Communication

Question 1

Light Gun Signals: Steady Green

Ground & Air

Answer 1

• On Ground: Cleared for Takeoff
• In Air: Cleared to Land

Question 2

Light Gun Signals: Steady Green

Air Only

Answer 2

Cleared to Land

Question 3

Light Gun Signals: Steady Green

Ground Only

Answer 3

Cleared for Takeoff

Question 4

Light Gun Signals: Flashing Green

Ground & Air

Answer 4

• On Ground: Cleared to taxi.
• In Air: Return for landing
  
  • (to be followed by a steady green signal)

Question 5

Light Gun Signals: Flashing Green

Ground Only

Answer 5

Cleared to taxi.

Question 6

Light Gun Signals: Flashing Green

Air Only

Answer 6

Return for landing
(to be followed by a steady green signal)

Question 7

Light Gun Signals: Flashing Red

Ground & Air

Answer 7

• On Ground: Taxi clear of the runway in use.
• In Air: Airport unsafe - do not land.

Question 8

Light Gun Signals: Flashing Red

Ground Only

Answer 8

Taxi clear of the runway in use.

Question 9

Light Gun Signals: Flashing Red

Air Only

Answer 9

Airport unsafe - do not land.

Question 10

Light Gun Signals: Steady Red

Ground & Air

Answer 10

• On Ground: Stop
• In Air: Give way to other aircraft and continue circling

Question 11

Light Gun Signals: Steady Red

Ground Only

Answer 11

Stop

Question 12

Light Gun Signals: Steady Red

Air Only

Answer 12

Give way to other aircraft and continue circling

Question 13

Light Gun Signals: Flashing White

Ground & Air

Answer 13

• On Ground: Return to starting point on the airport.
• In Air: N/A

Question 14

Light Gun Signals: Flashing White

Ground Only

Answer 14

Return to starting point on the airport.

Question 15

Light Gun Signals: Flashing White

Air Only

Answer 15

Not Applicable

Question 16

Light Gun Signals: Alternating Red and Green

Ground & Air

Answer 16

All Situations: Exercise extreme caution
(used for aircraft, vehicles, and personnel).

Question 17

Light Gun Signals: Alternating Red and Green

Ground Only

Answer 17

Exercise extreme caution
(used for aircraft, vehicles, and personnel).

Question 18

Light Gun Signals: Alternating Red and Green

Air Only

Answer 18

Exercise extreme caution

Question 19

How do you acknowledge light gun signals?

Ground & Air

Answer 19

Rocking your wings in the air or moving the control surfaces on the ground.

Question 20

5 W’s of radio communications

Answer 20

1. Who you’re talking to.
2. Who you are.
3. Where you are.
4. What you want.
5. With [ATIS]

Question 21

Line Up and Wait

Answer 21

Used by ATC when a takeoff clearance cannot be issued immediately due to traffic or other reasons. Taxi onto the runway and await takeoff clearance.

Question 22

VFR Transponder Code

Answer 22

Squawk 1200

Question 23

What are ATC Light Gun Signals for?

Answer 23

Used by ATC to give information to aircraft that are not contactable by radio.

Question 24

Transponder Failure Procedure

Within transponder required airspace

Answer 24

1. Fly the airplane; troubleshoot quickly
   
   • (verify ALT vs ON, recycle the unit, check the breaker/encoder)
2. Tell ATC immediately
   
   • “Approach, N123AB, transponder failure (or altitude reporting inoperative), 7 miles west at 2,800, request authorization to continue/enter [airspace]/land.”
   • If only Mode C is bad, expect “STOP ALTITUDE SQUAWK” or “SQUAWK ALTITUDE” once resolved—these are the controller’s standard phrases. 
3. Follow ATC instructions
   
   • They may authorize you to continue to your destination or to a repair airport even in transponder‑required airspace; this is the formal “ATC‑authorized deviation.”

Note (IFR): Report the malfunction to ATC as soon as practicable; although §91.187 names nav/approach/comm equipment, controllers expect immediate notification of surveillance failures and will issue instructions accordingly. 

Question 25

Transponder Failure Procedure | Before entering transponder‑required airspace

Answer 25

* Without an ATC authorization you may not enter: * Class A/B/C, the 30 NM Mode C veil around Class B primary airports * Airspace above and within the lateral boundaries of B/C up to 10,000 MSL * Class E at/above 10,000 MSL (except at/below 2,500 AGL) 1. Call the controlling ATC facility and request an authorization * For an in‑flight or day‑of failure, the request may be made at any time.  2. If you won’t enter any transponder‑required airspace, you may continue VFR in Class D/E/G * (advising any tower you’re NORDO‑transponder).

Question 26

Radio Failure Procedure

Answer 26

* Acknowledge ATC transmissions by rocking wings or blinking the landing light at night. * Squawk 7600, circle the field and wait for the light gun signal.

Question 27

NTSB Accident

Answer 27

* An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft in which * Any person suffers death or serious injury * Or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.

Question 28

NTSB Incident

Answer 28

Occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.

Question 29

What is the transponder squawk code for a hijacking scenario?

Answer 29

7500

Question 30

What is the transponder squawk code 7500 for?

Answer 30

Hijacking scenario.

Question 31

What is the transponder squawk code for a radio communication failure?

Answer 31

7600

Question 32

What is the transponder squawk code 7600 for?

Answer 32

Radio communication failure.

Question 33

What is the transponder squawk code for a general emergency? (Mayday)

Answer 33

7700

Question 34

What is the transponder squawk code 7700 for?

Answer 34

General emergency. (Mayday)