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Controller Quiz

Ten questions about what you saw on the path. There is no score: it is for you to find out what to review before the S1 course.

You have just created your VATSIM account. What is your rating?

  1. S1
  2. OBS
  3. None, until you take the exam

Every account starts as OBS (observer): you can connect with an _OBS callsign to watch and listen, without transmitting. See the rating ladder.

Which positions does the S1 rating unlock?

  1. Only _DEL
  2. _DEL, _GND and _TWR
  3. _DEL and _GND

S1 unlocks Delivery and Ground. Tower requires S2.

Who issues the ATC clearance (route, level, departure and squawk code) when every position at the aerodrome is staffed?

  1. Delivery (_DEL)
  2. Ground (_GND)
  3. Tower (_TWR)

The clearance is Delivery's job. Without it online, the clearance passes to the next position above, by top-down.

Only SBXP_APP (São Paulo Control) is online. A pilot at Guarulhos wants an ATC clearance. Who handles it?

  1. No one: without Delivery online, the pilot departs without a clearance
  2. The pilot must wait for Delivery to connect
  3. SBXP_APP itself, through top-down coverage

Under top-down coverage, the online position covers the empty positions below it. APP acts as Tower, Ground and Delivery at the aerodromes it covers. See Positions and units.

Which position clears the aircraft to enter the runway and take off?

  1. Ground
  2. Tower
  3. Control

Tower owns the runway. Ground takes the aircraft to the holding point, and Tower clears it to line up and take off.

What is the Portuguese callsign of the _APP position?

  1. Controle
  2. Aproximação
  3. Centro

In Brazil, APP is called Controle (Control): Controle São Paulo, Controle Brasília. Centro (Center) is _CTR.

What is the ATIS for?

  1. For the controller to talk to other controllers
  2. For the pilot to send the flight plan
  3. To give the runway in use, wind, weather conditions and aerodrome notices

The ATIS is a continuous recording with the aerodrome information. The pilot listens to it before the first call and reports the letter received. The controller maintains it with vATIS.

You are about to close your session and no one is online above you. What do you tell the pilots on your frequency?

  1. Nothing: they will notice when you disconnect
  2. That the service is closing and they should monitor UNICOM, 122.800
  3. To stand by on the frequency until another controller connects

With no ATC online, pilots use the network's traffic frequency, UNICOM 122.800. Tell each one before you disconnect.

Which of these requirements applies to S3 but not to S1?

  1. Minimum hours connected on _TWR and as solo trainee on _APP
  2. Passing a theory exam
  3. Training with a mentor

The theory exam and mentor apply to every rating. S3 adds 10 hours on _TWR as S2 and 10 hours of solo trainee time on _APP, plus the practical check.

The pilot read back the wrong squawk code. What do you do?

  1. Nothing, EuroScope corrects it automatically
  2. Wait until they take off and let Control correct it
  3. Correct it right away and ask for a new readback

The readback is there precisely to catch errors. Correct it immediately: "Negative, squawk FOUR ZERO THREE FIVE", and confirm they read it back correctly.

Want to see the other side of the frequency? Try the pilot radio simulator in Practice as controller mode.