FAA ATP Airport & Approach Operations Questions

Category II ILS operations below 1600 RVR and a 150-foot DH may be approved after the pilot in command has

• logged 90 hours' flight time, 10 takeoffs and landings in make and model airplane and three Category II ILS approaches in actual or simulated IFR conditions with 150-foot DH since the beginning of the sixth preceding month, in operations under 14 CFR parts 91 and 121.
• made at least six Category II approaches in actual IFR conditions with 100-foot DH within the preceding 12 calendar months.
• logged 100 hours' flight time in make and model airplane under 14 CFR part 121 and three Category II ILS approaches in actual or simulated IFR conditions with 150-foot DH since the beginning of the sixth preceding month.

Explanation: If the pilot-in-command of an airplane has not served 100 hours as pilot-in-command in operations under 14 CFR Part 121 in the type of airplane he/she is operating, the MDA or DH and visibility landing minimums in the certificate holder's operations specifications for regular, provisional, or refueling airports are increased by 100 feet and 1/2 mile (or the RVR equivalent), and CAT II minimums and the sliding scale do not apply. Upon original issue, a Category II authorization contains a limitation of 1,600 feet RVR and a 150-foot decision height. This limitation is removed when the holder shows that since the beginning of the 6th preceding month he/she has made 3 Category II ILS approaches to a landing under actual or simulated instrument conditions with a 150-foot decision height.

14 CFR Part 121 - Category II/III Operations

Airport information signs, used to provide destination or information, have

• yellow inscriptions on a black background.
• white inscriptions on a black background.
• black inscriptions on a yellow background.

Explanation: Information signs have a yellow background with a black inscription, used to provide the pilot with information such as areas that cannot be seen from the control tower, applicable radio frequencies, and noise abatement procedures.

14 CFR Part 121 - Category II/III Operations

Identify runway remaining lighting on centerline lighting systems.

• Amber lights from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet, then alternate red and white lights to the end.
• Alternate red and white lights from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet, then red lights to the end.
• Alternate red and white lights from 3,000 feet to the end of the runway.

Explanation: Centerline lighting systems consist of alternating red and white lights from 3,000 feet remaining to the 1,000-foot point, and all red lights for the last 1,000 feet of the runway. Answer (A) is incorrect because alternate red and white lights are from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet, then red lights to the end. Answer (C) is incorrect because runway remaining lighting alternates red and white lights from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet, and red lights from 1,000 feet to the end of the runway.

AIM 2-1 - Runway Lighting Systems

Taxiway Centerline Lead-Off Lights are color coded to warn pilots that

• they are within the runway environment or run-up danger critical area.
• they are within the runway environment or ILS critical area.
• they are within the taxiway end environment or ILS critical area.

Explanation: Taxiway centerline lead-off lights provide visual guidance to persons exiting the runway. They are color-coded to warn pilots and vehicle drivers that they are within the runway environment or ILS critical area, whichever is more restrictive. Alternate green and yellow lights are installed, beginning with green, from the runway centerline to one centerline light position beyond the runway holding position or ILS critical area holding position.

AIM 2-1 - Taxiway Centerline Lead-Off Lights

Identify touchdown zone lighting (TDZL).

• Two rows of transverse light bars disposed symmetrically about the runway centerline.
• Flush centerline lights spaced at 50-foot intervals extending through the touchdown zone.
• Alternate white and green centerline lights extending from 75 feet from the threshold through the touchdown zone.

Explanation: Touchdown Zone Lighting (TDZL) consists of two rows of transverse light bars disposed symmetrically about the runway centerline in the runway touchdown zone. Answer (B) is incorrect because flush centerline lights spaced at 50-foot intervals extending the length of the runway, including the touchdown zone, are runway centerline lighting. Answer (C) is incorrect because runway centerline lights extend from 75 feet from the threshold through the touchdown zone and are white, not alternating white and green.

AIM 2-1 - Touchdown Zone Lighting (TDZL)

The airport markings, signage and lighting associated with Land and Hold Short (LAHSO) consists of:

• yellow hold-short markings, red and white signage, and in-pavement lights.
• red and white signage, yellow hold-short markings, and at some airports, in-pavement lights.
• red and black signage, in-pavement lights, and yellow hold-short markings.

Explanation: The airport markings, signage, and lighting associated with LAHSO consist of a three-part system of yellow hold-short markings, red and white signage and, in certain cases, in-pavement lighting.

AIM 4-3 - Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO)

Pilots should state their position on the airport when calling the tower for takeoff

• from a runway intersection.
• from a runway intersection, only at night.
• from a runway intersection, only during instrument conditions.

Explanation: Pilots should state their position on the airport when calling the tower for takeoff from a runway intersection. Answer (B) is incorrect because this rule applies to all operations. Answer (C) is incorrect because this rule applies to all operations.

AIM 4-3-10 - Intersection Takeoffs

The visibility criteria for a particular instrument approach procedure is RVR 40. What minimum ground visibility may be substituted for the RVR value?

• 5/8 SM.
• 3/4 SM.
• 7/8 SM.

Explanation: RVR minimum may be converted to ground visibility using FAA Legend 7.

FAA Legend 7 - RVR/Visibility Conversion