FAA Ground School Practice Test

What effect does haze have on the visibility of traffic or terrain features during flight?

1. It enhances visibility

2. It causes features to appear further than their actual distance

3. It decreases the visibility significantly

4. It has no impact on visibility

The correct answer is: It causes features to appear further than their actual distance

Haze can cause features to appear further away than they actually are due to the way light diminishes over distances filled with airborne particles. When haze is present, the scattering of light can create a visual illusion, making objects seem more distant and less distinguishable. This is important for pilots to understand because it can lead to misjudgments regarding the actual distance to other aircraft or terrain, which can have implications for maintaining safe separation and navigation. While haze does affect visibility, it does not enhance it, nor does it typically have no impact. The concept that haze deceives visual perception into thinking that features are farther away than they truly are is a critical point for pilots to consider when interpreting their surroundings in conditions with reduced visibility.