Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) PracticeTest

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Prepare for the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) with our comprehensive test. Study with diverse and interactive exercises, multiple choice questions, and detailed explanations to enhance proficiency and readiness for your examination.

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What transponder code should VFR aircraft operating in uncontrolled airspace set to?

  1. 1200

  2. 7500

  3. 4000

  4. 2200

The correct answer is: 1200

For VFR (Visual Flight Rules) aircraft operating in uncontrolled airspace, the appropriate transponder code to set is 1200. This code designates that the aircraft is operating under VFR conditions and is not communicating with air traffic control. When VFR pilots enter uncontrolled airspace, they use the 1200 code to inform radar facilities of their flight intent while still indicating that they are not under the jurisdiction of air traffic control. This allows for a distinction between aircraft flying VFR and those that might be flying IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), which would require a different transponder code to ensure proper traffic management. The other codes represent different scenarios: 7500 is the code for hijacking, 4000 is an outdated code generally not in use for any specific operation, and 2200 is not commonly assigned or used in standard operations. Thus, 1200 is the universally recognized code for VFR operations in uncontrolled airspace.