ATC FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
What is the Air Commerce Act of 1926? What was its purpose? - ANSWER - Created
the Bureau of Air Commerce
- Certified Aircraft
- Licensed Pilots
- Established Airways
- Operating and Maintaining NAVAIDs
- Safe Altitudes of flight and separation standards.
Who was recognized as being the first air traffic controller? - ANSWER Archie League
Where was the first ATC Tower with a radio for communication? - ANSWER Cleveland
Municipal Airport
When was the first RADAR used for civilian air traffic control services? - ANSWER
1952
What incident happened on June 30, 1956 and information surrounding it? - ANSWER
- TWA/United Crash over the Grand Canyon between a TWA Constellation and a
United DC7
- 128 People Died
- Govt. realized that ATC was important
What happened in 1981 with air traffic control? - ANSWER PATCO ATC strike.
- 13,000 ATC controllers when on strike and got fired.
What does STARS stand for in ATC? - ANSWER Standard Terminal Automation
Replacement System
Know retirement age information for air traffic controllers. - ANSWER Under current
contract
- Age 50 with 20 years "good time"
- Any age with 25 years "good time"
What is the primary purpose of Air Traffic Control? - ANSWER The primary purpose of
the ATC system is to prevent a collision between aircraft operating in the system and to
provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic, and to provide support for National
Security and Homeland Defense.
What is the duty priority of Air Traffic Controllers? - ANSWER Give first priority to
separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts as required in this order.
, What is the operational priority of Air Traffic Controllers? - ANSWER Provide air traffic
control service to aircraft on a "first come, first served" basis as circumstances permit,
except...
- Presidential
- Search and Rescue
- Lifeguard
Who has the right away over all other aircraft? - ANSWER An aircraft in distress
Know the differences between ATCT, TRACON, ARTCC, and FSS, along with at least
two characteristics of each. - ANSWER FSS (Flight Service Station)
- Provides Pilot Briefings
- Relay ATC clearances
ATCT (Control Towers)
- Control aircraft landing and departing to and from medium/large airports.
- 4-5 NM radius
TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control)
- Handle aircraft that have departed from medium/large airports but within 5-40 NM of
the airport.
- When in control towers, called "up-downs"
ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center)
- Typically handle aircraft at level flight, enroute to their destination
- Also control aircraft at airports that do not have control towers
Who primarily handles aircraft at cruise altitudes en-route between departure and arrival
airports? - ANSWER ARTCC
What does LOA stand for? - ANSWER Letters of Agreements
What does SOP stand for? - ANSWER Standard Operating Procedures
What is the purpose of the JO 7110.65? - ANSWER This order prescribes air traffic
control procedures
and phraseology for use by persons providing
air traffic control services.
Know word meanings (Shall, Shall Not, Should, May) - ANSWER Shall- A procedure is
mandatory
Shall Not - A procedure is prohibited
Should- A procedure is recommended
May- A procedure is optional
What is a safety alert? - ANSWER Issue a safety alert to an aircraft if you are aware
the aircraft is in a position/altitude which, in your judgment, places it in unsafe proximity
to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft.
ANSWERS
What is the Air Commerce Act of 1926? What was its purpose? - ANSWER - Created
the Bureau of Air Commerce
- Certified Aircraft
- Licensed Pilots
- Established Airways
- Operating and Maintaining NAVAIDs
- Safe Altitudes of flight and separation standards.
Who was recognized as being the first air traffic controller? - ANSWER Archie League
Where was the first ATC Tower with a radio for communication? - ANSWER Cleveland
Municipal Airport
When was the first RADAR used for civilian air traffic control services? - ANSWER
1952
What incident happened on June 30, 1956 and information surrounding it? - ANSWER
- TWA/United Crash over the Grand Canyon between a TWA Constellation and a
United DC7
- 128 People Died
- Govt. realized that ATC was important
What happened in 1981 with air traffic control? - ANSWER PATCO ATC strike.
- 13,000 ATC controllers when on strike and got fired.
What does STARS stand for in ATC? - ANSWER Standard Terminal Automation
Replacement System
Know retirement age information for air traffic controllers. - ANSWER Under current
contract
- Age 50 with 20 years "good time"
- Any age with 25 years "good time"
What is the primary purpose of Air Traffic Control? - ANSWER The primary purpose of
the ATC system is to prevent a collision between aircraft operating in the system and to
provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic, and to provide support for National
Security and Homeland Defense.
What is the duty priority of Air Traffic Controllers? - ANSWER Give first priority to
separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts as required in this order.
, What is the operational priority of Air Traffic Controllers? - ANSWER Provide air traffic
control service to aircraft on a "first come, first served" basis as circumstances permit,
except...
- Presidential
- Search and Rescue
- Lifeguard
Who has the right away over all other aircraft? - ANSWER An aircraft in distress
Know the differences between ATCT, TRACON, ARTCC, and FSS, along with at least
two characteristics of each. - ANSWER FSS (Flight Service Station)
- Provides Pilot Briefings
- Relay ATC clearances
ATCT (Control Towers)
- Control aircraft landing and departing to and from medium/large airports.
- 4-5 NM radius
TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control)
- Handle aircraft that have departed from medium/large airports but within 5-40 NM of
the airport.
- When in control towers, called "up-downs"
ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center)
- Typically handle aircraft at level flight, enroute to their destination
- Also control aircraft at airports that do not have control towers
Who primarily handles aircraft at cruise altitudes en-route between departure and arrival
airports? - ANSWER ARTCC
What does LOA stand for? - ANSWER Letters of Agreements
What does SOP stand for? - ANSWER Standard Operating Procedures
What is the purpose of the JO 7110.65? - ANSWER This order prescribes air traffic
control procedures
and phraseology for use by persons providing
air traffic control services.
Know word meanings (Shall, Shall Not, Should, May) - ANSWER Shall- A procedure is
mandatory
Shall Not - A procedure is prohibited
Should- A procedure is recommended
May- A procedure is optional
What is a safety alert? - ANSWER Issue a safety alert to an aircraft if you are aware
the aircraft is in a position/altitude which, in your judgment, places it in unsafe proximity
to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft.
