funding mechanisms for airport
development through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (financed by user taxes)
and the Airport Development Aid Program. It also led to the creation of Part 139
certification requirements .
Question 8: The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) was established by which
legislation?
A) Federal Aviation Act of 1958
B) Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970
C) Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982
D) Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2003
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The 1982 Act established the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to
replace ADAP. It also established the National Airspace System (NAS), which
eventually became the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) .
Question 9: What is the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS)?
A) A list of all airports in the United States
B) A plan identifying approximately 3,300 public-use airports important to
national air transportation that are eligible for AIP funding
C) A security screening program
D) A list of all military airfields
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NPIAS identifies public-use airports that are significant to the
national air transportation system and eligible to receive federal grant funds under
the Airport Improvement Program. Inclusion requires meeting specific criteria .
Question 10: What is the enplanement threshold for an airport to be classified as a
commercial service airport?
A) 1,000 enplanements per year
B) 2,500 enplanements per year
C) 5,000 enplanements per year
D) 10,000 enplanements per year
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER WITH
RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY
GRADED A+
This comprehensive review guide for the AAAE Certified Member (C.M.)
exam contains 300 unique, multiple-choice questions organized into four
sections matching the Body of Knowledge modules: Finance and
Administration, Planning/Construction/Environmental, Airport Operations
and Maintenance, and Marketing and Community Relations. Each question
includes a correct answer and detailed rationale to reinforce understanding of
airport management principles, federal regulations, and industry best
practices. This resource serves as an effective study tool to help candidates
identify knowledge gaps, build confidence, and successfully prepare for the
C.M. certification examination.
Section 1: Finance and Administration
Question 1: The Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act) is considered a foundational
moment for U.S. aviation because it:
A) Created the Federal Aviation Administration
B) Authorized the Postmaster General to contract with private companies for
airmail service
C) Established the Airport Improvement Program
D) Created the Transportation Security Administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Kelly Act of 1925 allowed private commercial air carriers to carry
mail under government contract, establishing the principle that "only those who
use aviation pay for it" and marking the effective start of the commercial aviation
industry in the United States .
,Question 2: The Aeronautics Branch, the first federal agency overseeing civil
aviation, was created by which legislation?
A) Air Mail Act of 1925
B) Air Commerce Act of 1926
C) Federal Aviation Act of 1958
D) Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Air Commerce Act of 1926 created the Aeronautics Branch under
the Department of Commerce. Its responsibilities included fostering air commerce,
issuing and enforcing air traffic rules, licensing pilots, certifying aircraft, and
establishing airways and navigation aids .
Question 3: What event prompted the creation of the Federal Aviation Agency
(FAA) in 1958?
A) The first commercial jet flight
B) A mid-air collision over the Grand Canyon that killed 128 people
C) The 9/11 terrorist attacks
D) The airline deregulation movement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1956 mid-air collision of two aircraft over the Grand Canyon
highlighted the inadequacy of existing safety regulations in the jet age. This
prompted Congress to pass the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, which created the
Federal Aviation Agency (later Administration) .
Question 4: The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), created in 1940, was responsible
for three primary functions. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
A) Making safety rules
B) Conducting aircraft accident investigations
C) Economic regulation of airlines
D) Operating air traffic control facilities
Correct Answer: D
,Rationale: The CAB was responsible for safety rulemaking, accident
investigations, and economic regulation of airlines. The responsibility for operating
air traffic control facilities was not one of its primary functions .
Question 5: Which entity is responsible for the strategic direction of the airport?
A) The Airport Director
B) The Airport Executive
C) The elected officials who hired the Airport Director
D) The Operations Manager
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The elected officials (or governing board) are recognized by the FAA as
the "Airport Sponsor." They are responsible for the strategic vision and final policy
decisions. The Airport Executive acts as the tactical leader, implementing this
vision .
Question 6: What type of leader is the Airport Executive and what is he/she
responsible for?
A) Strategic leader responsible for final policy decisions
B) Tactical leader responsible for learning the issues, making recommendations,
and executing policy
C) Operational leader responsible for daily maintenance
D) Financial leader responsible for budget allocation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Airport Executive is a tactical leader responsible for learning the
issues, making recommendations, and executing the policy set by the elected
officials. They serve at the pleasure of the elected officials responsible for the
strategic vision .
Question 7: What is the significance of the Airport and Airway Development Act
of 1970?
A) It created the Transportation Security Administration
B) It established the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and the Airport Development
Aid Program (ADAP)
C) It dissolved the Federal Aviation Administration
D) It prohibited federal funding for airports
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1970 Act created dedicated funding mechanisms for airport
development through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (financed by user taxes)
and the Airport Development Aid Program. It also led to the creation of Part 139
certification requirements .
Question 8: The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) was established by which
legislation?
A) Federal Aviation Act of 1958
B) Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970
C) Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982
D) Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2003
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The 1982 Act established the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to
replace ADAP. It also established the National Airspace System (NAS), which
eventually became the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) .
Question 9: What is the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS)?
A) A list of all airports in the United States
B) A plan identifying approximately 3,300 public-use airports important to
national air transportation that are eligible for AIP funding
C) A security screening program
D) A list of all military airfields
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NPIAS identifies public-use airports that are significant to the
national air transportation system and eligible to receive federal grant funds under
the Airport Improvement Program. Inclusion requires meeting specific criteria .
Question 10: What is the enplanement threshold for an airport to be classified as a
commercial service airport?
A) 1,000 enplanements per year
B) 2,500 enplanements per year
C) 5,000 enplanements per year
D) 10,000 enplanements per year
