FAA Ground School Practice Test

How is basic radar service in the terminal radar program best described?

1. Traffic advisories only

2. Safety alerts and traffic advisories

3. Vectoring into hostile traffic

4. Minimal communication with ATC

The correct answer is: Safety alerts and traffic advisories

Basic radar service in the terminal radar program is best described as providing both safety alerts and traffic advisories. This service is designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations within a terminal airspace, making it crucial for pilots and air traffic controllers to maintain situational awareness. Safety alerts inform pilots about potentially hazardous conditions that may affect the safety of the flight, such as proximity to other aircraft, terrain warnings, or severe weather phenomena. These alerts are essential for preventing mid-air collisions and ensuring that pilots are aware of interactions that may pose risks to their aircraft. Traffic advisories play a complementary role by providing pilots with information regarding other aircraft in their vicinity. This includes guidance about changing their flight path or altitude to maintain safe separation from other traffic, thus improving overall safety in busy terminal areas. The other options, while they may touch on aspects of air traffic services, do not encompass the full scope of what basic radar service provides. Traffic advisories only or minimal communication with ATC do not fully capture the proactive safety measures that are part of the radar services, and vectoring into hostile traffic would contradict the primary goal of maintaining safety and avoiding risks.